Wm. Theodore De Bary

About the Author

Wm. Theodore De Bary was a distinguished scholar of East Asian studies, renowned for his profound contributions to the understanding of Chinese and Korean intellectual history. Born in 1919, he dedicated his career to translating and compiling primary sources that illuminate the philosophical, literary, and cultural traditions of Asia. As a longtime professor at Columbia University, De Bary edited numerous volumes that bridged Eastern thought with Western academia, fostering greater cross-cultural appreciation. His meticulous scholarship emphasized the humanistic aspects of Confucian classics and their evolution through centuries of social change. De Bary's work, including the acclaimed Sources of Korean Tradition, Vol. 2: From the Sixteenth to the Twentieth Centuries, remains essential for students and researchers exploring Korea's rich heritage amid modernization and colonial influences. He passed away in 2017, leaving a legacy of accessible yet rigorous academic resources.