On The Chinese Organizations Of Charity Relief (Yizhen Zuzhi) In The Late Qing Dynasty (1876-1895)

Charity relief was the main form of civil charities in modern Chinese society and was also newly derived from the combination of Chinese tradition and the occidental charity culture .Due to the violent alternations of modern Chinese society which was caused by the interference of the two powers: Chinese tradition and occidental moderation, although charity relief began in 1876, it, as the newly formed principal pattern of modern Chinese civil charities, underwent prompt changes in turn . During 1876-1949, the two years of 1895 and 1904 were the two especially important turning points in the history of charity relief. The years from 1876 to 1895 is the first stage, which is its beginning and developing period, and the one which is most outstandingly characterized by the nativism under the influence of Chinese and occidental factors . The years from 1895 to 1904 is the second stage of the development of modern charity relief, during which the modernized civil organizations of charity relief were in the bud, getting the opportunity for the conscientious support from the main powers of charity relief at that time and the appearance of the Red Cross Society hospitals opened by foreigners during the Sino-Japanese War of 1894 . During the years from 1904 to 1949 ,the Chinese modernized civil organizations of charity relief appeared , which is symbolized by the appearance of Wan Guo Red Cross Society . So the years from 1876 to 1895 is the transition period in the history of charity relief , during which the charity and relief careers of Chinese traditional society changed into the modernized charity and public good career .With its study , it is helpful for us not only to knowthe emerging and historical development of charity relief patterns in the late Qing Dynasty but also to unfold the historical development from the traditional period to the modernized period in the field of Chinese charities . At the same time it also contributes to the stable and smooth development of the present civil organizations of the charities .This thesis tries to analyze the linear and simultaneous development of the organizations of charity relief during 1876-1895, under the vast background of the histories of Chinese charity and Chinese relief . It totally contains six parts, namely, introduction, chapter one, chapter two, chapter three, chapter four, as well as conclusion.In the part of introduction, I firstly elaborate on the important achievements in the fields of charity theories, charity history, relief history, etc. in academic circles and their defects; then point out the research train of thought which explains why I choose the organizations of charity relief in the late Qing Dynasty as the subject of my doctor thesis; at last point out the research methods of the thesis and the materials in it.The first two chapters lay particular emphasis on studying the external ecology of the organizations of charity relief. Chapter one emphatically analyses the social circumstance in which the organizations of charity relief in late Qing Dynasty were formed, including historical element and realistic element, Chinese traditional element and modern occidental element, all of which cause them to come into being. Chapter two analyses the beginning, development and turning of the organizations of charity relief in late Qing Dynasty from the aspects of their structure, rules, etc. and factually analyses the characteristics of their tradition and their modernizationand their historic position in the charity history and the relief history.Chapter three and chapter four lay particular emphasis on studying the internal ecology of the organizations of charity relief . Chapter three points out that in view of structures the organizations of charity relief can be divided into three kinds , namely , the departments which are attached to the organizations (the attached department), the department which are assigned to the other places (the assigned department), the branches ,all of which , as a whole , form their operating pattern . In view of functions ,this chapter respectively analyses their types , social resources as well as the causes and means of the relief application , etc .From the angle of the management of the organizations of charity relief and every social class at that time, chapter four particularly analyses the human element in the organizations. This chapter points out the managerial group of these look the political ideal as their highest value expectation in their lives .To participate in the civil charity relief career in treated by them as a ladder, with which they can go into governments in a way that it is the short-cut .As to the group of the ordinary philanthropists of charity relief who support the organizations with money, their behaviors have the character of conditioned altruism. And it is these behaviors that guarantee the speed development of Chinese civil charities in modern times.In view of the social function, the part of conclusion points out the organizations of charity relief has three functions. They are (1) the organizations are an important power to regulate the social resources ; (2) they are a impetus to propel the society forward ;(3) their appearance gives...