Western Medicine In Modern China (1840-1911)-the Transformations Of Medicine, Culture And System

In the19th century，the zeal among all Christian sects was reignited thatmissionaries should be sent abroad to teach the locals about Christianity. Therefore,it was impossible for the Christian sects to avert their eyes from China, a far-easternstate with ancient but vast plot of lands. Considering the largest population in theworld China could claim to have, it was splendid success for the Christian Church ifthe whole country could be converted to God.Just with this “Sacred Goal” cherished in hearts, following the footsteps ofmerchants, soldiers and explorers of their own countries, the missionaries pouredinto China in great number. However, very soon later they came to realize that China,though at the pre-industrial stage compared with the western countries, couldproduce a great culture created by its long history that had every good reason todisdain the western culture and civilization. Besides, not only were Chinese veryconservative, but, the Missionaries found, had a deep-rooted pride in their ownculture. Surprisingly, the proud was even found among people almost without anyeducation.Both Catholic and Protestant missionaries regarded the Chinese culturaltradition as the main obstacle to spread the Gospel, thereby holding the deepanimosity against it. China couldn’t be converted to the Christian religion unless the“Cultural Chauvinism” in China could be eradicated. To achieve this aim, it seemedthat most of the Christian sects didn’t care what strategy the missionary intended toemploy. At least, there was one thing all Christian sects concertedly agreed to thatthe cultural barricade, with all costs, must be overcome.Compared with involving themselves into education programmes, it seemedmore plausible for the missionaries to promote and enhance the Christian faithamong Chinese by offering the medical help to the destitute because the latter waseasier to find a theoretical foundation in the ancient religious books. Isn’t true thatJesus Himself demonstrated His miraculous power by healing those with illnessesbeyond the worldly cure? Therefore, almost all Christian sects sent to China,especially the Protestant sects, had showed an unbelievable enthusiasm in setting up the hospitals. Since the first small hospital, established by American protestantmissionary Peter Parker, came into being in Guangdong Province, themissionary-operated hospitals were set up one after another along the China coastalareas into the inland regions. Although, in terms of size, equipment and the numberof medical professionals, there were great diversities among these hospitals, it wastrue that there was at least one medical missionary to operate the hospital. Facing themiracles created by the lancets, not only was the commoner amazed at the Westernmedical skills, but, such social dignitaries as Viceroy Li Hongzhang also showed asincere admiration.Meanwhile, the medical missionaries began to train the Chinese assistants inorder to lessen their working pressure caused by the medical programme. Theoriginal intent of the plan was to give the medical missionaries more time instead ofcultivating the qualified Chinese doctors. However, the first group of Chineseproficient at the Western medicine was brought out just by this arrangement. Besides,some broad-minded local nobles and national capitalists also realized that Westernmedicine could be used to build up Chinese health, thereby enhancing the nationaldefense capability. Therefore, more Western-style hospitals were set up but operatedby Chinese, for example Nantong Medical School run by national capitalist ZhangQian. Not to serve the Christian Church, the aim of the localization of medicaloperation and professionals was to help build up Chinese health by which Chinacould, in the new world structure, re-establish the national prestige and self-esteem.Resultantly, the Western medicine, originally used as a powerful tool by themissionaries, begun to detach itself from the Church, and soon found it integratedinto the whole picture of China Modernization Process. With development of theWestern medicine in China, the ancient medical administrative mechanism hadstarted to change. The end of this change was to set up, by imitation of Westerncounterparts, Chinese own modern medical and health administration.Until then, in a sense, the missionaries admitted failure. Their strategy wasuseless that Christian faith could be spread across China by offering the medical helpto Chinese. Instead, Western medicine introduced by the missionaries brought aboutthe medical modernization in China. The ultimate reason why missionaries shouldfail was that Chinese came to find, by dealing with these representatives from the Church, it feasible to whole-heartedly accept the Western advanced technology butsay no to Western religious philosophy.