Civilization Bookstore Textbook Publishing

During the period of reform in Late Qing Dynasty, the Qing government implemented an education system reform. With the rising of modern education, schools and students increased rapidly. Therefore, school textbooks became a real problem to be solved. Textbooks published by the original church publication agencies and a small number of official publication institutions could hardly meet the reality. In this situation, private textbook publishers came into being quietly. The Civilization Press which was founded in 1902 was a private textbook publisher that was established earlier at that time. When private publication in the textbook publishing industry has not become prosperous, the Civilization Press first set foot in this area and was well-known by publishing the Elementary Textbooks, which made it a leader in this field.The Civilization Press raised "the banner of Elementary " and " the banner of Civilization" .The series of textbooks ranged from elementary school, junior primary, upper primary school, and many other kinds of school books. With their own distinctive characteristics, it produced a wide range of social effects. At the same time, the Civilization Press also translated foreign textbooks, and introduced many Japanese textbooks. The textbooks of the Civilization Press, which were combined with teaching practice and students' interest in learning, focused on quality and reflected the characteristics of modern textbook in terms of both content and form. The Elementary Textbooks were well known for their own distinctive characteristics. The books were unique in the textbook market, and also occupied an important place in the development of Chinese modern textbook. The Civilization Press also engaged in copyright protection, the introduction of new printing technology and other activities in its publishing process, which produced positive significance in the development of the textbook publication industry. In a competitive market, the Press effectively expanded the market for their textbooks and occupied an important position through the establishment of branch civilization, the improvement of the textbooks 'quality, the expansion of popularity by advertising, and getting tax-free books, etc. Through these textbook publishing activities, the Civilization Press became not only the leader of the textbook publishing in the private industry, but also the participant of the Chinese education reformation and the knowledge transformation in Late Qing Dynasty in a unique way.