[KS] Vale: Ken Gardiner

[Best, Jonathan]

Thank you for this memorial posting on Ken Gardiner, although I am saddened to learn of his passing. He was a vanguard scholar in the non-nationalistic, open-minded study of early Korean history. When I was a graduate student his scholarship was, and it remains to this day, an inspiration to me. Although castigated or dismissed by a number of Korean historians over the years as being unduly influenced by Japanese scholarship, this was not only unjustified in his case, but has become overtime the cant response of some in Korea to any interpretation that deviates, however insightfully and however well documented, from the received in-house interpretational line. His fundamental reliance on evidence from a wide range of primary sources critically read should be an inspiration to us all, his critics in particular.
  
Jonathan Best

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From: koreanstudies-bounces at koreaweb.ws [koreanstudies-bounces at koreaweb.ws] On Behalf Of Dane Alston [dane.alston at anu.edu.au]
Sent: Saturday, August 06, 2011 7:11 AM
To: koreanstudies at koreaweb.ws
Subject: [KS] Vale: Ken Gardiner

Dear Korean Studies Colleagues,

Last week Professor Ken Gardiner passed away. He was not only a pioneer in pre-modern Korean studies, but was one of the earliest teachers of Korean history at ANU. Please find below the message circulated through ANU.

Regards,

Dane Alston
PhD Candidate

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Dear Colleagues:

It is with sadness that I note the passing of our former colleague Ken Gardiner.  Ken worked in the Faculty of Asian Studies (actually one of the first hires for the Faculty of Oriental Studies) teaching and researching on China and ancient Korea.  He was a civilized gentleman with broad interests and is warmly remembered by both former colleagues and students alike.  More details on his life are at http://www.heidesmith.com/Dr_Ken_Gardiner.html.
The funeral will be held at Norwood on Friday at 3pm. (any questions may be directed to Clayton Perry Funerals (62414101)).
Best regards.
Kent
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Professor Kent Anderson
Director, School of Culture, History and Language
ANU College of Asia & the Pacific and ANU College of Law
The Australian National University
Canberra, ACT 0200
tel +61-[0]2-6125 5125
mob +61-[0]432 755 460
kent.anderson at anu.edu.au