Mr Tang Chun-i was born in Yibin, Sichuan province, in 1909. At the age of 17, he was admitted to the Department of Philosophy at Peking University, but later transferred to the precursor of Nanjing University. After graduation, he taught at a number of universities including Sichuan University and Huaxi University, and was also appointed as registrar at the newly established Jiangnan University in Wuxi.
Mr Tang came to Hong Kong in April 1949, where he established the New Asia College in association with Ch'ien Mu and others. Beginning in November 1950, Mr Tang had held regular cultural seminars hosted by himself and other speakers from the arts and cultural sector. A total of 139 seminars were held. In 1963, CUHK was established, and New Asia College became one of the constituent Colleges. Mr Tang was appointed as the founding chairman of the Department of Philosophy and its first Chair Professor. He retired in 1974, but continued to serve as the director of the New Asia Research Institute. The following year, he became a visiting professor at the Department of Philosophy at National Taiwan University.
Throughout his lifetime, Mr Tang Chun-i devoted himself to the reconstruction and development of humanism. His knowledge was immense, excelling in both analysis and synthesis. His erudition encompassed both the Chinese and Western philosophical traditions, with always an affinity to the moral principles of the Chinese sages.
On February 2, 1978, Mr Tang passed away in Hong Kong at the age of 70. In 1991, his complete work was published in 30 volumes.
