Abstract: In the process of China's modern ideological enlightenment, the reformists fought against feudal conservative thoughts by establishing newspapers and periodicals. Through this struggle, they not only promoted the development of the Reform Movement, but also promoted the realization of political reform, spread patriotic ideas to the people and carried out bourgeois ideological enlightenment education. In this process, the reformists also created a precedent for politicians to run newspapers, created a new style of newspapers, and made indelible contributions in the history of modern newspapers in China.
Keywords: reformists; Newspapers; Historical role; contribution
The initial development of modern press and publication is one of the achievements of the Reform Movement of 1898. Before the Opium War, modern western newspapers and periodicals had already entered the land of China through missionaries. With more and more China people studying and studying abroad, the role of newspapers and periodicals is increasingly recognized by China people. The Chinese and Foreign Bulletin founded by Wu Yu in Hong Kong in 1858, Huazi Daily founded by Chen Aiting in Hong Kong in 1864 and Circular Daily edited by Wang Tao in 1874 can be said to be the originator of China people's own newspapers. However, after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao and other reformers found it easier to spread the new law by running newspapers than by writing books, so they began to devote themselves to the newspaper industry and founded a series of newspapers with the significance of the times, including Chinese and foreign news, ethnic news, current affairs news, news of confidence, Hunan Daily and Hunan Daily, which was the continuation and great development of China's modern newspaper thought. According to incomplete statistics, there were over 30 major newspapers and periodicals in China at that time [1]. During this period, the newspapers and periodicals founded by the Reformists played a certain historical role and made extraordinary contributions to the newspaper industry in China.
First, the three stages of running a newspaper by reformists and its main publications
1895, Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, China and China were defeated. Under the collision of Chinese and western cultures, Japanese advanced intellectuals at that time gradually formed a kind of * * * knowledge: only by carrying out reforms and learning from foreign countries can China be saved. As the representative of the political forces of the national bourgeoisie in China, the reformists began to make their mark in politics. With Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao's "On the Bus", the Reform Movement began. With the continuous advancement of reform, Chinese people began to run newspapers one after another, which set off the climax of establishing newspapers.
From 1895 to 1896, it was the first stage for the reformists to run a newspaper. At this stage, the main representative newspapers and periodicals are World Bulletin and Strong Magazine. 1In August, 895, Kang Youwei founded the bimonthly World Bulletin written by Liang Qichao and others to promote western learning and advocate political reform. At that time, Di Bao (a newspaper that published imperial edicts and memorials) was distributed to officials in Beijing. With the continuous spread of the idea of political reform, it had the same name as Shanghai's World Bulletin and World Bulletin, and was soon renamed as Chinese and Foreign Journals, and the print run quickly increased to 3,000 copies. As the propaganda media and public opinion tool of the Reform and Reform, this publication has had a certain influence on some officials and literati in Beijing [2]. 1895, Kang Youwei left Beijing for the south and founded the Shanghai Strong Society. 1896, 1, a strong publication came into being. The birth of Qiangkan promoted the reform movement in Shanghai, especially in the southeast. Unfortunately, when the Reform Movement was in full swing, due to the impeachment of feudal literati, the feudal reactionary forces fought back strongly. The third issue of Xue Qiang Daily was closed, and the Xue Qiang Society was forced to dissolve. This is undoubtedly a strong protest from the feudal forces to publicize the new law to the reformers. However, the reformists did not stop because of setbacks. Instead, with the efforts of Kang Youwei, Weng Shu Tong and Li Hongzao, they continued to publicize the reform ideas throughout the country.
