Western Religion And Canton's Social Transformation (1835-1929)

Based on the research into the phases of Western religionary spread anddevelopment in Canton during 1836-1929, It is mainly divided into threee phases:(1)From the period before Opiwm war to the end of 50's, the missionary activity wayof which is medical missionize, making the big change of missionary passive situation.The result is very tiny for other's missionary way like setting up the evangel hall. (2)During the years between 60's and 90's, the primary ways of which are theevangelization in church and the establishment of educational organization, theconcussion for Canton's social system had manifested obviously. (3)At the beginningof 20 Century, the missionize got a farther development, the primary characer isChinese independent missionize.There are several difference between Canton'smissionize and the missionize of Canton's peripheral areas, which are: the differenceof missionary mode, the difference ofclan's influence in missionize, the difference ofofficial attitude on the religionary affairs, the difference ofesquire's attitude onmissionary, the difference of concussion caused by traditional fetish, the difference ofoverseas chinese cause for church's constructation, the difference of contradictioncaused by church's tenement, and so on.Concerning the influencing mode of western religion, there are main five aspects:meeting official and esquire, leading the social new direction, introducing the socialnew career, changing the social knowledge mode, moralizing the plebs. Canton'ssociety got a radical change. First, people changed the thought, they hadconsidered these as a symbolic power of new civilization. The senior officers keep agood relationship with foreigners and missionaries, welcome the projects held by thechurch, tolerate the local affairs, get high interest on science and technology. Peoplecan deal with the dissension reasoningly, about the revenue, insist on the treaty tovindicate the benefit. On the aspect of moral conception, compared the moral soul ofreligiosity and kindness in western church to the shortcoming of chinese culture, andput forward the slogan "personality save the country", appeal to the citizen education.In the social life, the incorporation appeared apace, leading the pattern of city life,which is obvious different with the end of Qing dynasty. The "basic necessitiess of life" also had great change. Citizen pursue the novel clothings, have both Chinese andWestern food, they use the mug-up of western for reference, make the tea andpastries to be a habitude in Canton. The marriage habitude effected by the westernreligion, and the western marriage prevailed. The lecture ethos of Canton's society hasits feature, which was effected by western religionary propaganda and education. Thelecture ethos became the important factor for effecting the social reformation andcivilization's evolution. Moreover, with the spread of western religion, people'smanner of intercourse were also changed, they devote into the local social reformjointly and friendly.