Wang Zhen

Wang Zhen (April 11, 1908 – March 12, 1993) was a Chinese political figure and one of the Eight Elders of the Communist Party of China. He was a close associate of the powerful Chinese President Li Xiannian.

Early career

Like most Chinese communist leaders, Wang was a commander in his early years. During World War II when the communist base in northwestern China was blockaded by Kuomintang forces under the command of Hu Zongnan, Wang Zhen gained fame as the brigade commander of the 359th Brigade for successfully converting waste land in Nanniwan into productive farm land, and the agricultural output not only supported the brigade itself, but also with a substantial surplus to support other parts of the communist base. The success was later lauded by the communists as an example of self-sufficiency.

In October 1945, one month after the surrender of the Japanese, Wang was promoted to lead one of the seven columns of the Northwest Field Army, under the command of Peng Dehuai. Wang fought against the Kuomintang until most of Chiang Kai-shek's forces were withdrawn to Taiwan in September 1949. In October Wang's forces were directed by Peng to occupy Xinjiang. Most defenders surrendered peacefully to Wang, and were incorporated into the PLA.

Wang Zhen (disambiguation)

Wang Zhen (1908–1993) was a general and one of the Eight Immortals of the Communist Party of China.

Wang Zhen may also refer to:

See also

Eugene Wang

Eugene Wang (born November 13, 1985 in Shijiazhuang) is a Canadian table tennis player. He was given permission to compete for Canada in June 2012, allowing him to represent Canada at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the men's team event. He trains in Saarbruken, Germany.

References

Wang Zhen (eunuch)

Wáng Zhèn (王振) was the first Ming Dynasty eunuch with power in the court. The Zhihua Si Temple in Beijing was built in 1443 at his order.

He was killed (possibly by Ming officers) during the Tumu Crisis (also known as the Battle of Tumu Fortress), a disastrous campaign against the Oirat Mongols for which he was responsible.

External links

Wang Zhen (inventor)

Wang Zhen (simplified Chinese: 王祯; traditional Chinese: 王禎; pinyin: Wáng Zhēn; Wade–Giles: Wang Chen, fl. 1290 – 1333) was an official of the Yuan Dynasty (1271 – 1368 AD) of China. He was one of the early innovators of the wooden movable type printing system. His illustrated agricultural treatise was also one of the most advanced of its day, covering a wide range of equipment and technologies available in the late 13th and early 14th century.

Life and works

Wang Zhen was born in Shandong province, and spent many years as an official of both Anhui and Jiangxi provinces. From the years 1290 to 1301, he was a magistrate for Jingde, Anhui province, where he was a pioneer of the use of wooden movable type printing. The wooden movable type was described in Wang Zhen's publication of 1313 AD, known as the Nong Shu (農書), or Book of Agriculture. Although the title describes the main focus of the work, it incorporated much more information on a wide variety of subjects that was not limited to the scope of agriculture. Wang Zhen's Nong Shu of 1313 was a very important medieval treatise outlining the application and use of the various Chinese sciences, technologies, and agricultural practices. From water powered bellows to movable type printing, it is considered a descriptive masterpiece on contemporary medieval Chinese technology.

Wang Zhen (athlete)

Wang Zhen (Chinese: 王镇; born 24 August 1991) is a Chinese race walker who specialises in the 10 kilometres and 20 kilometres race walk. He holds the senior Asian record for the 20 km with his time of 1:17:36 hours and is also the Asian, Chinese and junior world record holder over 10 km. He was the bronze medallist over 20 km at the 2012 London Olympics.

Career

Born in Suihua, Wang began competing at the top level of the sport in 2008 and won the junior 30 km walk at the Chinese national race walking championships, finishing in 2:08:46. He competed in his first 50 kilometres race walk the year after at the 2009 Chinese National Games. The sixteen-year-old Wang managed sixth place in 3:53:00.

He took to the major international circuit the next year – the 2010 IAAF World Race Walking Challenge. At the Gran Premio Città di Lugano Memorial Albisetti he finished in sixth place, and then he walked to a personal best of 1:20:42 in the 20 km race at the Grande Premio Internacional en Marcha Atletica in Rio Maior, Portugal – a time worth third place at the meeting. He was seventh at the Coppa Città di Sesto San Giovanni in May, and managed 21st place over 20 km at the 2010 IAAF World Race Walking Cup (his first international championship). Having gained enough points on the circuit, he was entered into 10 km 2010 IAAF Race Walking Challenge Final and the race proved to be one of the quickest of all-time, with four men walking 38 minutes and under. Wang Hao was the home favourite for the race in Beijing, but it was Wang Zhen who topped the podium. He finished the race in 37:44 minutes (the joint second fastest mark of all-time with Erik Tysse) which was a new Asian record, as well as being the world junior record for the distance.