Yang Du

Yang was born into a family of farming background in the village of Shitang (Chinese: 石塘村), in the town of Jiangyu (Chinese: 姜畬镇), Xiangtan in Hunan province.^[3] His grandfather, Yang Litang (Chinese: 楊禮堂), was a soldier of the Xiang Army. His father, Yang Yisheng (Chinese: 楊懿生), was a farmer.^[3] Yang was the elder of three children. His father died of illness when he was 10 years old, Yang was raised by his uncle, Yang Ruisheng (Chinese: 楊瑞生).^[3]

Yang studied under Wang Kaiyun (Chinese: 王闿運).^[3] His classmates such as: Xia Shoutian (Chinese: 夏壽田), Yang Rui (Chinese: 楊銳), Liu Guangdi (Chinese: 劉光第), Liu Kuiyi (Chinese: 劉揆一), and Qi Baishi (Chinese: 齊白石).^[3]

In 1902, Yang went to Japan, studying in Hongwen Academy (Chinese: 弘文學院).^[3] In 1904, Yang studied politics in Hosei University.^[3]

In 1911, Yang served as the Director of the National Bureau of Statistics.^[3][4] In 1914, Yang became a senator in the senate. When Yuan Shikai died, Yang became a buddhist.^[3]

In 1922, Yang joined the Kuomintang in Shanghai.^[3] In 1929, Yang joined the Chinese Communist Party.^[3][5][6]

In September 1931, Yang died of illness in Shanghai.^[3]

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Yang had two sons with Huang Hua (Chinese: 黃華) and six with Xu Canleng (Chinese: 徐粲楞) (three sons and three daughters).

With Huang Hua:

• Dr. Yang Gongshu (Chinese: 楊公庶), chemist, he was a graduate student in chemistry at the Berlin University.
• Dr. Yang Gongzhao (Chinese: 楊公兆), geographer, he was a graduate student in geology at the Berlin University.

With Xu Canleng:

• Yang Yunhui (Chinese: 楊雲慧), dramatist.
• Yang Yunbi (Chinese: 楊雲碧)
• Yang Gongsu (Chinese: 楊公素)
• Yang Gongmin (Chinese: 楊公敏)
• Yang Yunjie (Chinese: 楊雲潔)
• Yang Gongwu (Chinese: 楊公武)