The Study On The Modern Changzhou's Philanthropy

During the period of modern times,China suffered social unrest,continuous disasters with the unprivileged leading a miserable life,desperate for social Assistance.Charitable organizations have an important role in the relief of the poor and stability of society.Changzhou,as an important city in southeast of society,has a long and abundant history of philanthropy of which the contents have expended,the subjects have diversified,the supervision from governments has been strengthened in modern times,showing a new trend that never happened before.However,in academic circles the study on modern Changzhou's charity is inadequate,from which this thesis intends to draw lessons for contemporary Chinese charity assistance by outlining the development status of modern philanthropy in Changzhou and demonstrating its organization establishment as well as internal administration.This paper has inspection on the development of Changzhou's modern philanthropy.There are four forms of traditional charity assistance in Changzhou from Qing dynasty:raising babies,helping bury people,comforting widows,running porridge stores for the relief the poor.Changzhou has a further extension of traditional charity in the late Qing dynasty.How the condition of modern charitable organizations rose,the remedy foms changed,the new concept set up has been analyzed from the aspect of the new concept of contemporary philanthropy.Based on the investigation of the historical materials of the Republic of China,this paper discusses the diversified development of Changzhou's philanthropy.Traditional charitable organizations in early times changed to adapt to development of the times.The modern new charitable organizations made a great development in the Republic of China,becoming the important component of Changzhou's charitable cause.The Christian churches participated in missionary rescue positively.Furthermore,based on Changzhou's local historical materials from Qing dynasty to the period of Republic of China,it is concluded that the lead agency varied at different stages.Gong Shantang led by local gentlemen managed public affairs in charitable cause.Chamber of commerce,which finaneed Changzhou's Shantang and charity activities,played an irreplaceable role in the development of modern philanthropy.In order to maintain stable and adequate sources of funds,some Shantang involved in industrial investment and even became a shareholder in the business,which showed great transformation in the modern charity.Finally,based on the investigation of the charitable organizations,this thesis analyzes charitable organization's internal decision-making mechanism and charity organizations'internal management responsibilities.Study on the case of the Workhouse could draw lessons for present charitable cause from modern charitable organizations' internal construction and management forPhilanthropy reflects the status of local economic and cultural development of the society.The three chapters of research can reveal properly the different stages of development and unique content of modern Changzhou's charity,not only as a supplementary research for the study of Changzhou's philanthropy but also having reference value for the research of present charitable cause in China...