Missionary: Ambassador Of Cultural Exchange Between China And Foreign Countries In Modern Times

At present, people pay more attention to the cultural communication among different nationalities and China is no longer considered to be in the times of"Pan-politicization". The terms"cultural invasion"and"cultural imperialism"with reference to the influence of western missionaries, should not go unchallenged or without further analysis. It is an undisputed fact that modern missionary campaigns were very closely related to western colonial expansion. However, the missionaries were neither the vanguard of colonial invasion nor were they its willing participants. Many of the activities of Missionaries in China have received unfavorable comments and the negative influences of western colonial invasion are still being discussed. However, the greatest positive influence of missionary involvement has been in their cultural and educational activities. The educational modernization of China is the direct result of western missionaries.Among the modern missionaries, American missionaries in China are considered to have been the most influential. As a later-developed capitalist country, America's separation between politics and preaching has caused a noticeable difference between American missionaries and those from other countries. American missionaries came to China to preach, spread western knowledge and to establish new education procedures and preaches, and as such, they have made great contributions to China's educational modernization. Shandong Province's educational modernization can be attributed to the famous American Presbyterian missionary Calvin Wilson Mateer. In modern times, studying his past deeds and educational thoughts are of great value to today's educationalists.Calvin Wilson Mateer (1836–1908), believed firmly in the ideals of Christianity since his youth. He graduated from American western theological seminary, and in 1864 he was sent to China. He preached in China for more than 40 years and died in 1908 in Qingdao, Shandong Province. He was a learned scholar, and an expert who specialized in mathematics, physics and chemistry. During his years in China, he was responsible for the translation of biblical official dialect and co-translated its editions. He compiled and translated many textbooks and teaching materials, such as in mental arithmetic and written calculation mathematics. The introduction of Arabic numerals into Chinese education was from the mathematics texts co-authored by Calvin Wilson Mateer and Zou Liwen. He was also familiar with Chinese, so Wilson compiled official book s on A Course of Mandar in Lessons and a Chinese Dictionary. These books were for missionaries to study and to learn to speak. Chinese.The most important achievement of Calvin Wilson Mateer was to establish Tengchow College in Tengzhou. He introduced the new education system and education thoughts. His efforts cultivated the first Tengchow university students. He set up church schools, which taught scientific knowledge. He broke the traditional feudal education system and judging standards. Meanwhile, he used the comparatively new concept of having a complete education to teach students. He strongly advocated his concept of genius education. From Tengchow College to Guangwen University, from Tengzhou to Weixian, missionaries such as Calvin Wilson Mateer made great contributions to modern Chinese education. They set up a very good school system and teaching subjects. At the same time, they had many worthwhile school rules. It broke the education system and teaching methods which were formerly under the system of imperial examinations in China. It made great foundations for the establishment of a modern education system not only in Shandong Province, but also in the rest of China, which helped to stimulate China's own rapid educational modernization.However, the establishment of church schools and the spreading of advanced education thoughts were initially for the needs of western people, not specifically for the Chinese. The church education was not in harmony with the reality of China. Calvin Wilson Mateer, as a missionary, had his own limitations. Religious education took the cultivation of top leaders as its highest aim. The religious subjects were not suitable for the needs and times of Shandong.Calvin Wilson Mateer was the first person who introduced western modern education and the first missionary who taught western scientific knowledge. His efforts on education promoted Shandong's modern advanced education . It also promoted the new education system to be set up in China, especially in Shandong.