History of education in China
Encyclopedia
The history of education in China began with the birth of Chinese civilization
. The nobles often set up the educational establishments for their offspring. Establishment of the civil service examinations (advocated in the Warring States period, originated in Han, founded in Tang) was instrumental in transition from the aristocratic
to meritocratic
government.
of junior nobles.
and its leader Confucius
was seen as the founder of education for the masses. One of his sayings was Provide education for all people without discrimination (Chinese:有教无类 yǒu-jiào-wú-lèi). Another was Teach according to the student's ability (Chinese: 因材施教 yīn-cái-shī-jiào).
The different schools were often organized into political entities to gain social influence. The most strict system of education belonged to Mohists
. Rival scholars were invited to courts; governmental sponsorship led to the development of the first Chinese academies. Importance of education and respect to the teachers was stressed in the Annals of Lü Buwei
.
favored Legalism (Chinese philosophy)
,and regarded others as either dangerous to his rule or useless,so he carried out burning of books and burying of scholars
. He suppressed all non-state official ideas. Similar to ancient Greece and Rome, the patriarchal nature of Qin society meant that women were usually not educated and stayed home to do housework.
favored Confucianism
and made it as the national educational doctrine.The Taixue
was setup to turn out civil servant for the empire. Imperial examination
began at 605
, and the educational system for Chinese Empire was finaled modeled until the abolishment in 1905, and replaced by modern Western Education.
Meanwhile art school Pear Garden
appeared in early 8th century, and in 1178 national military school Wu Xue
(:zh:武学) was set up.
required the competitors to pass their local cutting score before the final examination in capitol. So the private school prevailed. White Deer Grotto Academy
and Donglin Academy
were their models.
The invention of Paper
and Movable type
greatly boosted the educational industry.
, USA, and Japan
. In the late 19th century, several modern universities were founded, such as Peking University
and Jiaotong University
.
Culture of China
Chinese culture is one of the world's oldest and most complex. The area in which the culture is dominant covers a large geographical region in eastern Asia with customs and traditions varying greatly between towns, cities and provinces...
. The nobles often set up the educational establishments for their offspring. Establishment of the civil service examinations (advocated in the Warring States period, originated in Han, founded in Tang) was instrumental in transition from the aristocratic
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
to meritocratic
Meritocracy
Meritocracy, in the first, most administrative sense, is a system of government or other administration wherein appointments and responsibilities are objectively assigned to individuals based upon their "merits", namely intelligence, credentials, and education, determined through evaluations or...
government.
Shang and Zhou Dynasties
The Shang Hsiang was a legendary school to teach the youth nobles. The government founded five national schools to educate Six ArtsSix Arts
The Six Arts formed the basis of education in ancient Chinese culture. During the Zhou Dynasty , students were required to master the "liù yì" :# Rites# Music# Archery# Charioteering# Calligraphy# Mathematics...
of junior nobles.
Hundred Schools of Thought
At that time, numerous different schools enrolled the students. The most famous one was the ConfucianismConfucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
and its leader Confucius
Confucius
Confucius , literally "Master Kong", was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period....
was seen as the founder of education for the masses. One of his sayings was Provide education for all people without discrimination (Chinese:有教无类 yǒu-jiào-wú-lèi). Another was Teach according to the student's ability (Chinese: 因材施教 yīn-cái-shī-jiào).
The different schools were often organized into political entities to gain social influence. The most strict system of education belonged to Mohists
Mohism
Mohism or Moism was a Chinese philosophy developed by the followers of Mozi , 470 BC–c.391 BC...
. Rival scholars were invited to courts; governmental sponsorship led to the development of the first Chinese academies. Importance of education and respect to the teachers was stressed in the Annals of Lü Buwei
Lüshi Chunqiu
The Lüshi Chunqiu is an encyclopedic Chinese classic text compiled around 239 BCE under the patronage of the Qin Dynasty Chancellor Lü Buwei...
.
Qin era
In the 200's BC, Qin Shi HuangQin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
favored Legalism (Chinese philosophy)
Legalism (Chinese philosophy)
In Chinese history, Legalism was one of the main philosophic currents during the Warring States Period, although the term itself was invented in the Han Dynasty and thus does not refer to an organized 'school' of thought....
,and regarded others as either dangerous to his rule or useless,so he carried out burning of books and burying of scholars
Burning of books and burying of scholars
Burning of the books and burying of the scholars is a phrase that refers to a policy and a sequence of events in the Qin Dynasty of Ancient China, between the period of 213 and 206 BC. During these events, the Hundred Schools of Thought were pruned; legalism survived...
