Erwin Julius Ritter[1] von Zach (18 April 1872 – 19 January 1942) was an Austrian diplomat and sinologist noted for his studies of Chinese literature and its translation, as well as his often harsh criticism of other scholars' work.

[2] In 1919, following Austria-Hungary's dissolution after its defeat in World War I, von Zach's diplomatic post ceased to exist, leaving him with only a small pension.

[2] In 1942, near the height of World War II, the 69-year-old von Zach and a large number of Germans were put onto a Dutch ship for transport to Sri Lanka.

[4] By the early 1930s, Paul Pelliot felt von Zach's rude and demeaning writings had become unbearable, and banned him from ever publishing articles in T'oung Pao.

Although his arrogance and contentious nature alienated him from his colleagues throughout his life, von Zach's talent and insights ensured that much of his work was published and appreciated for its quality.