"Awakened China":the 1911 Revolution Through Missionaries' Eyes

This thesis focuses China's 1911 Revolution through Christian missionaries'eyes. Missionaries made various materials about 1911 Revolution, including their letters, diaries, articles in church magazines, reports to mission board. The most important materials are books which had been written by missionaries on 1911 Revolution during this period. All these materials are very precious to study 1911 Revolution, but have not been fully utilized. This thesis attempts to make use of these materials to see missionaries'understanding of the complex situation of China before 1911, their experiences in the Revolution, their interpretation of the Revolution and its effect. Lots of English materials on 1911 Revolution has been used and translated in this thesis.This thesis consists six chapters, besides introduction. The first chapter sketches the development of Christian movement in late Qing. The work that had been done by missionaries had a great influence on development of Chinese Society, especially education and literatures. The second chapter discusses missionaries'understanding of situation of China before 1911 Revolution, focuses on the last ten years of Qing Dynasty. When missionaries came to China in 19th century, from their points, China was conservative, backward and heathen. China had been accommodating herself to the world, but missionaries'impressions were negative rather than positive. Missionaries'attitude toward Qing government and China had been changing during the New Reformation period. Missionaries did not have confidence in Qing Government just after the Boxer Movement, they gradually indentified with the reformation when new policy were put into practice. For some missionaries, autocracy could be everlasting in China, who has been in the democratic currents in the whole world. Missionaries were prone to create a positive image of China in this period.Chapter Three, Four, and Five are the main parts of this thesis; focus on missionaries'experience in the 1911 Revolution and their interpretation of the Revolution. Chapter Three and Four narrates missionaries'experiences in 1911 revolution in Wuhan, Xi'an, Nanjing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Tianjin, Kunming, etc. Generally, foreigners including missionaries were protected by Qing Officials and revolutionaries in the 1911 Revolution. Sometimes missionaries became the most trust-worthy people, who deserved respect. The activities and services supplied by missionaries changed Chinese's views of foreigners. Missionaries felt friendly feeling from all classes, and they show their sympathy for Chinese Revolution movementChapter Five emphasizes missionaries'analysis and interpretation of the 1911 Revolution. The three features of the Chinese Revolution were very impressive to missionaries, which were quick result of long preparation, bloodless, and not anti-foreign. Missionaries had different opinions on nature of the 1911 Revolution, most considered it as revolution while someone preferred evolution. Not all missionaries thought republican regime was the most suitable for Chinese people, but generally they were positive and optimistic with future of China. Missionaries did not fail to see the difficulties in China's transformation, but they believed in Chinese people. When missionaries analyzed the Chinese Revolution, they focused on the influence of Christianity, especially Christianity as a leavening force to bring about revolution, and a crucial element to China's future. As to the significance of the 1911 Revolution, missionaries not only emphasized effect that brought on China, also the great influence it had on Asia, even the whole world. Missionaries paid less attention to political situation of China in the wake of the Second Revolution and World War I, but they still had confidence in China's future.The sixth chapter discusses the image of China created by missionaries in this period and its effect, focuses on American missionaries. Missionaries were prone to paint a more positive image of China after 1900, as to the important events took place in China and changes in the nature of missionary work. Missionaries'attitudes towards China and Chinese people were had been positive since the New Reformation in Lat Qing, and this tendency was reinforced strongly by the 1911Revolution. China was progressive, wakened in missionaries'eyes. The image of China created by missionaries in this period affected Americans at that time, but also had a far-reaching influence on image of Chinese in America in first half of 20th century.