A Research On Cultural Space Of Shanghai Longmen Academy

This thesis is focused on the research of Shanghai Longmen Academy during the late Qing Dynasty (1865-1904). Regarding the Longmen as a cultural space, it discusses three aspects of spatial structure, academic atmosphere and social roles of the Longmen respectively, trying to present the cultural atmosphere of the Longmen and its evolution. Moreover, combined with the changes of the times in the late Qing Dynasty society, it shows the historic mission undertaken by the Longmen and its social function. The thesis is divided into three parts:The first part emphasizes on the analysis of spatial structure of the Academy and its cultural function. Firstly, in terms of site selection and construction, the Academy adheres to the Fengshui theory and the concept of Heaven and Man upon which most ancient Academies put emphasis; secondly, the Academy is axial symmetrical structure in construction, which carries the cultural functions of lecture, sacrifice, library, etc, and the architectures and their functions both have primary and secondary roles, reflecting the cultural connotation of "rites"; thirdly, the Academy is beautiful in landscape layout, where teachers and students sing responsively and cordially, embodying the cultural connotation of "Music".The second part is mainly to analyze the academic atmosphere of the Academy and its cultural evolution. In the first place, the Academy inherits the science tradition of ancient academies, having strong science atmosphere of its own, both in the Academy's regulatory system, lectures and scholarly research of teachers and students, etc; in the next place, the Academy also pays attention to real learning, non-imperial examination and tries its best to innovate in accordance with the requirements of modern society, however, the Academy's teaches and students also have imperial examination complex which they want to break up but remains in their thoughts; last, with the deepening of modernization, the innovation efforts of the Academy is also increasing, and the Academy reflects a strong Western tendency in its late period and eventually evolves into a school, completing a modern innovation.The third part is focused on the analysis of the social roles of the Academy and its cultural influences, including the interpersonal communications between the Academy's teachers and students, the official background of the Academy, the relationship between the Academy and other academies, the social network of the Academy's disciples and so on. On the one hand, the Academy is still playing the social function which the ancient Chinese Academy carries, and become a center for academic discussions between scholars, communications between officials, and mutual exchanges of needs among academies; but on the other hand, the Academy is also closely linked with the modern society, the more the teachers and students talk about current events and concern about the country and the people, the more it has atmosphere impact on other academies, and the more the disciples are able to promote the reform and development of modern society when they come on the stage. During the late Qing Dynasty, the entire Academy occupies an important position and plays a great role.In brief, the Longmen Academy played the vital role on the inheritance of traditional culture and the innovation of modern culture in the lasted 40 year development course.It promoted Shanghai's social reforming of latter Qing dynasty.The case research of the Longmen Academy,have positive effect on the construction of culture reference in contemporary Chinese.