An Analysis Of Song Shu’s Thinking Through The Discussion Centering On "Change"

Song Shu (1862-1910) was born in Pingyang, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province. At an early age, he had a search into Zhedongyongjia Study with two brothers, Ming Qiang Sun and Sun Yi Yan to pursue the property of China with a passion to make contributions to his country and the society. However, defects of his character and frustrations at that day depressed him and sent him into long term of distress, thus his thinking had changed several times. This article elaborate from the aspects of Song Shu’s works,speech, and practice, by adopting "change " as the essence, trying to demonstrate the panorama of the development of his thoughts. The text is divided into the following five parts:The first part mainly introduces Song Shu’ early thinking, including his life, early study and travel experience, as well as Zhedongyongjia Study’s impact on his thought.The second part examines the establishment and development of Song Shu’s thinking centering around "Liuzikezhai Beiyi". In1892, Song Shu wrote the first draft and put forward their own ideas comprehensively and systematically to plead Lihongzhang to reform; in1897,Song Shu joined the course of the Reformation Movement and his reform ideas and theories had new development. This chapter analyzes Song Shu’s changes in the theoretical reform.The third part mainly elaborates Song Shu’s transformation in action and ideology during the high time of the political reform period. In1895,Song Shu returned to Shanghai to take part in Hundred Days’ Reform, with proactive attitude, he had done much specific work in promoting the movement. However, as the reform went deeper, Song Shu gradually got alienated from reform, and adopted a pessimistic and suspected view towards it.The fourth section essentially analyzes the ideological change of Song Shu after the "Hundred Days coup". After the coup, although he was in great anger, he began to show signs of withdrawal in action, got alienated from politics, and even urged his friends not to get involved for the sake of safety. In1903, Song Shu Visited Japan, during which time what he saw and heard there spurred him to deepen his thoughts on the culture and conditions of China and Japan. He was rather disappointed with the prospect of reforms in China, so he specialized in regional education and submitted the new ideas of indirect and special education.The fifth section centers on the "change" and "changelessness" of Song Shu’ thinking."Change" is subjected to the times,"the more humble, the more relevant "; while "changelessness" remains the main line throughout Song Shu’ thought, his criticism on the policy of "apparent benevolence and actual legal rule", as well as the concept of re-education" he presented.