Williams And The Early American Sinology Originator

In the early stage of the history of Sino-American relations, all the America's knowledge of China derived from that of the American protestant missionaries who had been in China. These missionaries' activities in China are mainly what Americans did in China; therefore, the study of American missionaries in China is a key to the understanding of early Sino-American communication and mutual recognition.Samuel Wells Williams (1812 - 1884) was one of the American protestant missionaries who had been to China in the early times. He stayed in China for 43 years, from his arrival at Canton on October 26, 1833, to his departure in 1876. Since 1856, he had long been the secretary and interpreter of American Legation in China and had nine times acted as the agent of American Commissioner-in-charge in China. He devoted his life to studying and introducing traditional Chinese culture and became an authority in Sinology. Among his considerable sinological works are two representatives, The Middle Kingdom and A Syllabic Dictionary of the Chinese Language, which lay the foundation for his No. 1 position in the field of Sinology in the United States. The Middle Kingdom attempts to study Chinese civilization as a whole and it is one of the earliest sinological works. Williams's sinological works play an important role in helping modern westerners' knowledge of China. In 1876, he retired from his diplomat position and went back to his homeland; in 1878, he became the first professor of the Chair of Chinese Language and Literature in Yale College, and also the first professional sinologue in the United States; in 1881, he was elected President of the American Oriental Society, an authoritative society of Chinese studies in America. During his stay in China, Williams was both a missionary and diplomat, as well as a Sinologue, whose life displays the profile of Sino-American relations and cultural communication.Due to historical reasons, the academic community in mainland China has not yet carried out profound and systematic study of Williams, and the existing studies by scholars at home and abroad also see a great vacancy because of the limitation of disciplines, the entrenched mode of thinking and difficulties in handling two languages and two cultures. Based on such original materials as originals in Sinology, the archives relating to the missionary activities, and some scholars' achievements, this project intends to analyze and interpret Williams' achievements in Sinology and his influence of triggering early Chinese studies in America, both multi-dimensionally and panoramically, and to analyze further the characteristics of the early American Sinology. This project attempts to provide historical interpretation, comprehensive analysis and logical argumentation through taking a historical perspective, employing the methodologies of sociology and linguistics, and description and statistics as well.