British Scientists In Modern Western China

Journal of the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society(1858-1948)is an influential Sinology periodical issued by the the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.The Journal,which is of great value to sinology research,still need to be further studied.This paper will be concentrate on the "Sichuan Studies" in the Journal,and discuss the scientific research activities of the British which used on the study of Huaxi area.Based on the research of the journal,the dissertation endeavors to study the network of Sinology,missionary Sinology traditions and research methods from a new perspective.At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China,with the expansion of imperialist forces in China,a growing number of foreigners travel along the Yantse River and set foot on the southwest of China They examined the local ecological environment,learnt about people's livelihood,collected commercial information and wrote a large number of travel notes and articles on subjects of geography,history,culture,religion,ethnology,which are closely linked to local features.They leave a huge legacy of valuable survey materials,which also contributes to the studies on history of modern science in China.The materials also can be a useful supplement to the Sichuan chorography.Besides the preface and epilogue,this paper will be divided into three parts.The first part will discuss interrelationship between the missionaries and sinology institutes,and links between individuals and organizations to illustrate the whole network of British community in Sichuan,and the network they created for local researches.The authors of the articles include businessmen,explorers,Protestant missionaries and naturalists,which also embodies the overlapping and infiltration of various identities.As much as to admire the fruits of their researches,the article would like to look into the spatio-temporal background of how these results were being deducted,thus to reveal the values and concerns of the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society,and also the whole alien community in China at that particular period of time.The second part will collect and summarize the contents of the "Sichuan Studies"in the joumal,and classify them by specific disciplines.There was a worldwide enthusiasm for natural history back in 19th century,which comes across the missionary sinology in China Through the observation of the transition of the contents in the Journal and the development of modern science methods,we could get a comprehensive understand of how modern Sinology change from missionary Sinology to professional Sinology or China Studies.While taking full consideration of the academic tradition of Sinonolgy,which includes text analysis and translation,the paper is also use case study to demonstrate how these researchers in Sichuan at that time think high of the materials of historical anthropology such as chorography,ethnography and folklore.There are specific cases to explain how cultures collide with each other and thrive from the collision.When someone talks about the western travelers in Sichuan in the past two centurys,they may feel surpised by how these foreigners wander in the high mountains and travel along the valleys,they even 'discover' the panda.But why they were there,its a quite interesting issue to look into.There were three powers to make that happen.After the Opium war,British finally gets what they longing for,A trade road to inland China.It is also the mother river of the oriental nation,Yangtze River.At the end of this majestic journey,it is happen to be Sichuan stands before their eyes.The invasion of the british empire comes along with travels and businessmen,later missionaries start to preach in the province.Later,societies were founded and periodicals were published.A relatively large alien community was active in Sichuan from then on.They conducted a series of researches of different displines while they were traveling to the borderline areas.In this paper,based on the researches on "Sichuan" in the journal,which show the critical stage of transition from missionary Sinology to the professional Sinology.Traditional sinology values the translation of classics and chorographies.By further studies on these materials,this paper try to prove that,new approaches which were launched in a number of subjects at that time,eventually grows into a new research field——"borderland studies",which pays lots of attention to the ethic groups who live in the border areas.Sichuan is a perfect place to launch the study.When the transition from traditional sinology to modem sinology starts,it always come along with stagnation,or even setbacks in sinology research in other parts of China.But when it comes to Sichuan,the situation had been changed.Sinology studies in Sichuan has its natural connection with the nature history and anthropology,by using the methods of field research,It thrives in Southwest China,especially the borderline areas where ethnic groups inhabit Thus the journal shows interrelations between tradional and academic narratives,tradition sinology and modern science,between the oriental and western cultures.That is the main goal of the paper.There is few researches on Studies of Sichuan particularly.Hope this one can inspire someone to think beyond teleology,viewing these fabulous works from a multi-cultural point of the view.