Heqin Chen

Chen Heqin (; March 5, 1892 – December 30, 1982) was a Chinese educator, child psychologist, and pioneer of modern child psychology and early childhood education in China. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of scientific research on child development and preschool education in modern China. Chen developed the educational philosophy known as “Living Education” (活教育), promoted experimental approaches to childhood learning, and played a major role in the institutional development of preschool and teacher education in twentieth-century China.

Biography

Early life and education

Chen was born on March 5, 1892, in Baiguan Town, Shangyu County, Zhejiang. He lost his father at the age of six and was later supported by his brother-in-law to continue his education. In 1906, he entered Huiwen Middle School in Hangzhou. In 1911, he enrolled at Saint John's University, Shanghai, but later transferred to Tsinghua School in Beijing.

After graduating in 1914, Chen received a government scholarship to study in the United States. He first attended Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a bachelor's degree. In 1917, he entered Teachers College, Columbia University to study education and psychology. During his graduate studies, he was influenced by major educational thinkers including William Heard Kilpatrick, Paul Monroe, Edward Thorndike, and John Dewey. He received a master's degree in education and returned to China in 1919.

Educational reform and early childhood education

After returning to China, Chen joined Nanjing Higher Normal School (later incorporated into National Central University and subsequently associated with Nanjing Normal University) as professor of education. He taught psychology and child education and later served in academic administration.

The birth of his eldest son in December 1920 became a turning point in his academic work. Chen conducted systematic observations of his son's development over 808 consecutive days and used these records to produce Research on Child Psychology (《儿童心理之研究》), published in 1925 and generally regarded as China's earliest modern work of child psychology.

During this period, Chen became involved in educational experimentation and curriculum reform. Together with educators including Tao Xingzhi, Liao Shicheng, Lu Zhiwei, Zheng Xiaocang, and others, he promoted progressive education, extracurricular learning, and student self-governance. He participated in the founding of educational organizations and helped introduce psychological testing into China. In 1922, he published Vocabulary Frequency in Vernacular Chinese, considered one of the earliest systematic quantitative studies of Chinese character usage.

In 1923, Chen established an experimental kindergarten in his own residence in Nanjing, regarded as China's first experimental kindergarten. Supported by educational authorities, it expanded in 1925 into the Experimental Kindergarten of the Education Department of National Southeast University, commonly known as the Nanjing Gulou Kindergarten. Chen also collaborated with Tao Xingzhi in educational reform projects and promoted district-based experimental schooling in Nanjing, including integrated curriculum models for kindergarten and primary education.

Educational administration in Shanghai

In 1928, Chen moved to Shanghai and became director of the Chinese Education Department of the Shanghai Municipal Council in the Shanghai International Settlement. During his tenure, several schools for Chinese students were established, significantly expanding educational opportunities. In 1929, he became chairman of the Chinese Society for Child Education, which later developed into one of China's leading academic organizations for childhood education.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Chen became active in refugee education and social relief efforts. He worked with educational and social leaders including Liu Zhanen and Y. T. Wu to organize educational support programs. Due to political pressure during the Japanese occupation period, he eventually left Shanghai in 1939.

Beginning in 1940, Chen relocated to Jiangxi and initiated what became known as the Living Education movement. Invited by provincial authorities, he founded experimental schools and teacher-training institutions. In 1940, he established the Jiangxi Provincial Experimental Kindergarten Teachers School in Taihe County, Jiangxi, the first non-missionary kindergarten normal school in China. The institution gained national recognition and was later upgraded to national status. In 1943, he also established the National Preschool Teachers College in Shanghai and continued promoting systematic preschool teacher education.

People's Republic of China and later years

Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Chen became dean of the Teachers College of Nanjing University and participated in the first session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He later served on the Culture and Education Committee of the Government Administration Council.

Chen later held positions including vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress, vice chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the CPPCC, honorary president of the Chinese Society of Education, honorary chairman of the National Preschool Education Research Association, and honorary chairman of the Jiangsu Psychological Society.

During the Cultural Revolution, Chen experienced political persecution. He was officially rehabilitated in 1979. Chen continued to advocate for child-centered education and contributed to the development of educational toys, teaching materials, children's literature, and professional journals. Through organizations devoted to preschool and child education, he helped establish the academic foundations of modern early childhood education in China.

He died in Nanjing on December 30, 1982, at the age of 90.

Selected works Research on Child Psychology, 儿童心理之研究 Vocabulary Frequency in Vernacular Chinese, 语体文应用字汇