Western Society In The Travel Notes On Foreign Places In Late Qing Dynasty

Travel notes on foreign places in late Qing Dynasty is the product of special historical circumstances. They are description of the feelings of the travelers who accepted and at the same time resisted the western cultures. Basing on these materials, it is of great academic and realistic significance to study the travelers' views of the West. The writer cardings these travel notes carefully to show the travellers' special attention to the western social life and their opinions on the western society. The writer announce the cause of which is disclosed by comparison and taking into account of the period of history and the social circumstances. The writer tentatively makes use of the theories about Sociology,Cultural Anthropology and Modernization for reference in order to strengthen the rational persuasiveness。Through research, we know that the travelers thought about the dynamic force for the development of modern science, analyzed the conditions for modern science and technology to popularize in China and gradually accepted modern science and technology and the ways of management. They advocated learning from the West and waging a commercial war against the West. During the course of studying the western ways of life, the travelers analyzed the reasons for western female's being respected and thought back the Chinese traditional thoughts. They were concerned about the relationship between the western education and social development and called on utilizing step by step the modern education experiences while integrating China's real situation. It shows the difference between western and Chinese cultures that the Chinese west travelers felt uncomfortable in facing western social customs. The west travelers concerned themselves with the western ways of life and fully realized the importance of newspapers and the superiority of the western political system. The travelers were also aware of the existence of the environmental and social problems in western society. The travelers analyzed the reasons for the Chinese workers' being looked down upon, described their living conditions and basing on this made a comparison of the national characters of the West and China.