On The Trend Of Thought Of Nationalism In Modern China (1919—1949)

Chinese nationalism in modern sense emerged between the end of 19th century and the beginning of 20th century. In the first half of 20th century, it made history of nation -saving. By analyzing the background of the various trends of thought in modern China, we found there is an undercurrent of nationalism ran through them, taking part in the course of modernization in China and becoming the strongest and sustained strength since the mid-19^th century. On the one hand, nationalism embodied itself in resisting invasion breaking conventional ideas and manifesting freedom, equality and liberation, etc., and making a claim in a brand new way to equal status for China in the international relationship. On the other hand, it involves in the rich content of modern nation, not only including territory and sovereignty, but also class, race, political system, freedom, democratic public and other aspects. This thesis deals with nationalism between the May 4th Movement of 1919 and the end of 1940s (the establishment of the People's Republic of China). It consists of 3 sections: the introduction, the body and the conclusion.The first section is a general survey on the topic, including the research achievements and the existing problems, and brief definitions and analysis of some relative terms as well. It ends with a brief explanation of its originality and deficiency.There are five chapters in the body. Chapter 1 traces the form and initial development of nationalism in China. The author believes that the trend of thought of modern nationalism sprang up after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 and moved forward both the directions of improvement and revolution. Among them the nationalism in the Sun Yat-sen's revolution greatly influenced Chinese society and politics. Chapter 2 mainly discusses the common awareness of saving the nation from destruction and the wish to strengthen the nation in the May 4th Movement when it considered as a political and spiritual event. From theview of modern nationalism, this movement embodied the rapid development of modern Chinese nationalism, and "nation" has become the highest object of devotion. From the view of politics, it hold an unequivocal stand of opposing both imperialism and feudalism, and of preserving national sovereignty and dignity. From the cultural and ideological aspects, it initiated democratic and scientific modern sense, and advocate improvement of national character and a thorough critique of feudal culture, thus to form new ideology and establish a new order, achieve national independence, individual liberation, and social fair in order to promote modernization in China. Chapter 3 mainly inquires into Chinese free intellectuals' concern for nationalism after the May 4th Movement. It inspects their ideal design of the national future and their dilemma between the great national objective and individual value belief. Chapter 4 analyses the development of cultural nationalism after the May 4th Movement. As an important part in the history of nation-saving, cultural nationalism stuck to their comprehension of the relationship between national tradition and nation, and carried it forward after the May 4th Movement. Different parties, such as the New-Confucian School, Chinese Natural Cultural Clique, the Zhanguo Ce Clique, etc., in spite of their own characteristics in theory construction and cultural practice, they share the same desire to search for a way for modern China in the creation and development of national cultural. Chapter 5 deals with the development and change of nationalism after the May 4th Movement as a political system, ideology and social movement in the way of pursuing a modern nation — the highest objective. The two major political parties — Kuomintang and the Communist Party of China, organized and took advantage of nationalism under the special historical background, and they interpreted nationalism through the common political community they designed, the value system they believed and the social system they pursued. The conclusion is a brief summary. It points out that nationalism as a...