EDUCATIONAL REFORM IN CHINA, 1880-1910: TIMOTHY RICHARD AND HIS VISION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION GJ! EUNICE V. JOHNSON A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2001 Copyright 2001 by Eunice V. Johnson DEDICATED TO THE GLORY OF GOD in loving memory of MY PARENTS and in honor of the SHANXI UNIVERSITY CENTENNIAL May 8, 2002 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Unless the Lord build the house, they that build it labor in vain. Proverbs 16:12 Whoever embarks on the quest of a doctoral dissertation is quickly struck with the enormity of the task. I am no exception, and I must say that I know I have not completed this research by my efforts alone. Accordingly, I must acknowledge there - have been many along the way who have lent many kinds of support or assistance. And I am sure there will be many whom I will fail to thank by name because of the frailty of my memory or gaps in my notes. Nevertheless, I want to try to express my gratimde and to acknowledge my indebtedness to those whose names I do remember for their invaluable contributions to various aspects of this research. Throughout the entirety of my doctoral program and this dissertation research, I must acknowledge that I know that my steps have been directed by the Holy Spirit of my Lord, Jesus Christ. From the topic selection to which journals to browse, from locating relatives of deceased missionaries contemporaneous with Timothy Richard to finding material by Richard not cited in any research, this has been an adventure of discovery—almost like a treasure hunt—directed by God's Spirit for the continued revelation and unfolding of His good and perfect will. The doctoral dissertation committee can be the doctoral candidate's mainstay. Some of my committee members served as such for the duration, more than 12 years. iv Though my committee has expanded and contracted over these years, my long-suffering chairman, Dr. Richard R. Renner, has remained constant. I am humbly grateful he was open and creative enough to allow me to combine in doctoral scholarship the great passions in my life—Jesus, China, and education—always demanding excellence and clarity of thought and expression as I engaged in this labor of love. He demonstrated much patience and understanding as I experienced the vicissitudes of life as a "mature" smdent. Dr. Arthur Newman and Dr. Arthur White, professors in the University of Florida College of Education's Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Foundations, have also both served the duration on my committee giving me encouragement and asking hard questions as needed. Dr. Gene Thursby, professor in the Department of Religion, is the newest member of the committee, but he too gave thoughtful reading to all I have given him and asked provocative questions. I also want to acknowledge my indebtedness to other professors. Dr. Cynthia Chennault, associate professor in the University of Florida's Department of African and Asian Languages and Literamres, and Dr. Michael Ts'in, director of Asian smdies and associate professor of Asian history, at various times, places, and capacities advised me. I would be greatly remiss if I did not acknowledge a special indebtedness to a former member of my committee. Dr. Edward A. McCord, who is associate professor of History and former associate dean in George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. For his friendship and for his faith and encouragement of my scholarly potential over the last more than 12 years, words are not sufficient, but I am eternally grateful. He always gave much constructive criticism whenever he "bled red" on any paper he thoughtfully read. This dissertation research could not have been done without the tremendous efforts of many people in the libraries at various instimtions. In the George Smathers Library at the University of Florida, I would like to say a special "thank you" to David, Leilani, Athena, Melanie, Terry, Tricia, Mary, Laurie, Blake, Frank, Colleen, and John. Most of my xeroxed primary documents other than the Richard material has been located and procured over the years though their diligent efforts and direction. The staff of the University of Florida College of Education's Library also helped. I also want to say thank you to Suzanne, Carrie, Carol, Linda, and Audrey for the encouragement and assistance they provided through the years. I also want to take this oppormnity to thank the library staffs at these other instimtions for their patient assistance: University of Toronto, Maryknoll Seminary, Johns Hopkins University, University of South Carolina, Yale Divinity School (especially Joan Duffy and Martha Smalley), University of Wales, the National Library of Wales, Regent's Park College in Oxford, Overseas Ministries Smdy Center, and the Overseas Missionary Fellowship in Toronto. Primary documents were made available through the archives at the