From An Ancient Family Of Imperial Examinations In The South Of Yangtze River To A Modern Family Of Science And Technology

Moli Wang family transplanted to Dongshan of Suzhou with the royal family of Song Dynasty, and became a typical family of business till early Ming Dynasty. In medium-term of Ming Dynasty, Wang Ao won in the exam of province and the whole country, and then got the third overall. Since then, the good results in imperial examination of Wang family has been prosperous and undeclined. The family also ascended to the rank of families of imperial examinations in the south of Yangtze River. In Ming and Qing Dynasties, Wang family accumulated lots of"capital"of lineage through the communication between officials, marriage contact, and the relationship with teachers. It created favorable conditions for its descendants entering political stratum, and guaranteed the long-term stability of lineage career in imperial exam. At the same time, they considered themselves as Confucian intellectuals. By the common influence of Confucianism and tradition of local social and culture, they formed unique pattern of family tradition and accumulation of family scholarship. Their political ideals and pursuing of cultural spirit was a typical example in Suzhou, in a certain extent, they promoted the academic transformation in medium-term of Qing Dynasty. During the period of late Qing, the government's orientation was changed with incursions of western science and firearms. Based on the pragmatic spirit and tradition of salvation of the family, Wang family firstly transformed attitude to the western science , Then began to transform the educational mode and trained a great number of celebrities of science and technology.,at last, transformed into a well-known family of science and technology. Making a comprehensive survey on distinguished families in the south of Yangtze river from Ming and Qing dynasties to modern times, the influence of Wang family was inferior to Pan family and Peng family if we just pass judgment on reputation. It failed to enter in the list of the four most distinguished families of Suzhou in Qing Dynasty which was widely rumored among the people as well. However, on the aspects of stability of lineage's humane development, long-standing of history, and success of transformation, etc, there were few ones that could compare with Wang family.This article focused on Wang family in Moli. It will observe the social change in the south of Yangtze River since Ming and Qing Dynasties by arranging its sequencing of lineage development and the relationship between institution of imperial exam and district tradition of social culture.