Obituary: Léon Vandermeersch

Institute of Advanced Humanities, Peking University

We are deeply saddened at news of the passing of Prof. Léon Vandermeersch, an esteemed member of our Advisory Committee, on October 17 at the age of 93. We wish to express our deep sorrow. We also extend our condolences to his family.

Prof. Vandermeersch was a keen student of Chinese thought throughout his long life. He closely followed all manner of developments in the the Confucian cultural sphere, acquiring a rich understanding of Chinese spirituality and politics and making an important contribution to the development of modern Confucian discourse in his own right.

Prof. Vandermeersch was equally committed to cultural exchange between China and his native France, actively exploring possibilities for mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations and devoting the better part of his life to dialogue among civilizations.

Prof. Vandermeersch will be sorely missed in both China and France.

The world has lost an important Sinologist and an outstanding public intellectual. Confucianism has lost a gentle, courteous and generous champion. We will miss him always.