The Historical Review Of Chinese Learning Of Americans Before And After The "Treaty Of Wanghia"

The first American ship Empress of China arrived at Guangzhou in1784,which started the people-to-people contact between China and the USA. But it wasnot until1828that appeared the first American William C. Hunter who can speakChinese. Then, more and more Americans came to China to learn Chinese in order todo business or preach their religion. However, the Qing government forbade theforeigners to learn Chinese severely, and set up many barriers for their languagelearning. These barriers were broken until1844when the Treaty of Wanghia wassigned between the Qing and American government. This was the first unequal treatyin modern China that concerned Chinese learning, according to which Americanswere allowed to employ Chinese teachers and buy Chinese books.Basing on the related studies of other scholars, the author intended to make clearof the Chinese learning of Americans before and after the treaty. Firstly, the authoranalyzed the language communication between Chinese and Americans, talked aboutthe different attitudes of the two sides about Chinese learning, and discussed about theexperience and achievements in Chinese learning of William C. Hunter, ElijahColeman Bridgman, Peter Parker and Samuel Wells Williams. Secondly, analyzing therule about language learning, the author indicated that this was not only the turningpoint of the Chinese learning of Americans, but also led many other Western Powersto add similar rules in their unequal treaties with China. Then, the author investigatedthe language learning experience and achievements of William Alexander ParsonsMartin, Calvin Wilson Mateer, and Francis Lister Hawks Pott.According to the historical review of Chinese learning of Americans before andafter the Treaty of Wanghia, the author argued that the experience of Chineselearning of Americans in Late Qing is of great help to nowadays, for some learningmethods and teaching ideas can also be used in the practice of today’s Chineseteaching. What’s more, the Chinese learning in Qing dynasty promoted the Chineseteaching and the research of Sinology in the USA. With the support of the earliestgroup of Chinese learners, some famous universities in America set up sinology lectures. In one thing, the Chinese learning promoted the exchange between Chineseand American people. In another, taking the advantage of the language, the Chineselearners gradually took part in the foreign affairs between China and the USA. Theyhelped America to get more benefit in China, but hurt China at the same time.