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Tong Enzheng

1935 – 1997

Chinese archaeologist

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About Tong Enzheng

Lived 1935 – 1997 (aged 61). Tong Enzheng was a Chinese anthropologist, archaeologist and science fiction writer.

Tong Enzheng (; 1935 – April 20, 1997) was a prominent Chinese archaeologist, historian, designer, and science fiction author.

Career Tong authored the textbook Cultural Anthropology and specialized in early southwest China. He also was involved in redesigning the Sichuan University Museum. He also became noted for his criticism of the influence of Lewis H. Morgan on Chinese anthropology. Tong also led the "Southern Silk Road Project", pursuing the study of links between ancient Southeast Asia and China. Not many of Tong's publications in Chinese have been translated. In English, one of his most widely cited articles is a review of Chinese archaeology under socialism.

In science fiction he wrote the satirical New Journey to the West, and the short story Death Ray on a Coral Island. This won an award for "China's best short story" in 1978 and was later adapted to film. Both his science fiction writings as well as his archaeological and historical scholarly writings were reprinted in a multi-volume set issued in 1998 from Chongqing Publishing House (Tong Enzheng wenji, 3 volumes, 1998, ).

He died in the US after fleeing China following the Government crackdown on the protests at Tiananmen Square. At the time, he was a visiting scholar at Wesleyan University, which has instituted a lecture series in his name, an Enzheng Tong Archaeology Library located at its Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies.

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Important facts

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Named in this biography and alive at the same time

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Frequently asked questions

Who was Tong Enzheng?

Chinese archaeologist (1935–1997)

When was Tong Enzheng born?

Tong Enzheng was born on 27 August 1935 in Ningxiang City.

When did Tong Enzheng die?

Tong Enzheng died on 20 April 1997 in United States.

What was Tong Enzheng's occupation?

Tong Enzheng was an anthropologist, archaeologist and science fiction writer.

What nationality was Tong Enzheng?

Tong Enzheng was Chinese.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Tong Enzheng

· Wikidata: Q7820918

· DBpedia: Tong Enzheng

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Tong Enzheng. https://biography.guide/tong-enzheng/

MLA: "Tong Enzheng." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/tong-enzheng/.

Chicago: "Tong Enzheng." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/tong-enzheng/.

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