In The 1930s Hunan Worship Of Confucius By The Study

The tradition of esteeming Confucius and read classics had existed nearly 2000 years in China. Because it was not only the required course for ancient scholars to pursue the scholarly honor and official rank but also the means of feudal governors to direct the public feeling; reunite the social power and establish the legal domination around the country as well, it played an important role in Chinese politics, thought, history of education. There are many Academic studies on situation of esteeming Confucius and reading Classics during Yuan-Shikai regime, but few studies concern such topic of Hunan especially during 30s of 20th century. Based on the materials of Hunan archives and many countries archives as well as achievements of scholarly circles involved, the article tried to make a detailed exposition of the movement of esteeming Confucius and reading Classics in Hunan during 30s of 20th century. The article has five chapters:Chapter one mainly expounds some important movement of esteeming Confucius and reading Classics from 1928 to 1937 in Hunan. Such movement in Hunan before 1934 mainly exited in non-government organization, Hejian supported this kind of movement and took part in many Offering Sacrifices to Confucius presided by such kind of organization vigorously and tried to control it. After 1934, as Nanjing Government promoted esteeming Confucius publicly, great offering Sacrifices and Birthday Anniversary of Confucius took place both in Qufu and Nanjing. These kinds of activities promoted the climax of the same movement in Hunan. The development of offering Sacrifices and esteeming Confucius made people of Hunan more conservative. Hejian felt offering Sacrifices to Confucius was not enough so he put forward the suggestion of reading classics of Confucius, thus a variety of avocations of reading classics of Confucius emerged.Chapter two elaborates the purports and measures of the Reading Classics Movement carrying out by Hejian and analyses the source of his thought as well as the social foundation of such Movement. Used the Legal and political theory of Jean-Marc Coicard and Jurgen Habermas,the article shows that Hejian's purpose of practicing the Reading Classics was to bring people's thoughts into the scope of Confucius school and reunite the social power as well as construct the legal basis of governing Hunan province. Hejian advocated reading Classics from the primary school and adopted some methods to promote such Movement throughout Hunan. The were two reasons for Hejian's advocacy, the first reason was Hejian was influenced by Huxiang conservative ideology; the second reason was the avocations made by Jingoish during the 30s.Also, he was affected by Zhengyuan and squires of Hunan. The Squires of Hunan was the main force to depend and they formed the social foundation of the reading classics movement.Chapter three expounds the activities of reading classics held by Chuanshan scholarly group, Hunan Imperial College and Confucius school shows the failure of Reading Classics Movement. Chuanshan scholarly group, Hunan Imperial College and Confucius school was the major place of advocacy of Reading Classics Movement, these groups took many activities such as published periodicals, enrolled students, solicited articles during Spring and Autumn and gave examinations of classics. But in the late 1935, as there were few students as well as articles appeared, these activities finally came to the end. In the 5thCentral Meeting of People's Party, Hejian put forward the proposal of reading classics but was criticized by Hushi. At the same time, Anti-Japan war broke out and Hejian was transferred out of Hunan, thus the activity of reading classics in Hunan finished.Chapter four relates the contradiction between Hejian's advocacy of reading classics of Confucius and the actual educational condition in Hunan province. It begins with analysis of the influence of Huxiang culture and the modern educational reform in Hunan on the advocacy of reading classics. In late 19th century, learning wester...