A Study On Patriotic Movements Of Chinese Students Studying Abroad In Japan During May 4 Period

Since modern times, with the expanding aggression of the imperialist aggression and the deepening national crisis of China, the group of abroad students studying in Japan has come into being in China, who aim at saving the nation from extinction and searching the way to a stronger China. They worked a great effort on the social changes of modern China. During May 4 Period, their patriotic movements play an important part of the anti-imperialist patriotic movement of the intellectuals at home and abroad.The group of abroad students studying in Japan has steadily expanded since The Qing Government began to send oversees students in 1869, and the upsurge of studying abroad in Japan during the 1898 Reform period and the new politics of the Late-Qing Dynasty. After the founding of the Republic of China, Japan extended their control to China, and the traitorism of the Northern Warlord government intensified the national crisis. During May 4 Period, abroad students studying in Japan took the lead in anti-feudal and anti-imperialist movements, who get the enlightenment of thought during Xinhai Revolution. In 1915 they first launched the fight against "the 21 Articles", and then in 1918 they launched the fight against "the Military Agreement on Sino-Japan Defending the Enemies Together". These patriotic movements have become the prelude and preview of the May 4th Movement, and gather strength for the May 4th Movement. After the May 4th Movement erupted, the returned students from Japan were active in patriotic movements at home, and played a vanguard and exemplary role in movements. Abroad students in Japan also launched the protest movements supporting the movements at home. When the May 4th Movement was over, they still concerned about the development of Sino-Japanese relations, and made a contribution to avoiding "the direct negotiation" with Japan. The returned students from Japan also played an important role in the support of "Lu-case" and "Min-case".During the May 4 Period, a large number of abroad students in Japan were absorbed in patriotic movement. The incidence of their movements is widespread. They acted together in patriotic movements even they had different factions. Their patriotic movements haves a special effect on the May 4th Movement.The patriotic movements of abroad students studying in Japan not only promote the development of the May 4th Movement, but also promote the development of the Chinese Enlightenment, further expose the quislism of the Northern Warlord government, and improve the propagation of Marxism in China. But their patriotic movements have limitations because of the lack of the mass-based and the knowledge of the essence of the imperialism.This paper, from the perspective of historical studies, expounds the patriotic movements of abroad students studying in Japan during May 4 Period, explores the characteristic of their movements, analyses the positive functions and limitations of their movements. And this study will make contribute to understanding the history of abroad students studying in Japan for people and inheriting and carrying forward their patriotic traditions.