German sinologist and librarian
Ernest Julius Walter Simon, CBE, FBA (10 June 1893 – 22 February 1981) was a German sinologist and librarian.
Biography
Ernest Julius Walter Simon was born in Berlin. He studied at the University of Berlin until fleeing the Nazis in 1934. He settled in London where he spent the rest of his life apart from brief periods in other countries as a visiting professor. He taught Chinese at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London from 1947 to 1960. He made important contributions to historical Chinese phonology and Sino-Tibetan linguistics. His Chinese name was Ximen Huade (西門華德, Xīmén Huádé).
Academic and journalism career
- Higher Library Service, Berlin University Library, 1919–35
- Exchange Librarian, National Library of Peking, 1932–33
- Lecturer in Chinese, University of Berlin, 1926–32; Extraordinary Professor of Chinese, University of Berlin, 1932–34
- Lecturer, School of Oriental and African Studies, 1936; Reader in Chinese, University of London, 1938; Professor of Chinese, University of London, 1947–60, Emeritus Professor, 1960
- Visiting Professor: University of Toronto, 1961–62; Australian National University, Canberra, 1962; Tokyo, Canberra and Melbourne, 1970
- Editor, Asia Major, 1964–75
- Honorary Fellow, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
- Honorary Vice-President, Royal Asiatic Society, 1976–1981 (Gold Medal, 1977)
He was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1961.
