Zhang Jian And The Nantong Museum

It is generally considered that the development of modern museum in China was started in mid-19th century with the museums firstly introduced and built by foreigners in China.Industrialist-cum-educator,Zhang Jian(1853-1926),was the founder of the first modern museum,the Nantong Museum established by the Chinese in 1905.Zhang's museum not only influenced the entire museum development in China,but also witnessed the modernization in China.The museum has a twofold significance in both historical and practical meanings.This thesis aims at analyzing Zhang Jian and the Nantong Museum in various ways including its background,management process,causes of establishment as well as its social impact to modem China.As such,Zhang's museum theory can be further delineated and the historic role of the first Chinese museum can be re-examined.During the late Qing period,China has experienced impacts in different degrees.The major reason causing these impacts was due to the decrement of national power in China.Foreign powers seized this opportunity to impinge China by means of various ways.In addition,the internal dilemma within the Chinese society also triggered the instability in China.With the above situations,general public was suffered from their daily life.Nonetheless,this kind of unique environment also facilitate the changes within the country.These changes mobilized the development in Chinese society and expedited the modernization in China.The Nantong Museum has gone through the late Qing and early Republic of China under Zhang's management.The main objective of this museum was to signify in a couplet known as"Establish Xiang,Xu and schools,all those educational institutions,for the instruction of the people.From them we become largely acquainted with the names of birds,beasts,and plants,"meaning that public education is an essential way to educate people with basic knowledge such that the sense of civic minded can be formed.In addition,this thesis will explore the "New World" exclaimed and utilized by Zhang Jian,who was the first man to portray the notion of "Industrial education".Besides,with the assessment on the details regarding the Nantong Museum,it is hoped that Zhang's ideology can be combined with his role in Nantong modernization.The trip to Japan in 1903 definitely influenced Zhang directly.He later petitioned to the Qing court with two proposals,namely Proposal to Minister on Building an Imperial Museum in the Capital and Proposal to Education Bureau on the Establishment of Museum,by urging the government to establish a museum.Although the Qing court finally rejected Zhang's proposals,this kind of reaction fortified Zhang's determination on having his own museum and Nantong Museum was built under these circumstances.Zhang's museum theory was also started to formulate during this period.The major characteristic of the Nantong Museum was its relationship towards the modernization in Nantong.Nantong modernization was a combination of economic development together with education and charity.In this connection,Nantong was proclaimed as the "Model City" during the early 20th century.In order to understand the multi-connection between the Nantong Museum and the modernization of society,one needs to be cleared between the localization and village idea.In this connection,the entire cityscape of Zhang's theory as well as his cultural perspective can be fully expounded.The Revolution of 1911 changed China drastically and the role and functions of the Nantong Museum became more specific and clearer.However,the Dai Sheng Enterprise was suffered from recession caused by the instability generated by the social environment and Zhang's museum was also being affected.Later on,the Japanese invasion of China had seized the museum entirely.The Nantong Museum was resumed normal after the establishment of the People's Republic of China.To recapitulate,both Zhang Jian and his Nantong Museum have a typical contemporary meaning.Through understanding Zhang's enthusiasm and familiarization on traditional culture as well as his adoption in foreign culture,we can have a better sense by knowning the role of Nantong Msuems in transferring historical messages and its linkage beween the moderniation.More importanly,musems have always being depicted as an institution introduced by the West,but the Nantong Museum is a museum belonged to the Chinese under Zhang's vision and his views on combining the Eastern and Western cultures.The Nantong Museum was the origins of moden musuem in China and also influence the later development of the museum industry in China.