. He suppressed all non-state official ideas. Similar to ancient Greece and Rome, the patriarchal nature of Qin society meant that women were usually not educated and stayed home to do housework.
Confucianism as the education doctrine
Emperor Wu of HanEmperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
favored Confucianism
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
and made it as the national educational doctrine.The Taixue
Taixue
Taixue , or sometimes called the "Imperial Academy", "Imperial School" , "Imperial University" or "Imperial Central University", was the highest rank of educational establishment in Ancient China between the Han Dynasty and Sui Dynasty. It was replaced by the Guozijian...
was setup to turn out civil servant for the empire. Imperial examination
Imperial examination
The Imperial examination was an examination system in Imperial China designed to select the best administrative officials for the state's bureaucracy. This system had a huge influence on both society and culture in Imperial China and was directly responsible for the creation of a class of...
began at 605
605
Year 605 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 605 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* As a result of a quarrel between Numan III,...
, and the educational system for Chinese Empire was finaled modeled until the abolishment in 1905, and replaced by modern Western Education.
Meanwhile art school Pear Garden
Pear Garden
The Pear Garden or Lìyuán was the first known royal acting and musical academy in China. It was founded during the Tang Dynasty by Emperor Xuanzong...
appeared in early 8th century, and in 1178 national military school Wu Xue
Wu Xue
Wu Xue is a female Chinese-born table tennis player who now represents the Dominican Republic.She competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics, reaching the quarterfinals of the singles competition. She also competed in the team competition....
(:zh:武学) was set up.
Properties of local schools
Imperial examinationImperial examination
The Imperial examination was an examination system in Imperial China designed to select the best administrative officials for the state's bureaucracy. This system had a huge influence on both society and culture in Imperial China and was directly responsible for the creation of a class of...
required the competitors to pass their local cutting score before the final examination in capitol. So the private school prevailed. White Deer Grotto Academy
White Deer Grotto Academy
The White Deer Grotto Academy was located at the foot of Wulou Peak in Lushan, now in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province. It was one of the Four Great Academies of China.- History :...
and Donglin Academy
Donglin Academy
The Donglin Academy , also known as the Guishan Academy , was originally built in AD 1111 during the Northern Song dynasty at present-day Wuxi in China...
were their models.
The invention of Paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
and Movable type
Movable type
Movable type is the system of printing and typography that uses movable components to reproduce the elements of a document ....
greatly boosted the educational industry.
The introduction of modern education
Following the defeat of the Chinese empire in the Opium Wars, modern western education was eagerly sought out in the domains of foreign languages, national defence, and new techniques of industrial production. The Capital Foreign Language House (:zh:京师 同文馆) (jīng-shī tóng-wén-guǎn) was set up in 1862. Countless overseas students were sent by the government or by their families to EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, USA, and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. In the late 19th century, several modern universities were founded, such as Peking University
Peking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
and Jiaotong University
Jiaotong University
Jiaotong University, Jiao Tong University or Chiao Tung University , located at Shanghai, Tangshan and Peking during the early period of twentieth century, was the predecessor of the following universities:...
.
See also
- Imperial examinationImperial examinationThe Imperial examination was an examination system in Imperial China designed to select the best administrative officials for the state's bureaucracy. This system had a huge influence on both society and culture in Imperial China and was directly responsible for the creation of a class of...
- GuozijianGuozijianThe Guozijian , or Kuo Tzu Chien, the School of the Sons of State, sometimes called the Imperial Academy, Imperial College, Imperial Central School, was the national central institute of learning in Chinese dynasties after the Sui. It was the highest institute of learning in China's traditional...
(Imperial Academies) - Academies (China)
- Hanlin AcademyHanlin AcademyThe Hanlin Academy was an academic and administrative institution founded in the eighth century Tang dynasty China by Emperor Xuanzong.Membership in the academy was confined to an elite group of scholars, who performed secretarial and literary tasks for the court. One of its main duties was to...
- Yuelu AcademyYuelu AcademyThe Yuelu Academy is located on the east side of Yuelu Mountain in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, China, on the west bank of the Xiang River....
- White Deer Grotto AcademyWhite Deer Grotto AcademyThe White Deer Grotto Academy was located at the foot of Wulou Peak in Lushan, now in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province. It was one of the Four Great Academies of China.- History :...
- Yuelu Academy
- Education in the People's Republic of ChinaEducation in the People's Republic of ChinaEducation in the People's Republic of China is a state-run system of public education run by the Ministry of Education. All citizens must attend school for at least nine years. The government provides primary education for six years, starting at age six or seven, followed by six years of secondary...