Rafe de Crespigny

Quick Facts: Who was Rafe de Crespigny?

Subject:

Rafe de Crespigny

Known for:

Australian sinologist specializing in Han dynasty history and the Three Kingdoms period.

Born:

1936-03-16

Century / Era:

1936s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Richard Rafe Champion de Crespigny (born 1936), also known by his Chinese name Zhang Leifu (Chinese: 張磊夫), is an Australian sinologist and historian. He is an honorary professor in the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University. He specialises in the history, geography and literature of the Han dynasty, particularly the translation and historiography of material concerning the Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. The son of Richard Geoffrey Champion de Crespigny, (1907–1966), and Kathleen Cavenagh Champion de Crespigny (1908–2013), née Cudmore, Richard Rafe Champion de Crespigny was born in Adelaide in 1936. He married Christa Boltz in Turner, Australian Capital Territory on 19 May 1959.

Career & Major Achievements

De Crespigny received his tertiary education at the University of Cambridge (B.A. Honours History 1957; M.A. History 1961) and the Australian National University (B.A. Honours Chinese 1962; M.A. Oriental Studies Honours 1964; PhD Far Eastern History 1968). During his early years as a scholar and academic, de Crespigny benefited from the guidance of Geoffrey Elton and sinologists such as Hans Bielenstein, Otto van der Sprenkel, Fang Chao-ying, Liu Ts'un-yan and Göran Malmqvist, and he developed an interest in the late Han dynasty through the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. His doctoral dissertation of 1968 on the development of the Chinese empire in the south and the origins of the Three Kingdoms state of Eastern Wu has provided the basis for much of his later work. De Crespigny's publications include China: The Land and its People (Melbourne, 1971); China This Century (Melbourne 1975; 2nd Edition Hong Kong 1992), both discussions of modern China. His most significant works, however, are those concerned with the Later Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Among these are Northern Frontier: The Policies and Strategy of the Later Han Empire (Canberra, 1984); while Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling and To Establish Peace (Canberra, 1996) provide an annotated translation of the chronicle for the years 157 to 189 (chapters 54 to 59) and 189 to 220 (chapters 59 to 69) from the Zizhi Tongjian of Sima Guang, respectively. He has also published more than twenty articles in Australia and overseas. Generals of the South, published in 1990, narrates the rise of the Sun clan and the formation of the Three Kingdoms tripartite. It builds on the broad range of his translation experience and is telling about his historical interests. Like Northern Frontier, the work focuses on strategies, campaigns and personalities.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1907: 1907 Milestone — The son of Richard Geoffrey Champion de Crespigny, (1907–1966), and Kathleen Cavenagh Champion de Crespigny (1908–2013), née Cudmore, Richard Rafe Champion de Crespigny was born in Adelaide in 1936.
2. 1936 (1936-03-16): Birth of Rafe de Crespigny — Australian sinologist specializing in Han dynasty history and the Three Kingdoms period.
3. 1959: 1959 Milestone — He married Christa Boltz in Turner, Australian Capital Territory on 19 May 1959.
4. 1961: 1961 Milestone — History 1961) and the Australian National University (B.
5. 1964: 1964 Milestone — Oriental Studies Honours 1964; PhD Far Eastern History 1968).
6. 1968: 1968 Milestone — His doctoral dissertation of 1968 on the development of the Chinese empire in the south and the origins of the Three Kingdoms state of Eastern Wu has provided the basis for much of his later work.
7. 1971: 1971 Milestone — De Crespigny's publications include China: The Land and its People (Melbourne, 1971); China This Century (Melbourne 1975; 2nd Edition Hong Kong 1992), both discussions of modern China.
8. 1984: 1984 Milestone — Among these are Northern Frontier: The Policies and Strategy of the Later Han Empire (Canberra, 1984); while Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling and To Establish Peace (Canberra, 1996) provide an annotated translation of the chronicle for the years 157 to 189 (chapters 54 to 59) and 189 to 220 (chapters 59 to 69) from the Zizhi Tongjian of Sima Guang, respectively.
9. 1990: 1990 Milestone — Generals of the South, published in 1990, narrates the rise of the Sun clan and the formation of the Three Kingdoms tripartite.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Rafe de Crespigny

True or False: “Rafe de Crespigny's early academic focus was solely on the Tang Dynasty, neglecting earlier periods like the Han.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): His doctoral dissertation focused on the development of the Chinese empire in the south and the origins of the Three Kingdoms state of Eastern Wu.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. E. Housman — Contemporary (Died in 1936) (1936): English classicist and poet, renowned for his scholarship and melancholic verse.
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• Al Oerter — Historical peer (Born in 1936) (1936): Four-time Olympic champion in the discus throw, pioneering athletic consistency.
• A. D. Hope — Historical peer (Born in 1907) (1907): Australian poet and essayist celebrated for his satirical wit and academic career.
• Abraham Joshua Heschel — Historical peer (Born in 1907) (1907): Leading 20th-century American rabbi, theologian, and philosopher.
• A. O. Scott — Historical peer (Born in 1966) (1966): American journalist and cultural critic specializing in film and literary analysis.
• 1936 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1936
• March 16 (03-16) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 16

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