The Women's Educational Thoughts And Practice In The Wu Xu Reform Period

During the Hundred Days of Reform period, people waked up to the reasons of the failure from the disastrous defeat in the Opium War as political corruption, lack of talents. Enlightening people is one way of salvation. Releasing women, cultivating their talents have become an important aspect of enlightening people. As a result, as the nation's crisis deepening and infiltrating of western ideas of education, by the demand of socio-economic progress and driving of advanced class, the traditional way of women's education was challenged greatly. A vigorous women's education trend of thought was launched in modern China. Representatives as Kang Youwei,Liang Qichao,Yan Fu,Tan Sitong,Jing Yuanshan,Kang Tongwei made an earsplitting cry. They wrote books and started studies to expound their own women's education allegation. For the rise and fall of the country, they set up to promote women education which was required for strengthening and enriching the country. From the concept of equality between men and women, they promoted women's self-independence spirit which was conducive to the social development. For the concept of eugenic procreation, they emphasized importance of mother education which was benefit for the promotion of national quality. By criticizing traditional women study, they illuminated that the purpose of women's education was training a good wife and mother. For women self-awakening, they advocated women self-study and liberation. At the same time, they put women education into practice and developed a series of practical activities, such as the open-up of JingZheng women school, found of China Institute of Women, set-up of "Journal of Women", establishment of YiDe woman primary school and so on.Due to the conservative social climate during the Wu Xu Reform period, the obstruction of stubborn forces, experience lack of school founder, limitations of practitioners their own and other factors, women's education practice activity came out to be a short-duration. However, it still had a significant impact. By carrying out women activity, traditional education concept was criticized, the women education thought has been spread, new experience in running schools accumulated and women self-conscious have woken up, social revolution promoted. Since the Hundred Days of Reform in 1898, women education became constantly enrich and improved. Women schools have developed as bamboo shoots after a spring rain.In process of transition of Chinese traditional women education to modern one, the Reform Time is an integral and very important time, even a turning point. During this period, women education thought and practice have broken the traditional concept of "Ignorance is a woman's virtue", led the reforms of China education system, and have broken the concept shackles for women fighting for equal social status to men. In addition, women education thought and practices during the reform period have also led to people's education. Nowadays men and women consider such issues as fair. It left many inspirations to today's education: real education equality between men and women should be achieved; amphoteric harmonious society should be established; women education concept needs an innovation, adapts to the development needs of knowledge-based economy; reasonably absorbs the essence of education abroad, shows characteristics of Chinese women education. These inspirations have realistic significance for current education reforms.