| The educational administration system is crucial to a country’s politics,society and culture.During the period of Zheng-tong of Ming Dynasty,the special system of education ministers,in charge of the provincial educational affairs,was established to cultivate and select the talent and promote the development of local education.The establishment of this institution is great progress in the history.However,its development was not going smoothly but experiencing the abolition and innovation,and stumbling forward.Seeing that the institution of the provincial education ministers of Ming Dynasty is dynamic and developing,the study on it should neither ignore the unique cultural and educational background,and the special situation of politics and society in Ming Dynasty,nor should it neglect the specific regional features and the actual achievements of the ministers.Sichuan belongs to Liangzhou in ancient times,located in the upstream of ancient Jiuzhou,and there are natural barriers with high mountains,long rivers,and a long history of culture and education as well.Since the establishment of local schools initiated by Wen-weng in Sichuan in the Han Dynasty,the activities of vitalizing education of Sichuan have been continually regarded as models for other provinces in China.In Ming Dynasty,because of the geographical remoteness and the changeable political situation of the central government,the term of Sichuan’s educational ministers is not quite stable.Luckily,most of them are knowledgeable and good-character scholars.During their term,great contributions have been made to Sichuan’s culture and education because they would set himself as an example,fulfill their duties justly.Besides,they would pay attention to cultivating and selecting the talent,promoting construction of local official schools and local academies,participating in the compilation of local chronicles.They are the important representatives in the group of local educational administrators.Their performance and activities in Sichuan are a microcosm of the group’s activities in the era.However,the institution of the provincial education ministers,as a part of bureaucratic system,had not been able to get out of the pitfalls on overlapping functions and confused rights in Ming Dynasty,which was supposed to affect the minsters to perform their duties independently and develop their abilities fully.To study on the institution of the provincial education ministers of Ming Dynasty and their achievements in Sichuan,can not only expand the research fields of the history of the official system in Ming Dynasty,the history of the local education and the regional history of Sichuan,but also provide some references and enlightenment for the reform of the current education and politics. |
