The Study On Ancient Prose Preliminary Anthology Of Tongcheng School In The Late Qing Dynasty

Regardless of the abolition of the Imperial Examinations System(科举制度)in the late Qing Dynasty,the ancient Chinese prose(古文)still sustained 20 years even though its favored environment was lost.In the early Republic of China when social reforms contributed to great changes in culture and thought,the ancient Chinese prose in Tongcheng school(桐城派)remained its dominant role in Chinese education.In this special period when the ancient Chinese prose was placed in an awkward position,it was always able to get through crises.This paper tries to study and explain this phenomenon from the compiling of ancient prose anthology,particularly from ancient prose preliminary anthology(“古文初学选本”)in the beginning.This paper is divided into four parts.The first part mainly studies Wu Rulun’s The preliminary Ancient Anthology(《初学古文读本》).Considered the ancient Chinese prose in Tongcheng together with Yao Nai’s Collection of Ancient Prose(《古文辞类纂》),The preliminary Ancient Anthology,which shares similarities with but has more differences with the latter,found a new path on the basis of the latter.The second chapter studies Wu Kaisheng’s Grammar textbook which is the inheritance of Wu Rulun.Since the changes in ages and education system forced Wu Kaisheng to take reform measures,Wu Kaisheng’s Grammar textbook(《文法教科书》)accomplished lots of innovations.The third chapter analyzes Wu Zhiying’s Common Saying Notes on Ancient Prose Textbook for Elementary School(《俗语注解小学古文读本》).Emphasis on the argument of this book is the inheritance of Wu Rulun’s The preliminary Ancient Anthology from a new respect.Compared with Wu Kaisheng who puts emphasis on grammar teaching,Wu Zhiying pays more attention to sentimental influences.Related to this,his article concept also takes place great changes.The fourth chapter studies two brothers,Yao Yongpu and Yao Yonggai’s Preliminary Chinese Textbooks(《国文初学读本》).The new changes in the background of specific period and inheritance and absorption to previous anthologies in this book is indeed a masterpiece.The conclusion part,which is the exaltation of the theme,studies the influences the ancient prose preliminary anthology of Tongcheng school(桐城派“古文初学选本”)exerts on the compiling of Chinese textbooks under the system in the Republic of China.Taking Qin Tongpei’s Chinese Textbooks for Middle school students(《初级中学国文读本》)for example,this part discusses that the selection and compiling of Chinese textbooks in the Republic of China take ancient prose preliminary anthology mentioned above as a reference,in order to indicate the irreplaceable role of the ancient prose preliminary anthology of Tongcheng school in the Chinese textbook development.