The Early-stage Development Of Chinese Modern Biology(1840-1937)

As the representative of natural sciences, biology is developing rapidly in modern China. Biological theory was first introduced into China via the translation from western countries. After the final establishment of western education system in China, biology became a discipline in schools at all levels. At the same time, after hard studying abroad with the thoughts of saving the country through science, a group of Chinese intellectuals conducted the biology courses in Chinese schools by imitating the western education, which laid a solid foundation for the spread and development of biology. Biology developed from nothing to mature in Chinese modern history.This thesis consists of four parts. Chapter l,Development approach and main accomplishments of biology in ancient China; Chapter 2,①Collection and study of animal and plant specimen by Westerners visiting China; ②Introduction approach of western biology in modern China; ③Spread of Evolution and Mendelism; Chapter 3, Beginning of biology education in modern China, a case study of biology in Imperial University of Peking; Chapter 4, ①Patriotism and educational thoughts of biologists in the Republic of China;② Status of biology higher education in the early years of the Republic of China, a case study of Department of Biology in Peking University. The main points of each part are as follows.(1) In ancient China, the study of biology was mainly by the way of ‘description’ through classics or records of agriculture, medicine, botany and literature works.(2) The collection and preparation of specimen by western missionaries involved a wide range of issues with fruitful results, which promoted the development of biology in China and offered valuable references for Chinese biologist.(3) After the Opium Wars, as the representative of new scientific discipline, biology was transplanted from western countries and developed orderly, which injected fresh blood to Chinese biology through the biological theories.(4) In the late Qing Dynasty, the development of biology was slow in China. For example, the biology courses in Imperial University of Peking were bound to other disciplines.(5) In the early years of the Republic of China, the departments of biology were founded in colleges and universities by some biologists who have studied abroad and returned home(Zhi Bing, Xiansu Hu, etc), which laid the foundation for the development of biology in modern China.(6) In the case of Department of Biology in Peking University, the establishment of biology discipline education and their curriculum, faculty, institutions were analyzed systematically.In addition, the development of biology discipline should combine with actual conditions of China, rather than merely depending on the western education system. This thesis presents the import and development of biology discipline in modern China by investigating its preparatory process.