The Research Of The Imperial Educational System In The Ching Dynasty

Jingyan refers to a special teaching system set up for the emperors to study and discuss the classics and history in ancient China. Germinating in Han and Tang, this system was officially systematized in Sung Dynasty, and then carried on by Yuan, Ming and Ching dynasties. It lasted for quite a long time in Ching Dynasty. The Jingyan ceremonies (in a narrow sense) which were held since 1657(Shun Chih 4th year) till 1860 (Hsien Feng 10th year), lasted for more than two hundred years. In a broad sense, it even lasted throughout the whole Ching Dynasty. Jingyan, as an educational system related to the highest hierarchy in Ching, it had an important position in the superstructure at that time and a certain influence upon all the aspects of the Ching.Jingyan vanished as the imperial China perished. However, there's still not a clear understanding about how the Jingyan system developed and how it influenced the society. This paper work chooses the last period of the system-Jingyan in Ching Dynasty-as an example, attempting to make some improvement in the study of Jingyan system in the ancient China.This thesis consists of five parts: introduction, chapter one (the evolution of Jingyan in Ching Dynasty), chapter two (the specific execution of Jingyan in Ching), chapter three (Jingyan and Ching society) and conclusion.In the introduction, I probe into the definition and origin of Jingyan, reviewed and summarized its research history and main achievements. And I also make clear my orientation of my research of Ching Jingyan. In the "questions need to be mentioned", Jingyan is defined as a kind of imperial educational system. To be more specific, it is a continuing system specially set up for the emperors. Basing on the distinction of the similarities and differences between Jingyan and Jiangting, Jingyan and Shixue, Jingyan and Queli jiangxue, this paper's research scope is delimited.Chapter one, from the vertical angle of the historical changes, clears the line of the evolution of Jingyan. Concerning the Jingyan ceremonies in spring and autumn merely, Shun Chih reigned for 18 years and held the ceremonies for 8 times. Kang His 11 times in 61 years, Yung Cheng 13 times in 13 years, Chien Lung 51 times in 60 years, Chia Ching 24 times in 25 years, Tao Guang 26 times in 30 years, Hsien Feng 9 times in 11 years. Overall, Jingyan ceremonies were held for 192 times in a 267-year-history Ching Dynasty, almost once every other year. Generally speaking, Jingyan was set up in the later years of Shun Chih, reached its prosperity during the reign of Kang His, and went down hill after Kang His 25th year when the ceremonies were ended. The annual Jingyan ceremony disappeared after Hsien Feng Time. During the time of Tung Chih, Kuang Hsu and Hsuan Tung, a kind of Jingyan was resumed. However it cannot be compared with the way it was during Kang His time.Chapter two, from the angle of system structure, gives a preliminary analysis of Ching...