A Research on Chang Chien’s Thought on Local Self-Government

Sun Shun-Chih

Department of Translation and Interpretation Studies, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Chinese Taipei.

DOI: 10.4236/oalib.1101381                

Abstract

Chang Chien (1853-1926) was a native of Nant’ung, Kiangsu. In spite of the various works on Chang Chien, which testify to the significance of his role in modern China, Chang Chien’s thought on local self-government is still not well-researched. The purposes of this paper are firstly, to analyze Chang Chien’s thought on local self-government systematically and clearly in the hope that it may become a useful reference for researchers on modern China, and secondly, to stimulate scholars for further research. This paper depends more on basic source materials rather than second-hand data. Among various source materials, Chang Chien’s Diary, The Nine Records of Chang Chien and The Complete Work of Chang Chien are the most important. Chang Chien’s thought on local self-government may be summarized as follows: 1) Local self-government under gentry in promoting industry, education and other local affairs as a means of saving China; 2) Local government as basis of the constitutional monarchy; 3) Local self-government as basis of the republic. The paper has also discussed the background to Chang Chien’s thought on local self-government, the factors which shaped it, how it developed, and its long-term impact.

Keywords

Constitutional Monarchy, Local Self-Government, Education, Industry

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Chang, H.-J. (1930) Nant’ung Chang Chi-chihHsien-sheng Chuan-chi (Biography of Mr. Chang Chien of Nant’ung). Chung Hua Bookstore, Shanghai.
[2]	Sung, H.-S. (1963) Chang Chiente Shengp’ing (The Career of Chang Chien). Chinese Books Compilation Commission, Taipei.
[3]	Liu, H.-S. (1958) Chang Chien Chuan-chi (Biography of Chang Chien). Lung Men Joint Bookstore, Shanghai.
[4]	Chu, S.C. (1965) Reformer in Modern China: Chang Chien, 1853-1926. Columbia University Press, New York and London.
[5]	Chang, K.-Y. (2000) Chang Chien Chuan (The Biography of Chang Chien). China Industry and Commerce Associated Press, Beijing.
[6]	Wang, T.-C. (2005) Ch’uang-t’ungyu Ch’ian-chan: Chang Chien Ching-chi Ssi-hsiang Yen-chiu (Tradition and Perspective: A Research on Chang Chien’s Economic Thought). People’s Press, Beijing.
[7]	Wong, K.-K. (1957) Chang Chien: A Case Study of Attempts at China’s Modernizationby the Traditional Gentry. Unpublished Master Thesis, University of Washington, Seattle.
[8]	Lee, M. (1966) The Development of Exalt Commerce in Late Ch’ing Thought. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, The University of Sydney, Sydney.
[9]	Chang, P.-Y. (1968) The Constitutionalists. In: Wright, M.C., Ed., China in Revolution: The First Phase 1900-1913, Yale University Press, New Heaven and London, 143-183.
[10]	Koll, E. (2003) From Cotton Mill to Business Empire: The Emergence of Regional Enterprises in Modern China. Harvard University Asia Center, Cambridge, MA.
[11]	Sun, S.-C. (1991) Chang Chien (1853-1926): Political Thought and Action. Ph.D. Thesis, University of New South Wales, Sydney; Shi-Ying Publisher, Taipei.
[12]	Sun, S.-C. (2013) On Chang Chien’s Change from a Constitutional Monarchist to a Republican—Political Thought with Flexibility as the Underlying Reason. Global Journal of Human Social Science Political Science, 1, 1-15.
[13]	Chang Chien International Symposium Committee (2007) Chang Chienyu Chin-tai Chung-kuo She-hui—Ti ssu-chieh Chang ChienKuo-chi Hsuehshu Yen-t’ao-huiLun-wen-chi (Chang Chien and Chinese Society—The Fourth International Symposium on Chang Chien). Nanking University Press, Nanking.
[14]	Ts’ui, C.-C., et al. (2010) Chang ChienyuHaimen: Tsao-ch’iHsien-tai-huaSsu-hsiangyu Shih-Chien (Chang Chien and Haimen: The Thoughts and Practice in the Early Period of Modernization). Nanking University Press, Nanking.
[15]	Chang, C. (1986). Liu-his-ts’ao-t’angJih-chi (Chang Chien’s Diary). Wen Hai Press, Taipei.
[16]	Chang, H.-J. (1983) Chang-chi-tzu Chiu-lu (The Nine Records of Chang Chien). Wen Hai Press, Taipei.
[17]	Chang Chien Research Center (1994) Chang ChienCh’uan-chi (The Complete Work of Chang Chien). Kiangsu Classic Books Press, Kiangsu.
[18]	Li, M.-H. and Yu, S.-W. (2012) Chang ChienCh’uan-chi (The Complete Work of Chang Chien). Shanghai Dictionary and Books Press, Shanghai.
[19]	Yang, L.-C., Shen, W.-P., et al. (1987) Chang ChienTs’un-kao (Extant Writings of Chang Chien). People’s Press, Shanghai, 332.
[20]	Chang, C.-L. (1955) The Chinese Gentry: Studies on Their Role in Nineteenth Century Chinese Society. University of Washington Press, Seattle, 197-198.