Intellectual Attitudes towards National Language Education during the Late Qing Dynasty

Focus on the pre-Kuimao Educational System

Abstract

There are several theories that explain that the Chinese idea of the national language education system originated Japan. The Kuimao Educational System was made the official language education system in China in 1904. However, the official language education system did not any real progress after several years of effort. This thesis investigates and offers a possible explanation for this lack of progress, with three aspects; the scholars involved in the Qieyin movement, the educators, and the educational policymakers. The idea of a national language education system in China prior to the introduction of the Kuimao Educational System, but few people had any deep understanding about its concept. This resulted in several disagreements among the scholars, educators and the policymakers. Thus, the construction of a new national language did not receive any support. This is the main reason why the national language education system did not have demonstrate progress before the development of the Republic of China.