| The communication between Chinese and western culture begin from Han dynasty, when16th century the businessmen, diplomats and missionaries who are come from Portuguese and Spanish began to introduce China to Europe. The "Sinomania" in Europe made the communication reach the peak in the18th century. The modern newspapers that run by westerners in China are an important part of the communication between Chinese and western cultural. In18th century, European industrial revolution improves the social productivity greatly, in order to seeking more raw material origin and market in the east, the western countries launching Opium war toward China twice in1842-1860. From then on, China had to making external trading with western countries. The Qing government was forced to sign the "Nanjing treaty","Tianjin treaty" and "Beijing treaty" in sequence with Europe and the United States. During the war, more than16cities, which located along the river and sea were opening as treaty port, including China’s important port city—Tianjin. Tianjin because of its three advantages caused covets of west, these advantages are:the geographical position of Tianjin is near Beijing makes Tianjin as a strategic rear; the sea transport condition is great; the commodity economy foundation is good. Therefore, western countries made Tianjin into its trade scope. In1860, Tianjin began to foreign trade at the first time as a treaty port, and western countries began to set up concessions in Tianjin, with a large number of foreigners flocking in. Due to the increasing number of the transactions about diplomacy and foreign trade, Qing government set up the Viceroy of Zhili in Tianjin in1870, whose power is in charge of all the foreign affairs, westernization movement, coast defense, and customs matters. Tianjin has becoming a place that makes a great attention of western countries.The modern newspapers that run by westerners in China are an important part of the history of Chinese modern newspapers. After opening, Tianjin become the communication and trade center in northern China quickly. The foreigners who are settled in Tianjin and the people who have the willingness to know about China is formed a readership for the modern newspaper of northern China. In1886, Tianjin first modern English-language newspaper The Chinese Times was founded in The British concession. This newspaper has meet the needs of the readership, and because of its authority the newspaper was called foreigners’ Bible in north China by the press at that time. As the beginning of the modern newspaper in northern China, The Chinese Times has an important status in the Chinese newspaper history. The report content of the paper has a wide range thus that it can convey the news about current events at home and abroad and the commercial information for the expatriates living in concession. Besides, this newspaper is a significant manner for communicates between concessions in China. It has played a considerable role in culture and economy communication between China and West in modern times. From the1860s to the1890s, western countries established concessions in Tianjin led by Britain that making Tianjin has the prototype of modern city. The living facilities and recreational activities in concession are better than the surroundings so that a lot of upper-middle-class Chinese people moved here. Centered on concession, the western city management and entertainment gradually introduce to the whole city of Tianjin, leading to the change of Tianjin urban style. And The Chinese Times recreated the evolution process of Tianjin city in detail.This study will first give a completely look of The Chinese Times from the following aspect which are the development of the publications in19th century and the conditions of Tianjin press. To exploring why this newspaper was founded in Tianjin’s concession, and introducing the person who established the paper and the paper’s aim, column and its influence. Next, based on translating and arranging the Voll.No.1-61of the paper from1886to1887, this study will reflecting the development of Tianjin urban in the end of the19th century. The cities that are have concessions like Tianjin, Shanghai and Guangzhou are the earliest cities that transforming to the modern city in China. And the transformation process reflected in many areas such as economy, social, cultural and so on. In unban infrastructure construction, the introduction of railway and ship has promoting the development of Tianjin’s transportation, and, the gravel roads, park and public library has enriching Tianjin’s public facilities. There are many western buildings still working well, in the meantime, they have a profound influence in Tianjin’s architectural style. In urban public health, the idea of western modern science has improving the quality of Tianjin’s environment, and, the using of western medicine was making the people of Tianjin a better life. In public entertainment, expatriates brought some amazing sports into Tianjin, for example, horse racing, tennis, skating, concert, ball, drama and so on. These activities got into the sight of the local residents gradually.This dissertation has three parts. First, study on the starting process of The Chinese Times and give a comprehensive introduction of the newspaper can enrich the data of modern Chinese newspapers’history. Second, investigate the reports about Tianjin city in the paper can reflects the changes in Tianjin urban morphology after concession set up in Tianjin in the end of the19th century, and can reveals the process of a Chinese traditional city developing into a modern city. These contents may provide lots of date for the history of modern Tianjin. Finally, classify the reports about China and Tianjin, which reflects the westerners in which aspect interested about the east can draw a conclusion of the international relations between China and western countries. |
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