On The Social Educational Function Of Japanese Citizens' Museum And Its Enlightenment

With the emerging learning society, social education in China has been vigorously developing, It plays an irreplaceable role in promoting the development of national economy and improves the people’s living standards. Comparatively speaking, social education started relatively late in China. The social education in modern sense was brought to China from abroad in the early20th in spite of its traditional existence. Now, the social education infrastructure has been enhanced greatly. Conspicuous achievements have been made but huge challenges still remain.Kouminkan as Japanese comprehensive social education infrastructure was founded in1946. Over half a century, Kouminkan plays a leading role in social education, which is closely related to daily life. It not only improves the enthusiasm of people’s participation in social education activities but also guarantees the citizens’ right to education. The striking achievement is that it promotes the physical and mental health of community members. Kouminkan’s development process has experienced six historical stages:Germination period (1886-1945years); Creation period (1945-1949years); Extended period (1949-1959years); Transition period (1959-1969years); The change period (1969-1979years); Perfect period (1979present). So far, Kouminkan of Japan distributed in the whole country with a total number of15943:the museum10395, library5548, using citizen number13926. It shows the position and function of social education is remarkable. Based on this, the paper makes a study of the Japanese Kouminkan to discuss "why" it is fruitful. Based on China’s conditions of social education, Japan’s successful experience and lessons will be learned. Corresponding suggestions on the social education in China will be made so as to foster social education of China in the early21st century.The thesis has a total of six chapters. The first chapter is the introduction:a brief overview of the reasons and significance of this topic, research status at home and abroad, the definition of related concepts, research contents and research methods. The second and third chapters mainly display Japanese Kouminkan’s basic facts and development history. The fourth and fifth chapters mainly mine Kouminkan in social education activities with focus on its performance, then analyze the causes. The sixth chapter analyzes the current situation of China’s social education and the challenges, and put forward corresponding suggestions and countermeasures for the social education in China.