J. W. de Groot

Born in 1854, de Groot was a Dutch sinologist and historian of religion whose work focused on Chinese beliefs, rituals, and social customs. He studied and later taught at Leiden University, then went on to teach at the University of Berlin.

He is chiefly remembered for The Religious System of China, a monumental multivolume work that brought together detailed research on Chinese religion, everyday practices, and institutions. His writing helped shape early Western understanding of Chinese religious life and made him an important figure in the history of Sinology.

De Groot died in 1921, but his scholarship remains notable for its ambition and range. Readers interested in religion, cultural history, and the development of Chinese studies will find his work especially significant.