Hellmut Wilhelm, Retired Professor And Authority On Chinese Culture

Hellmut Wilhelm's passion for studying Chinese culture was visible as you walked into his office at the University of Washington.

Most of the time, the professor of Chinese history and literature would be buried in reference books, peeking out only to answer a question or leave for a class.

Wilhelm, who retired and became professor emeritus in Asian languages and literature at the UW in 1971, died Thursday of pneumonia. He was 84.

Wilhelm's lectures also symbolized his love of the study of Chinese culture.

``They were so good the first time I took his class for credit that I wanted to hear them again,'' said David Knechtges, a former student who is chairman of the UW Department of Asian Languages and Literature.

Knechtges, now 60, sat in on Wilhelm's lectures for three years - two of them without receiving credit.

``They were never the same,'' he said. ``Not many professors can do that.''

Wilhelm was most noted for his translations and interpretations of the ``Book of Changes,'' an ancient history of Chinese literature, philosophy and history. The book is still held by some in China with the same reverence many Americans hold the Bible.

``He believed it (the Book of Changes) represented the essence of Chinese thought and values,'' Knechtges said.

During World War II, Wilhelm delivered a series of lectures about the book in Peking.

Those lectures were translated into German in 1944 and then to English. Wilhelm's work is regarded as the best introduction to the ``Book of Changes,'' Knechtges said.

Born in China and raised in Germany, Wilhelm learned much of his passion for studying China from from his father, Richard Wilhelm, also a noted scholar of Chinese culture and an interpreter of the ``Book of Changes.''

Richard Wilhelm saw to it that Hellmut's German schooling was combined with private lessons in Chinese.

Wilhelm came to the University of Washington in 1948 as a lecturer in Chinese History.

He described himself as a Sinologue, one who studies all aspects of Chinese culture. That approach to the study of China was often criticized by scholars.

Scholars, most often social scientists who studied certain aspects of China, ``felt it was impossible to take this universal view'' of Chinese culture, Knechtges said. ``In the process I think they went overboard.''

But Wilhelm stuck to his beliefs, even becoming president of the Seattle Anthropological Society, where he often had to argue his beliefs of universal study with other scientists, Knechtges said.

His range of studies was wide, covering more than 1,000 years of Chinese history.

``He appeared to be a bottomless pit when it came to extracting information from him,'' said Jack Dull, acting director of the Jackson School of International Studies at the UW and former Wilhelm student.

``His students were absolutely devoted to him,'' said George Taylor, former director of the Far Eastern and Slavic Languages Department. ``I've never seen anything quite like it.''

His most recent project, in 1988, was a study of Chinese folk and fairy tales across the centuries.

He is survived by his wife, Erica, of Seattle, and sons Crispin of Everett, and Marc of Anchorage.

At Wilhelm's request, there will be no funeral service. Donations may be made to the Group Health Foundation.