Investigation And Research On The Educational Thought Of Yang Changji

Yang Changji(1871-1920)was a well-known scholar and educator in contemporary China.Therefore,studying his educational thoughts has both theoretical and practical contributions.Yang lived during a period of significant social change in China.He had received a traditional Chinese education for a long period in his early years,and he was well-versed in classical Chinese educational philosophies.After China’s loss in the Sino-Japanese War,he traveled to the West in search of the truth,spending more than 10 years studying in Japan,England,and Germany in order to rejuvenate China.He studied Western philosophy,ethics,and educational theory in depth during this time.He actively committed himself to education after returning from his studies,had extensive experience in educational practice,produced several works on educational concerns,and eventually built a scientific and complete system of educational thought.Previous research on early modern Chinese educational thoughts has tended to focus on the well-known.Educators like Yang Changji,who have made substantial contributions to education,have received little attention.Furthermore,most Yang Changji-related studies focused on his ethical thinking,his influence on Mao Zedong,and a specific component of his educational theory.There is a lack of systematic review and analysis of Yang Changji’s education thoughts.Hence,using several methods such as literature review,historical analysis,and comparative analysis,this paper comprehensively introduces and analyzes Yang Changji’s educational thoughts based on the collected materials.First,we examine Yang Changji’s biography and educational activities,summarizing the background of his educational ideas from three perspectives: historical context,the origins of his family’s studies,and his educational experience.Second,the key topics of Yang’s educational thoughts,such as the theory of the nature and purpose of education,the theory of the curriculum structure and teaching techniques,and other educational monographs,are completely and profoundly studied.Third,we highlight key characteristics of his educational thoughts,such as completeness,East-West integration,keeping up with the times,loving the motherland,training moral personnel,being consistent with national conditions,and an emphasis on practices.Finally,we assess Yang’s educational thoughts and determine that they aid in the finding and growth of talents,encourage the development of contemporary education in China,and are scientific and dialectical in character.His ideas,however,contain a certain amount of personal idealism as well as historical constraints.Yang Changji’s educational thoughts have important implications for today’s schooling.That is,education reform should be based on both national and global realities,schools should prioritize fostering students’ patriotic spirit,and teachers should prioritize their own professional quality and moral image.