1896 to 1898 are the second stage of running newspapers for the reformists, such as Time, Xiangxue New Newspaper, Box, Intimate Newspaper, Women's Magazine and Accounting Magazine. This paper only lists the first three newspapers for explanation. Wang is Zhang Zhidong's confidant. In August 1896, he founded The Times (Xun Magazine), with Liang Qichao as the main pen, and published 96 volumes, which was closed two years later. The Times has its unique characteristics: bold speech, fluent writing and novel ideas. At that time, it was popular at home and abroad, which promoted the development of the reform movement and had far-reaching influence. It is particularly worth mentioning that a series of political articles by Liang Qichao, such as the famous "Reform and General Change", "On China's Weakness in Preventing Cheats" and "Shuo Qun", criticized feudal remnants, advocated new laws and tried to strengthen political reform, had great influence at that time. The establishment of the newspaper not only strengthened the momentum of the reform and reform, but also quickly enhanced Liang Qichao's own reputation, hence the name "Kangliang". Zhang Zhidong, a representative of the Westernization School, once praised the newspaper, calling it "the first useful newspaper founded by China". Under the background of the rising trend of thought of reform and reform, Hunan Governor Chen Baozhen, Tan Sitong's close friend Tang, teacher Ouyang Zhonggu and scholar Pi supported and publicized the reform most actively. 1897, Jiang Biao, Tang and others founded Xiangxuehai New Newspaper (later renamed Xiangxue Poster) in Changsha, and vigorously promoted the reform. 1893 In March, Tan Sitong and Tang founded Hunan Daily. The establishment of the newspaper not only effectively publicized the political reform, but also further promoted the reform movement in Hunan and had a far-reaching impact on other southern provinces. After 1900, the third stage of running newspapers in modern times was carried out in the debate with revolutionaries. The main newspapers and periodicals are the revolutionary People's Daily and the improved Xinmin Cong Daily. The characteristics of reformist newspapers at this stage are mainly to attack and refute the democratic remarks of revolutionaries. After the publication of People's Daily, the organ newspaper of the League, it publicly declared that "overthrowing the existing bad government", "establishing a political system" and "land ownership" were "isms". Armed with Sun Yat-sen's "Three People's Principles" theory, People's Daily quickly occupied the central leading position of progressive public opinion and was greatly welcomed by progressive intellectuals at home and abroad. However, the reformists, represented by Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao, gradually moved from the progressors of the times to the obstructionists of the times and began to worry about their authoritative position in the ideological circle. By expressing their wishes in newspapers and periodicals, they criticized the revolutionary democratic revolutionary thought and hindered its spread. An argument raged in People's Daily, the organ of the NLD, and Xinmin Cong Bao, the mouthpiece of the reformists. From 1905 to 1907, the debate between the two factions in the field of political thought reached its peak. The scale, time, intensity and far-reaching influence of this debate are rare in the modern history of China.
Second, the historical role and contribution of reformist newspapers and periodicals
The reformists founded newspapers and periodicals, which made very beneficial contributions to the historical progress at that time. In summary, there are the following points.
First of all, it broke through the feudal language ban and won the legal status of newspapers and periodicals. The reformists wrote to Emperor Guangxu, demanding the establishment of a newspaper office to open the way. 1898 During the "Reform Movement of 1898", Emperor Guangxu issued an "imperial edict", allowing newspapers to "speak according to the facts, without taboo" and giving newspaper publishers "tax exemption" rewards, which promoted the rapid development of newspapers everywhere. Wan Guo Bao and Wu Shi Bao, founded by Kang Liang, are the precedents for folk newspapers, which broke the control of feudal rule on public opinion for thousands of years and opened up a new era of China's historical speech. At that time, people organized newspaper activities of China people during the Reform Movement, which was called the climax of the first newspaper run by China people.
