Shangxian Tang Study (1894-1927)

As a cultural institution, the International Institute of China (Its Chinese name Shang xian tang尚贤堂"Hall of Emulating the Worthy") was established by American Presbyterian missionary Gilbert Reid in1897, with the aim of "channeling China to foreign countries and harmonizing all faiths." It had members coming from a wide spectrum of political, business, scholarly and religious circles and with nationalities of both China and Western countries. For more than three decades between1894and1927, the institute served as arguably the most important public venue for cultural, religious and political dialogue between the East and the West as well as between religious groups in China. This dissertation investigates the origin, development, institutional structure and activities of this institution by placing it in a broad international and domestic milieu of social, religious and political changes of late Qing and early republic China. Specifically, it provides substantial surveys of the personal and social networks that facilitated the daily operation of this institution and uncovers the intellectual resources that sustained its cultural and religious dialogues. The dissertation seeks to shed light on the complex and rich role played by liberal christian missionary and their institutions in shaping the cultural identity of modern China.The whole dissertation consists of the introduction, four chapters and the conclusion. The outline of the chapters is as follows:The first chapter:from1897to1927, the International Institute of China was transformed from a Christian organization with the mission among the Chinese higher classes to a cultural organization that transcended the cultural and religious boundaries.This chapter deals with the process of this transformation by connecting it with the career of Gilbert Reid against the backdrop of early twentieth century China.The second chapter offers a survey of the structure and daily operation of the institute, which includes lectureship, committees on business, scholarly and religious exchange, and the hall of exhibition. It highlights the strategies and resources that allowed the institute to become a unique platform for international co-corporation.The third chapter focuses on the high growth years of the institute in Shanghai and its abrupt end. It illuminates the connection between such growth and the unique environment of cosmopolitan Shanghai and the specific roles played by various groups of participants in shaping the image and characters of the institute. It also discusses the impact of the First World War on the fate of Gilbert Reid and the institute.The fourth chapter deals with the intellectual and religious elements that contributed to the emergence of the institute as a leading organization in the world in religious dialogue in early twentieth century, the single most significant contribution of the institute and Gilbert Reid to modern culture in China as well as the world at large. It also studies four major cases that involved the institute. They include the dialogue between Christianity and Chinese society, the debates on making Confucianism as the state religion, the reception of the9th Panchen Lama in Beijing, and the response to Islamic religion.