Historical Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the National Library of Wales, Maryknoll Seminary, the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the personal collection of Mrs. Doreen Raymer, the granddaughter of Shanxi University's first president of the Western Smdies Department. I also thank Mrs. Kathrine Gibbs, the mother of Dr. Paul vi Gibbs, former director of the University of Florida's International Programs, who resides in Wales. She provided invaluable assistance in locating and providing copies of information and scouting out significant sites of Richard's life. I am very grateful to Dr. Paul Gibbs for introducing me to his delightful mother. At various times during the 12-year period required to complete this dissertation, I received financial assistance through a number of organizations in the form of scholarships. I would like to take this oppormnity to acknowledge my deep sense of gratitude for their financial support and for their recognition of the importance of this research: the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education for twice awarding me the Gerald H. Read Laureate Doctoral Scholarship in International and Comparative Education; the University of Florida Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi for granting me the Harry H. Sisler Graduate Student Award; the University of Florida Asian Studies faculty for making me the first student ever to be twice-awarded the Alice M. Zirger Memorial Scholarship in Asian Studies; and the University of Florida Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi for awarding me the Robert Curran Memorial Scholarship. Furthermore, I would like to express my deep appreciation to Dr. Jean Casagrande and my colleagues at the University of Florida English Language Institute where I have taught for five years, first as a graduate assistant now as a visiting lecturer, for their friendship and many kindnesses. ' Encouragement, friendship, as well as special assistance in various forms have been given to me by many others along this journey. Dr. Ruth Hayhoe, formerly of the Ontario Insfitute for Studies in Education and now Director of the Hong Kong Institute vii for Education, was always there with an encouraging word in season. Dr. Xu Xiaoguang at Vanderbih University encouraged and gave me primary material he had used in his research on the missionary journalist who had worked many years with Timothy Richard, the Reverend Dr. Young J. Allen. I have also been privileged to carry on very lively correspondences with Dr. Cyril G. Williams, professor emeritus in Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Wales—Lampeter and Mr. Archie C. Hills, librarian at the Bible College of Wales in Swansea. My family and friends have also been among my most stalwart supporters. My sisters Claire and Dawn and my brother Loys supported me in every sense of the word. My father and mother, both now deceased, early instilled in me the value of education. They nurtured my curious mind as well as my spirit, and I wish to honor their memories. The prayer support and wise counsel, particularly by Susan Cemi, Anne Fugate, The Groups (Bev, Maribel, Pam, Wendy, Katie, Tracy, Marlis, Diane, and Susan), Mary Sessums, Susan Shepperd, and Sue and Joe Wise have been my sure defense and strength during the writing of this dissertation. I want especially to thank Mike and Theresa William for their prayer, friendship, and this computer. Putting the feet to my early vision of going to China was made pleasant through the companionship of my dear friend and comrade teacher, Lydia D. Holly, in 1985 at Shanxi Medical College in Taiyuan. To my Chinese friends and students in China who opened their hearts and lives to me, I owe an incalculable debt. Most particularly, I remember "Teacher Chou," Wu Jianjun, Yang Tao, Guo Jinfang, and Nan Hanmei for their friendship, many kindnesses and graciousness, sacrifices as well as encouragement. I remember my Chinese friends viii here—Fang Xiaohong, Zhou Jie, and Lian Bitao. I want to say a special thank you to Mrs. Doreen Raymer and to Sister Virginia Therese (Dr. Rita T. Johnson) for their personal encouragement, hospitality during my 1992 visit, and access to various information and primary materials in their possession. I would also like to thank my friend Diana Beatty, R.M.T. for her friendship and "hands of blessing" over the years. Finally, I want to acknowledge two very special people. While I was "pregnant" with this dissertation, my friend Susan Al-Shama allowed me the privilege of sharing the joys of motherhood as I witnessed the delivery of her youngest son Eric and later celebrated various milestones in his life over the last ten years. In the end, to God be all the glory, honor, praise, and thanksgiving! ix TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS iv KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS xii ABSTRACT xiii CHAPTERS I.