The Legacy of Yan Qianxiang

Guest speaker Anthony Yan will give a special talk on his father Yan Qianxiang, one of the most influential businessmen and philanthropists of the 20th century.

Yan Qingxiang (1899–1988) was a scion of a distinguished clan in Shanghai and a pioneer of China’s heavy industry as the first president of Huafeng Steel and Iron Machinery 华丰钢铁厂during the inceptive years of the People’s Republic of China. In retirement, he was one of the greatest philanthropists of his generation, donating more than $500,000 to charities supporting youth education and senior healthcare. In 1980, he donated many objects from the Yan family’s storied collection of Ming and Qing paintings and vases to the Shanghai Museum of Art. His final act of largess was the gift of He Yuan 鹤园 (Crane Garden), a classical garden in Suzhou that had belonged to the Yan family, to the people of China.

Yan was trained in the classics and a bibliophile. During the Cultural Revolution, Yan compiled A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Standard Script, published by the Jiangsu Provincial Ancient Archives in 1985. This work has become an essential part of Yan’s legacy to symbolize self-cultivation, endurance, and strength in a time of tumult.In Yan’s spirit of generosity, his son Anthony has bequeathed one of the family’s two original copies of this dictionary to China Institute. Please join members of the Yan family on this very special occasion to celebrate the legacy of Mr. Yan Qingxiang. Anthony will represent the Yan family to speak about his father’s life and work.

Anthony Yen (Yan) is President of Tenax Corporation (Cleveland) and Chairman of ABC International Inc. (Cleveland and Beijing). Anthony resides in Cleveland with his family; he is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Confucius Institute at Cleveland State University and serves on the advisory board of the Cleveland Institute of Art.

Due to limited seating at this special event, please contact Ms. Lillia Chrysostome at lchrysostome@chinainstitute.org or at 212-744-8181 ext. 111 for registration information.