Western Information Recorded In Invesitgation Diaries And Its Transformation (1875-1895)

During late Qing Dynasty, Eastward Permeation of Western Learning playedan important role in promoting china transformed from raditional society tomodern society. In the second half of the19th century, the Qing Government senta group of envoys to western countries. Most of them had an inkling of westernlearning and were familiar with national conditions. These envoys went abroadmuch earlier than most Chinese people. Therefore, investigation diaries whichworte by envoys became an approach to introducing western civilization. In theprocess of introducing western learing to China, envoys acted as gatekeeper.Facing various western information, envoys wrote down information which theythought valuable with personal comments, which led to the contents ofinvestigation diaries exists distortion phenomenon unavoidable. According torelevant provisions, investigation diaries should be sent to the The Tsungli Yamenand published by official press to widen senior officials’ knowledge about westernsociaty. Apart from official publication, investigation diaries also had beencompiled into folk series or serialized on newspaper, which made the audience ofinvestigation diaries increased greatly. However, as information receiver andpropagator lack common experiences, readers’ understanding of western learninginformation written in diaries were not the same. During1960s-1990s, church andofficial book translation agencies played a leading role in introducing westerncivilization, in contrast the importance of investigation diaries declined gradually.The reason for this situation are not only related to adverse communicationenvironment, limitations of diaries’content, but also because there were morechannles for introducing western learning and compatriot’s focus on westernlearning shifted after the Jia Wu war. In spite of this, readers can still fell thevigorous and vitality of capitalist system from investigation diaries. It has apositive meaning to break compatriot’s conceit mentality and widenedcompatriot’s cultural vision.