Research On The Thought And Practice Of "Good Industry And Xinjiang" (1917-1933)

Yan Yushan was the first director of Department of Industry(Construction) during the early Republican years. He proposed the initiative of Reviving Xinjiang through industry and devoted efforts to industry and construction in Xinjiang. His ideas and practices to revive Xinjiang had positive and far-reaching impact.The dissertation analyses the formation and development of Yan Yushan's ideas to revive Xinjiang through industrial development. He was a political figure in the late Qing and early Republican years. He was in an epoch of great historical change and witnessed 1894 Sino-Japanese war, 1898 Reform movement, new policies of the late Qing, 1911 Revolution, the founding of Republic of China and civil war between warlords. The contemporary situations at home and abroad influenced the economic and political development of Xinjiang. Due to family tradition of learning and personal efforts, he got a degree of Juren and participated in Jinshi candidates movement. He was magistrate of Lanxi county, Heilongjiang province for some time. From 1917,he was director of Department of Industry for 17 years until he died in 1933. Facing foreign invasion and frontier troubles, his patriotic enthusiasm was motivated and he devoted his energy to develop industry and revive Xinjiang's economy.His ideas to revive Xinjiang through industry derived from previous statesmen's ideas concerning Xinjiang, including Zuo Zongtang, Yan Fu, Zhang Jian and Wang Shunan. Three important turning points in his life Imarked the inception, formation and development of his ideas to revive Xinjiang through industry. The first turning point was his participation in the Jinshi candidates movement, the second his administrative experiences in Heilongjiang during the late Qing and early Republican years, and the third his experiences with two political turmoils and with three rulers in Xinjiang. He had been working to develop Xinjiang's industry and never changed heart.The dissertation puts emphasis on Yan Yushan's ideas and practice concerning Reviving Xinjiang through industry.There are six points in Yan's policies. 1,Develop infrastructure such as roads, and use soldiers to build roads;2.Develop education, build schools and send students to other provinces and countries.3, Build factories especially textiles factories;4,Develop farming,forestry and husbandry as a guarantee.5,Develop commercial and financial institutions.6,Develop mining.Through his practice, he proposed some concrete policies. 1, He made comprehensive planning of road infrastructure.2, He developed vocational education.3, He established new-style enterprises.4, Yan improved agricultural research institutions.5, He improved mining technology and management. 6, He established corporations and initiated banking reforms.7, He coordinated different sectors.The author compares Yan Yushan's ideas concerning industrial development to those of Yang Zengxin and Jin Shuren. The author also compares industrial development in Heilongjiang and Xinjiang. Through comparisons of ideas, we can conclude that Yan's ideas were more progressive.He intended that industrial development would boost Xinjiang's economy and enhance its political stability. He compared industrial development in Heilongjiang and Xinjiang and it was better for him to formulate better methods.The last part of the dissertation discusses the historical impact, assessment and limitations of Yan's ideas and practices to revive Xinjiang. His major impacts are in four areas: Industrial development as a root, research as foundation, defending territories as aim and talents as means. In practice, he developed infrastructure and trained talents developed industry and mining and reformed banking sectors and developed commerce.His weaknesses are that his policies didn't have very far-reaching impact in some areas. The major reason is his intellectual limitations. Change of rulers and rulers' priorities also had unfavorable impact on Yan's policies. And there were many disadvantages for Xinjiang in developing industry,for example, lack of talents in management or technology or funding and instability of the political situation and wars. And Xinjiang's industrial development changed directions many times due to situations at home and abroad.In short, Yan Yushan was an important historical figure in industrial development of Xinjiang and made substantial contributions. He is a figure worth further research.