Wu Qian Family Study

This dissertation mainly concerns about a culturally prominent families's inheriting and changing in modern China. This families come from Wuxing of Zhejiang province, and the first famous generation is Qian Zhenlun and Qian Zhenchang, who are brother. Their success in the Imperial Examination is the beginning of their families' history. Analysis on their knowledge structure and interpersonal networks is what the following related chapters primarily focus on. Qian Xun, Qian Zhenchang's first son, is a diplomat in late Qing Dynasty, he plays a necessary role in the Reform Movement of 1898, Zhang Zhidong's reform and new policies in Hubei province. Understanding his knowledge and mental evolution is based on the study of his whole life. Shan shili, Qian xun's wife, is a famous literate in late Qing Dynasty. The opinion that Shan shili is a female pioneer who makes for the world maked the most studies on Shan Shili pay more attention to her new and modern side, in fact, there are many traditional factors in her thoughts and feelings world. Qian Xuantong, Qian Zhenchang's second son, who plays a key role in the New Culture Movement is widely known for his aggressive anti-tradition points of view. But just as most of the people leading, the New Culture Movement, the relation between tradition and modernity in Qian Xuantong's thoughts is complex. In this text, the envolution of Qian Xuantong's thoughts before and after the New Culture Movement and his point of nation-state will be emphasized discussed. To most Chinese today, the most famous member in Qian's families is Qian Sanqiang, who is Qian Xuantong's third son and whose name now become a symbol of the modern science development in the People's Republic of China. Therefore, we will put more attention on the relations between science and politics in Qian Sanqiang's life.The inheriting, break and declining of culturally prominent families in modern China show a collapse of the social self-organization system, and mirror the distinct change of society structure, educational system, academic system, the relationship between generations in modern China. When leaving from the institutional basis of the Officialdom System and the Imperial Examination System, we have the chances to realize the significance of culturally prominent families in modern China.