Yang Shengnan
historian · palaeographer
- February 26, 1938 · Pingchang County
- May 4, 2019 · Beijing
- 81 years
About Yang Shengnan
Yang Shengnan, 81, Chinese historian and palaeographer.
Explore other notable deaths in 2019 or deaths in May 2019.
The Deaths Archive presents
How well do you know Yang Shengnan?
Explore their life. Test your knowledge. Beat the challenge.
10 questions · One legacy · How much do you really know?
Challenge your friends
Play together in real-time.
Advertisement
Full Biography
|Yang Shengnan (Chinese: 杨升南; 26 February 1938 – 4 May 2019) was a Chinese historian and palaeographer who specialized in the oracle bone script and the pre-Qin dynasty history of ancient China.
Biography
Yang was born on 26 February 1938 in Sanguanzhai Village, Pingchang County, Sichuan, Republic of China. He entered the Department of History at Sichuan University in 1959.
Upon graduation in 1964, Yang was assigned to work at the Pre-Qin History Research Group of the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (now under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences). He spent decades studying oracle bones, and participated in the comprehensive compilations of oracle bone script under the eminent scholars Guo Moruo and Hu Houxuan. He was promoted to associate research professor in 1985 and full professor in 1993. He was also an adjunct professor at Anyang Normal University.
From 1996, Yang directed a national key research project which resulted in the publication of A Century of Oracle Bone Studies. The work won multiple national awards including the Guo Moruo History Prize and the First Prize of the Historical Research Award of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He served as head of the Historical Document Research Group of the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project.
Yang wrote or co-authored dozens of books, including An Economic History of the Shang Dynasty, History of the Political Systems of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods, A General Economic History of China (Pre-Qin).
In 2015, Yang donated more than 7,000 volumes of his book collection and manuscripts to the Jinsha Museum in Chengdu.
Yang died on 4 May 2019 in Beijing, at the age of 81.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Interactive
Test Your Knowledge – Trivia Challenge
How well do you know this person's life and legacy?
No account needed to play. Sign in to keep your score on the leaderboard.
Books & Media
Find books, audiobooks and films about Yang Shengnan on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yang_Shengnan
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 20, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Yang Shengnan's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was the Chinese historian Yang Shengnan born?
- A.4 May 2019
- B.26 January 1938
- C.15 March 1939
- D.26 February 1938correct
Yang Shengnan was born on 26 February 1938 in Sanguanzhai Village.
Source: Biography section
2.In which village was Yang Shengnan born?
- A.Beijing
- B.Anyang
- C.Chengdu
- D.Sanguanzhai Villagecorrect
Yang Shengnan was born in Sanguanzhai Village, Pingchang County, Sichuan.
Source: Biography section
3.Which university did Yang Shengnan enter in 1959?
- A.Tsinghua University
- B.Sichuan Universitycorrect
- C.Peking University
- D.Anyang Normal University
Yang Shengnan entered the Department of History at Sichuan University in 1959.
Source: Biography section
4.Upon his graduation in 1964, at which institution was Yang Shengnan assigned to work?
- A.Anyang Normal University
- B.Jinsha Museum
- C.Pre-Qin History Research Group of the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Sciencescorrect
- D.Sichuan Historical Archives
Yang Shengnan was assigned to the Pre-Qin History Research Group of the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Sciences after graduating in 1964.
Source: Biography section
5.Which eminent scholars did Yang Shengnan work with on the compilation of oracle bone script?
- A.Li Xueqin and Qiu Xigui
- B.Chen Mengjia and Tang Lan
- C.Guo Moruo and Hu Houxuancorrect
- D.Confucius and Laozi
Yang Shengnan participated in the compilation of oracle bone script under the eminent scholars Guo Moruo and Hu Houxuan.
Source: Biography section
6.In what year was Yang Shengnan promoted to the rank of full professor?
- A.2015
- B.1993correct
- C.1996
- D.1985
Yang Shengnan was promoted to associate research professor in 1985 and full professor in 1993.
Source: Biography section
7.At which institution did Yang Shengnan serve as an adjunct professor?
- A.Anyang Normal Universitycorrect
- B.Sichuan University
- C.Beijing University
- D.Chengdu Academy of History
Yang Shengnan was an adjunct professor at Anyang Normal University.
Source: Biography section
8.What is the title of the work published by Yang Shengnan that resulted from a national key research project started in 1996?
- A.A General Economic History of China (Pre-Qin)
- B.History of the Political Systems of the Spring and Autumn Period
- C.A Century of Oracle Bone Studiescorrect
- D.An Economic History of the Shang Dynasty
From 1996, Yang directed a national key research project which resulted in the publication of A Century of Oracle Bone Studies.
Source: Biography section
9.Which award did Yang Shengnan win for A Century of Oracle Bone Studies?
- A.Beijing History Medal
- B.Guo Moruo History Prizecorrect
- C.Anyang Palaeography Award
- D.Sichuan Academy Excellence Prize
A Century of Oracle Bone Studies won awards including the Guo Moruo History Prize.
Source: Biography section
10.What role did Yang Shengnan hold within the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project?
- A.Head of the Historical Document Research Groupcorrect
- B.Director of the Department of Antiquities
- C.Chief Editor of Oracle Bone Script
- D.Lead Excavation Specialist
Yang Shengnan served as head of the Historical Document Research Group of the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project.
Source: Biography section
11.Which of these books was written or co-authored by Yang Shengnan?
- A.The Records of the Grand Historian
- B.The Art of War in Pre-Qin Times
- C.An Economic History of the Shang Dynastycorrect
- D.History of Chinese Palaeography
Yang Shengnan wrote or co-authored An Economic History of the Shang Dynasty.
Source: Biography section
12.In 2015, to which institution did Yang Shengnan donate his book collection?
- A.Jinsha Museumcorrect
- B.Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
- C.Sichuan University Library
- D.Beijing National Library
In 2015, Yang donated more than 7,000 volumes of his book collection and manuscripts to the Jinsha Museum in Chengdu.
Source: Biography section
13.How many volumes did Yang Shengnan donate to the Jinsha Museum in 2015?
- A.Exactly 10,000
- B.More than 1,000
- C.Exactly 5,000
- D.More than 7,000correct
Yang Shengnan donated more than 7,000 volumes of his book collection and manuscripts to the Jinsha Museum.
Source: Biography section
14.On what date did Yang Shengnan pass away?
- A.15 June 2018
- B.4 May 2019correct
- C.1 January 2020
- D.26 February 2019
Yang Shengnan died on 4 May 2019.
Source: Biography section
15.At what age did Yang Shengnan die?
- A.81correct
- B.90
- C.85
- D.75
Yang Shengnan died on 4 May 2019 in Beijing, at the age of 81.
Source: Biography section
16.Where did Yang Shengnan die?
- A.Sichuan
- B.Beijingcorrect
- C.Chengdu
- D.Anyang
Yang Shengnan died in Beijing on 4 May 2019.
Source: Biography section
People who died on May 4
Related People
Spotted an error?
Help us keep the archive accurate. Report a correction with a source.
Report an error for Yang Shengnan →Advertisement
