MARIA TAN, NÉE HÄUSER
1898, Würzburg — 1975, Beijing
German-language educator and lecturer at Peking University
Maria Tan was born in Germany and moved to China in 1928. She worked as a German-language educator and later taught at Peking University.
KASSEL
c. 1898–late 1910s
Maria Häuser grew up in Kassel in the household of her father, Jacob Häuser, an engineer working in locomotive construction.
Her mother died of tuberculosis when Maria was three years old.
After her father remarried, Maria attended a Catholic boarding school until completing her secondary education.
She later moved to Berlin. The exact year of her departure has not yet been established.
BERLIN
Late 1910s or early 1920s–1928
Maria studied advertising and interior design at an institute in Berlin. The institution has not yet been identified.
She later worked in a design studio.
According to family records, she met the Chinese physician Dr. med. Shou-Ren Tan（譚守仁）during a period in which he was involved in her medical care.
4 December 1928
Maria Häuser and Dr. med. Shou-Ren Tan married at Standesamt Lichtenberg II in Berlin.
Shortly after their marriage, they left Germany and travelled to China through Russia and Siberia.
SIBERIA AND LAKE BAIKAL
December 1928
Maria and Dr. med. Shou-Ren Tan travelled through Siberia and the Lake Baikal region on their journey to China.
SHANGHAI
Late December 1928 / early January 1929
Maria and Dr. med. Shou-Ren Tan arrived in Shanghai around the beginning of January 1929.
1931
Her second daughter, Tan Aoshuang（譚傲霜）, was born in Shanghai.
NANJING
1929–1937
Nanjing became one of the family’s principal places of residence after their arrival in China.
1930
Her eldest daughter, Tan Xuemei（譚雪梅）, was born in Nanjing.
During the 1930s
Maria taught German at several military and educational institutions in Nanjing.
These included National Central University, the Central Military Academy (Whampoa Military Academy) and the Army Medical College.
The exact dates and sequence of these appointments remain under investigation.
1934
Her elder son, Tan Shilin（譚時霖）, was born in Nanjing.
1935
Maria attended the tenth anniversary celebrations of the Central Military Academy with her family.
1937
Following the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the family temporarily relocated to Chenzhuang on the outskirts of Nanjing.
Later that year, Maria left Nanjing with her children and travelled towards Chongqing by boat.
Dr. med. Shou-Ren Tan remained behind for a period while treating wounded soldiers and refugees.
CHONGQING
1937–1945
Maria travelled westwards by river with her children towards Chongqing.
After arriving in Chongqing, the family initially stayed near Hepingmen.
They later rented the third floor of a three-storey brick house owned by an American missionary organisation.
The family subsequently moved to the Nanshan area, where they lived during the war.
1939
Her youngest son, Tan Shiting（譚時霆）, was born in Chongqing.
After 1945
The family left Chongqing.
Their subsequent places of residence included Nanjing, Shanghai and Qingdao. The precise chronology remains under investigation.
SHANGHAI
1947
Maria Tan and Dr. med. Shou-Ren Tan held a Catholic wedding ceremony at a chapel on Route Mgr. Maresca, now Wuyuan Road.
They subsequently moved to an apartment on the same street.
QINGDAO
After 1947
Maria separated from Dr. med. Shou-Ren Tan.
She moved to Qingdao with Tan Shilin（譚時霖）and Tan Shiting（譚時霆）and worked at a German hospital.
The name of the institution and the exact dates of her employment have not yet been established.
BEIJING
1951–1975
1951
Maria returned to Beijing with Tan Shiting.
She received the divorce papers from Dr. med. Shou-Ren Tan.
Before 1952
Maria taught German at the Catholic Fu Jen University in Beijing.
1952
During the nationwide reorganisation of Chinese higher education, Maria transferred to the Department of Western Languages at Peking University.
At Peking University, she taught German pronunciation, phonetics and spoken German.
1955
Maria became a citizen of the People’s Republic of China.
According to family records, she was later recognised by Premier Zhou Enlai as one of China’s international friends. The precise official wording of this recognition remains to be verified.
LIYUZHOU, JIANGXI
1973
During the Cultural Revolution, Maria was sent to Peking University’s May Seventh Cadre School at Liyuzhou, near Poyang Lake in Jiangxi Province.
She was required to undertake agricultural labour, collective political study and ideological re-education.
After several months of labour and inadequate nutrition, she became seriously ill and was sent back to Beijing.
GERMANY
1974
Maria received permission from Peking University to visit Germany for six months.
BEIJING
1974
After returning to Beijing, Maria developed acute bronchitis.
She was admitted to the former Peking Union Medical College Hospital.
1975
Maria Tan died at the former Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing.
She was cremated at Babaoshan in Beijing.
