Educational Reform and the Emergence of Modern Libraries in China with Special Reference to the Metropolitan Library of Beijing, 1909Œ1937
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Educational Reform and the Emergence of Modern Libraries in China With Special Reference to the Metropolitan Library of Beijing, 1 0 "1 37 By Jinhong Tang A Thesis Submitted to the University of Western Sydney in fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Humanities University of Western Sydney November 2004 Statement of Authentication The work presented in this thesis is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, original except as acknowledged in the text. I hereby declare that I have not submitted this material, either in whole or in part, for a degree at this or any other institution. Jinhong Tang __________________ ( ignature) __________________ (Date) i Abstract This thesis examines the rise of modern Chinese libraries between the 1840s and the 1930s in the context of educational reform, intellectual development, national regeneration, and state building. It focuses on how educational reform and other factors influenced the way in which modern libraries came into being in China. It argues that the establishment of modern libraries in China was a complicated and long process, as China followed neither the *industrialisation and democracy+ model of the ,nited tates nor the *modernisation+ model of -ei.i Japan. Rather, modern libraries were introduced into China in the closing years of the 0ing Dynasty (114421911) to facilitate educational reform and national regeneration. The Nationalist government, established in 1928, further stimulated the expansion of Chinese libraries as part of the government5s state building efforts. Therefore, this thesis examines the Chinese case in the emergence of modern libraries6 the case of *underdevelopment+ with distinctive Chinese characteristics. To explore the factors that contributed to the underdevelopment of modern Chinese libraries as they emerged, this thesis employs a case study of the -etropolitan 7ibrary of 8ei.ing9the predecessor of the National 7ibrary of China9between 1909 and 1937 in terms of its formation, early development, and problems. This analysis reveals that both the macro and micro factors conducive to library development were not present in China before the 1920s. Even when the conditions improved during the 1920s and the 1930s, especially during the Nanjing Decade, the development of modern Chinese libraries was far from satisfactory for various reasons, with low library consciousness being an important one. The Conclusion of this thesis outlines the continuing impediment of low library consciousness in China today. ii Acknowledgments Writing a thesis is a long and lonely .ourney. Fortunately, I have been assisted and encouraged by a host of people to whom I am eternally grateful. I have been fortunate to have the supervision of Professor Edmund Fung, Dr. teven Drakeley, and Dr. David Walton, whose valuable feedback, ongoing support, and compassion accompanied me through this research pro.ect. Especially, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to my principal supervisor, Professor Edmund Fung, who is a truly decent gentleman and dedicated scholar. I have been inspired by his devotion to research, thirst for knowledge, and attention to detail. I am deeply indebted to him for his unrelieved belief in my ability to complete this research. Also, I have been fortunate to be supported by the ,niversity of Western ydney Postgraduate Award, without which this thesis would not have been possible. In addition, I am grateful to the chool of Humanities for offering me funds to complete field work in 8ei.ing, China. pecial thanks are due to 7ecturer Joseph -eloche of the ,niversity of Wollongong, Dr. John Carr and Associate Professor 8arbara PostonAAnderson of the ,niversity of Technology, ydney, who offered me selfless help when I was in difficulty. -y sincere thanks also go to 7ecturer Claire Aitchison of the ,niversity of Western ydney. In addition, I am grateful to the First Historical Archives of 8ei.ing and the National 7ibrary of China, who provided me with valuable primary materials when I did field work in 8ei.ing, China. Finally, a special thank you goes to my grandparents who passed away more than ten years ago. Their love filled my childhood with sweetness. I dedicate this thesis to them. iii Table of Contents Statement of Authentication ................................................................................i Abstract ......................................................................................................................ii Acknowledgments................................................................................................. iii Table of Contents...................................................................................................iv List of Figures .........................................................................................................ix Introduction ..............................................................................................................1 O-E 8A IC CONCEPT ......................................................................................1 The library institution .........................................................................................1 The library institution in China........................................................................10 7ITERAT,RE RECIEW ........................................................................................11 Libraries in China..............................................................................................12 The history of book repositories.......................................................................13 The development of modern libraries ..............................................................14 The emergence of modern libraries .................................................................18 The idea of the national library ........................................................................20 Conceptual discussions ....................................................................................20 Functional analysis..........................................................................................21 Historical origins of national libraries............................................................25 RE EARCH 0,E TION .....................................................................................28 -ETHODO7OEF ..................................................................................................29 Chapter 1 Traditional Book epositories in Imperial China and Their Decline in the Late "ing.........................................................................32 ORIEIN AND DECE7OP-ENT OF 8OOG REPO ITORIE IN I-PERIA7 CHINA............................................................................................32 Government book repositories..........................................................................33 Private book repositories...................................................................................39 iv Academy book repositories ...............................................................................41 Temple book repositories ..................................................................................43 DEC7INE OF 8OOG REPO ITORIE IN THE 7ATE 0INE.............................44 Government book repositories..........................................................................44 Private book repositories...................................................................................45 Academy and temple book repositories ...........................................................48 A8 ENCE OF -ODERN 7I8RARIE IN CHINA 8EFORE THE -IDA NINETEENTH CENT,RF.....................................................................................49 An underdeveloped agricultural economy.......................................................49 Lack of breakthroughs in the publishing industry and printing technologies..........................................................................................50 Lack of openness in traditional culture ...........................................................51 CONC7, ION........................................................................................................53 Chapter 2 Advocacy of Modern Libraries in the Late "ing ......................................55 -I IONARF INF7,ENCE .................................................................................51 Educational institution libraries founded by the missionaries ......................51 Missionary society libraries ..............................................................................11 Attention to modern libraries in the missionary publications.......................13 Significance of the missionaries) introduction of modern libraries ..............15 CHINE E ADCOCACF.........................................................................................11 Introduction of modern libraries in early translated works..........................11 *Discovery+ of modern libraries by early Chinese diplomats .......................18 Advocacy of modern libraries by reformist Chinese scholars.......................72 Advocacy of modern libraries by reform,minded Chinese officials .............79 CONC7, ION........................................................................................................82 Chapter 3 Founding of Modern Libraries in the Late "ing ......................................84 ED,CATIONA7 REFOR- AND THE FO,NDINE OF -ODERN 7I8RARIE