Richard Wilhelm

Richard Wilhelm (1873–1930) was a German theologian and sinologist. In 1899, he went to China as a Protestant missionary and worked in Tsingtau as a missionary, pastor, and educator until 1921. He learned Chinese and devoted himself to the study of classical Chinese literature and philosophy. In 1924, he was appointed to a chair in sinology in Frankfurt am Main, where he founded and directed the China Institute. His translations of works including the I Ching and writings by Confucius, Mencius, and Laozi helped shape the reception of Chinese culture and thought in the German-speaking world.