The Study Of Qian Mu’ National Standard Idea

Qian Mu is a well-known historian in modern China with a distinctive thought filled withnational standard colour. His early academic research emphasized on argumentation of thecultural celebrities in Qin Dynasty, and then his book “A Chronicle of the Life of Liu Xiangand Liu Xin, Father and Son” eventually brought him to fame. Thereafter, Qian Mu hadauthored many works. Most of them were published in Yanjing Journal whose chief editor isGu Jiegang and were included in Puranas Debate. These works played a big role foradvocating the movement of Doubt Ancient. At the same time, it was thought that Qian Mushared the similar ideology with Hu Shi, Fu Sinian, Gu Jiegang. But with the advance of QianMu’s academic achievement and position, the independent ideology of his became moreevident, and he started to criticize the school that approaching history study with positivistguideline and empirical methodology. Until1940, his national standard ideology wasoutspoken in his book of Outline History, marking his position against the positivist/empiricalschool and the turning point of his academic thought. Afterward, he vigorously threw himselfinto promoting the value of traditional Chinese culture, while deepening his national standardthought.After the abrupt changes taking place in the political situation of Mainland China1949,Qian Mu refused to follow the predominant Marxist historical materialism, nor did he agreewith the positivist school in Taiwan, leaving his choice to stay in Hong Kong with hard life.Despite the adversity, Qian Mu created New Asia College with its unique curriculum and wayof schooling. The founding of the college represents a glorious page in Chinese academichistory.Qian Mu’s teaching load was heavy then. But these burdensome tasks did not stop aconstant academic works springing up from his mind and a new achievement anddevelopment from New Asia College. The success of the College attracted attention ofacademia in Taiwan and America. Taking advantage of these favorable conditions, heenthusiastically expounded his national standard idea and extended its influence. With time elapsing, the polity and culture in China and the world have changed greatly and the theory ofsuperiority of Chinese culture is getting obsolete and biased. The ideology, however, catersthe nationalism which fills in the mentality of many people.In the thesis, the academic background of Qian Mu’s national standard is firstlyintroduced. Then Qian Mu’s academic process and content is discussed. And his nationalstandard idea is evaluated with positive and negative comments, and with reviews from histime and the present era.