Xu Ke

Xu Ke was a Chinese writer and historian who lived during the late Qing dynasty and the early Republic of China. He was born in Tieling, Fengtian Province (now Liaoning) in 1869. He passed the imperial examination in 1894 and became a jinshi (advanced scholar). He served as an official in various provinces, including Sichuan, Huguang, and the Three Northeast Provinces. He was also a member of the Royal Academy of History and the Grand Council. He was known for his expertise in geography, astronomy, mathematics, and literature. He wrote an "unofficial" history of the Qing dynasty, Qing Bai Lei Chao, published in 48 volumes in 1917. The book covers various aspects of life during the Qing dynasty, such as politics, economy, culture, religion, education, military, and foreign relations. It is considered a valuable source of information and a masterpiece of historical writing. Xu Ke also wrote other works, such as Xu Ke's Notes on the Qing Dynasty, Xu Ke's Collection of Poems, and Xu Ke's Collection of Essays. He died of natural causes in Beijing in 1927. He was buried in the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery.