The Research Of Xu Qianlin’s Charity And His Charitable Thoughts

Xu Qianlin is a famous gentry and merchant and philanthropist and social activist in modern Chinese society. He quitted school to study commerce obeying the father’s advice in his early years. Later, he gained fortune in commercial circles. Under the background of natural disaster frequently occurred and social problems exploded, although Xu Qianlin was busying commerce, he devoted himself to the philanthropy. In addition, the influence of Chinese traditional culture and the family admonition was an important reason which impelled Xu to commit to charitable activities, and even once placed more importance on charity, or lost sight of his own business. He devoted himself to charity more than fifty years, and his co-founded numerous charitable organizations, such as the Anti-kidnapping society, China Philanthropic institution, National Federation of charity, and other charitable groups and organizations. Otherwise, Xu Qianlin not only extensive committed the domestic relief activities, such as, the floods of Beijing, Zhili, Fengtian and Henan provinces, and he participated in the activity in salvation in North China five provinces in drought, and he relief the Zhejiang province flood. But also, he initiated the establishment of the organization of Chinese assist Japanese combating the quake and carry out relief work, which given full play to the Chinese gentleman’s international humanitarian spirit. Meanwhile, Xu Qianlin is also keen to welfare activities in Shanghai, solving the social problems which emerged in the process of modernization of the city, such as, treated homeless, fire safety construction in Zhabei in Shanghai, and urban health issues and so on. Not only that, he is also active in the extension of education, ban on opium-smoking and the opium trade of public welfare activities. His kindness adds new vitality to Chinese philanthropy in the period of the Republic of China. However, what is more important is he made a summary for his experience of fifty years, when he devoted to the philanthropy. The book recorded his gain and loss, success and failure in his philanthropy. It is invaluable wealth to the researcher engaging in the philanthropy. Xu Qianlin spent most of his time by traveling to philanthropy, trying to limit disaster victims’ suffering did his best, which promoted the social progress and social stability. Under the background of the rise of nationalism and awakening of national consciousness in the late 19 th and early 20 th century, Xu combined philanthropy to industrial development, and improving urban public infrastructure and resisting aggression, which enhance national cohesion to some extent.