On Zhang Fang's Philanthropy

Zhang Fang is the 1911 Revolution veteran, a well-known patriotic democratic personage, a renowned strategist and philanthropist in the Republic of China era in Henan and Shaanxi region. He graduated from the Army crash school in Baoding in his early years, and once led the planning of Xi'an uprising in the 1911 Revolution. He has served as Head of Construction Department of Henan Provincial Government, Chairman of Government Administration Committee of Henan Province, Acting Chairman of Henan Province, Vice President of the Military Services and so on. He is a dignitary who did good deeds through all his life and was lighted in charity. His charitable activities involved in disaster relief, education, culture and other fields. And he was called by disaster victims in Henan as "the dear parents". The study on Zhang Fang is still weak now in historical science, let alone the research on his philanthropy. Study on Zhang Fang's philanthropy, can not only give an objective and unbiased assessment of Zhang Fang's contribution and status in the development of modern philanthropy in Henan, Shaanxi province, which will make up for the lack of charity history, but also has a positive and practical significance in the development of Charities in China today.This thesis includes seven parts:introduction, five chapters and conclusion. Introduction describes the origin of the topic, research significance, research status and resources selection, and represents the research thoughts, methods and main innovations.The paper is divided into five chapters. The first chapter accounts Zhang Fang's family background and his lifetime, from his young age studying in school to later joining the revolution, beginning a military and political career, ups and downs in his tens of roughly official life.The second chapter analyses the reasons of Zhang Fang's philanthropy. Mainly from the edification on traditional culture and Western education, the influence by his military and political career, and the community needs from the society, it combs the reasons why Zhang Fang engaged himself in charities to save people from dire straits.The third chapter accounts Zhang Fang's charity activities. The First is the famine relief, specifically introducing three disaster relief activities-- a severe drought in 1929 in Henan Province, a severe drought in Western Henan Province in 1942, and the Henan's submergence in 1944 caused by the Yellow River burst. The second is charity's education, founding many schools at different levels, developing social education, supporting the Henan University, and aiding young students financially. The third are some other public welfare activities, for example, building the QIANTANGZHIZHAI, collecting and protecting heritages, donating money for printing ancient books, and protecting national culture.The fourth chapter analyses Zhang Fang's charitable philosophy, operational style and characteristics. The thesis concludes Zhang fang's charitable philosophy--"basing on the industry, joining relief officials set and charity in one, and developing education and nursing simultaneously. It analyzes the operational style of his philanthropy from the industrial projects, raising funds and setting up institutions. It presents his philanthropy featured on the diversification of the contents and the forms, the operation mechanism of long-term and the pluralism of supporting strengths.The fifth chapter is about the evaluation of Zhang Fang's philanthropy. The positive effects of Zhang Fang's philanthropy mainly presented on three aspects:the first-alleviating social conflicts and stabilizing the social order; the second-promoting social development and progress; the third -- promoting the modernization process of Henan's and Shaanxi's philanthropy. Hpwever, there still existed some limitations presenting mainly on two aspects:the first is that his charitable philosophy is geography limited; the second is his charitable system is not very sound. The conclusion part discusses the reality enlightenment of Zhang Fang's philanthropy to today's charity.