Research On China's Introduction Of Western Agronomy At The End Of The Qing Dynasty

On the basis of large quantities of historical literatures and documents, the author analyzes the inducements, process, and contents of introducing western agronomy into China at the end of the Qing Dynasty, which is the study object of the dissertation, and reveals the contribution of introducing western agronomy to China's agricultural modernization.At the end of the Qing Dynasty, China's traditional agriculture was facing great crises because of western imperialist invasion and oppression of Qing's feudalists, therefore, in such a jeopardy, lots of patriots began to suggest improving China's backward smallholder economy by learning from the west, and dedicate themselves to practice. First, the paper analyzes the international historical background and inducements of China's introduction of western agronomy by looking backing on Japan's agricultural leaps after its Mingzhi Reform, slow takeoff of China's agricultural modernization, and blossom of the thought of Western Science Marching Towards East. The paper then narrates in full the process, contents of China's introduction of western agronomy from the prospective of major introducing ways such as education, translation, studying abroad, and explores the foundation, activities of Shanghai Agronomy Society (China's first agronomy society), and its leading role in the process of introducing western agronomy. In addition, the paper elaborates on the main contents and contributions of Agronomy Newspaper (China's first agronomy publication), and Agronomy Series (an excerption of Agronomy Newspaper). Finally, the paper studies a Japanese scholar, TOYOHATI FUJITA, who is a representative in China's introduction of western agronomy. From the perspective of China's agronomy-introduction from the west and agricultural modernization the paper makes a full and detailed analysis of his life, activities, and translations by combining his academicactivities and the history of China's introduction of western agronomy, revealing the role of Japan as a bridge in China's introduction of western agronomy.One innovation of the paper lies in bridging the study gap of TOYOHATI FUJITA who is an important historical figure. TOYOHATI FUJITA played an important organizational and intermediary role in China's introduction of western agronomy at the end of the Qing Dynasty, however, researches on his life and academic activities have all along in blank both at home and abroad. It is hopeful that the paper will enrich the academic discussion and research in this field, which is of great academic significance to enrich the research of Sino-Japanese agricultural exchange history, and further the study of China's modern agricultural history.