Zeng Zhaoyu

Zeng Zhaoyu (; 27 January 1909 – 22 December 1964), also known as Tseng Chao-yu in English, was a Chinese archaeologist, museologist, and politician who served as president of Nanjing Museum between 1955 and 1964.

She was a member of the 2nd and 3rd National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a deputy to the 3rd National People's Congress.

Biography Zeng was born in Heye Town of Shuangfeng County, Hunan, on 27 January 1909. Her great-grandfather was the second younger brother of Zeng Guofan and a general in the Qing Empire. Her father Zeng Guangzuo was an official in the Qing Empire. Her mother Chen Jiying was the daughter of Hunan Provincial Governor Chen Baozhen and the aunt of Chen Yinke. She had seven brothers and sisters. Her eldest brother Zeng Zhaocheng graduated from Harvard University. Her second elder brother Zeng Zhaolun graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Her third elder brother Zeng Zhaojie graduated from the Great China University.

In 1923 she attended the Yifang Girls' School in Changsha, which was established by her third elder female cousin Zeng Baosun . In 1929 she was accepted to the National Central University, where she studied archaeology under Hu Xiaoshi . In 1935, when she was a graduate student at the University of Nanking, she went to the University of London to study archaeology at her own expense. After graduation, she interned at the National Museum of Germany. After returning to China, she was assigned to the Central Museum.

Selected bibliography