A Brief Discussion About The Essay Contests Held By Ying Lianzhi And Ta Kung Pao

In the late Qing Dynasty, the life of Chinese nation was in stake as a result of Western imperialist powers’invasion. The advanced intellectuals in China made numerous efforts to strengthen the impoverished and weak country. As one piece of these attempts, newspapers and periodicals were used to publicize the eradication of feudalistic tradition and the utilization of western culture as well as to rouse the patriotic consciousness of Chinese people and enlighten the wisdom of them.During the decennium of1902-1912, Ying Lianzhi established and presided over the Ta Kung Pao, which had the longest issuing period in Chinese newspapers. It was an age of rapid change, especially reflected in the conflicting and blending of Chinese and Western culture and the intensification of Chinese and foreign ethnic conflicts. The way for China’s future development became the most pressing concern of Chinese intellectuals. In view of this, Ying Lianzhi organized nine times essay contests to discuss and analyze the important strategic decisions and reformation paths lied in front of the nation. The flowing of modern ideas and fervid suggestions of the people greatly impacted the2000-year feudal tradition, accelerating the social development of China.This thesis is composed of six parts. Part One sorts out the nine times essay contests organized by Ying Lianzhi and Ta Kung Pao, including dates and topics. The writer also makes a comparison with the essay contests organized by Multinational Communique to indicate the inheritance and innovation of Ta Kung Pao. Then the writer summarizes the thought core of these essay contests to lead and organize the research of this thesis.Part Two discusses the first topic of essay contests, constitutional monarchy. This part makes a general analysis of prize-winning essays around the topic based on the dissemination of political reform theory. Apart from this, the writer also makes an overview of the political standpoint and referent reform orientation through text research, which shows the great concern of national political trend.Part Three discusses the second topic, the improving of social customs. This section sets about from the movement of hair cutting and clothes changing and the promoting of vernacular writing. Through laying and analyzing prized essays, the writer shows Ying’s enduring efforts to promote vernacular writing and to enlighten the people. Ying’s modern civic awareness and right consciousness are also mentioned.Part Four investigates a new topic, setting up female schools. In this section, essay contests are mainly expressed through elimination of binding feet and setting up female schools. The great contribution made by Ta Kung Pao to improve female education is especially manifested in a typical person, Lv Bicheng. That’s also one aspect to reflect Ying’s encouragement for the equality of men and women due to the influence of Western culture.Part Five makes a general comment on Ying’s journalism thought. Those essay contests held by Ta Kung Pao reflects the concerning points of itself. What’s more, the prized essays express Ying’s own value in some extent and they are in accordance to his politic standpoint. By means of evaluating and analyzing essay contests, we can learn some professional and liberal ideas of Ying Lianzhi in press developing. They can also be one kind of standards to evaluate Ying’s press ethics and patriotic sentiment.The last part summarizes the main research contents of this thesis. Though there exists some shortcomings in the research, the patriotism and press ethics of Ying Lianzhi should be respected and practiced by later generation.