Secondly, a group of famous journalists in modern times emerged, which created a precedent for politicians to run newspapers. The concept of "politicians running newspapers" was first put forward by Mao Zedong and became the tradition of running newspapers in the Communist Party of China (CPC). "Politicians run newspapers", "mouthpiece theory" and "party spirit principle" have become the golden rule of journalism [3]. Before and after the Opium War, the main purpose of newspapers in China was to spread religious teachings and business information through western missionaries, so the development of newspapers was very slow. Before the reform, most newspaper publishers in China were down-and-out literati, and the contents of newspapers and periodicals were empty, boring and low-level. It was not until the reformists headed by "Kang Liang" appeared that the old and decadent atmosphere in the past was swept away, and the purpose and destiny of the newspaper industry began to be closely linked with politics. The famous journalists who emerged in this period mainly included Liang Qichao, Yan Fu, Tang, Wang, Mai and Xu Qin. It must be said that these famous journalists became the dominant force in modern China newspaper industry. Kang's and Liang's thoughts on party newspapers had a great influence on later generations' thoughts on party newspapers. Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao regarded the establishment of newspapers as a necessary preparation for political activities, and at the same time regarded newspapers as the eyes and ears of the government, making newspapers a position to publicize the party program and crack down on revolutionary forces. "Kang Liang" thought of running a newspaper actually recognized the party spirit of the newspaper [4]. The reformists laid a certain theoretical and practical foundation for Sun Yat-sen and others' thoughts and ideas of running newspapers during the Revolution of 1911, and had a far-reaching influence on later political parties and newspapers.
Third, at the end of 19, the patriotic voice of "saving the nation to survive" was strongly sent to the general public through newspapers and periodicals. The reformists founded their newspaper after the disastrous Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895. At this time, China has become a piece of fat that all imperialist countries want to possess. The further trampling on Chinese mainland by powerful countries and the heavy national crisis aroused the national awakening. This distressing situation shocked the whole of China, which was distressing. First of all, it caused the profound reflection of the advanced intellectuals of the national bourgeoisie at that time. By establishing newspapers and periodicals, they effectively presented the urgent situation in China at that time, resentfully condemned all kinds of bad acts of imperialist powers invading China, and issued a call for building an independent and powerful new China, which greatly encouraged scholars, intellectuals and ordinary people to "resist foreign aggression".
Fourth, enlighten the people of China, and carry out bourgeois ideological enlightenment education. Liang Qichao, while presiding over The Times, wrote the article "General Discussion on Political Reform", pointing out that:
"Buddhism, the public instrument of the world; Change is the axiom of the world. Since the earth is within reach, countries are steaming and steaming, which is becoming more and more important. It is impossible not to build it. Change also changes, unchanged also changes. People who change, the right to change, have, can protect the country, can protect species, can protect education, those who change without changing, let all people, bind them, run wild, alas, it is beyond words! [5]"
This passage clearly points out that if China wants to reform and strengthen itself, it must learn from the political system and cultural and educational system of western capitalist countries. He also boldly advocated "the theory of civil rights", negated and criticized the feudal argument of "being emperor", and thought that "the increasing respect of monarchical power and the decline of civil rights are the root causes of China's weakness" [6]. Liang Qichao also advocated constitutional monarchy and changed the imperial examination system. During the period of 1895, Yan Fu published several important political articles in Zhi Bao, such as Yuan Qiang, Bing Han, and The Final Theory of Saving the Nation, which vigorously publicized the academic thoughts and political opinions of the western bourgeoisie and sharply criticized the feudal traditional concepts. These articles have become strong evidence of propaganda and reform. At that time, the newspapers sponsored by the reformists published quite a number of articles introducing western learning and the situation in the West, enthusiastically propagating the new ideas and new cultures of the bourgeoisie, shocking the hearts of advanced intellectuals at that time and gradually improving the national thinking.
Fifth, promote reform and development to make reform possible. The newspaper activities of reformist groups all over the country have caused great public opinion influence in the whole society. At that time, people with lofty ideals with patriotic ideas expressed their support in succession, which was of great help to the political reform.
Sixth, he attached importance to political theory, created a new style of newspapers & current affairs style, and promoted the development of political theory writing. Before the reform and reform, the mixed style of eight-part essay and Tongcheng school ancient prose was popular in newspapers and periodicals. In order to meet the needs of political reform, Liang Qichao began to reform the articles published on current affairs, developed Wang Tao's style of newspaper political commentary, and gradually formed a unique writing style characterized by current affairs style. He once described his working state at that time: "In the heat of June, all the foreign wax turned into liquid. I lived alone in a small building, sweating and writing, and I didn't eat for a few days and didn't rest at night." These efforts made him known as "the darling of public opinion and the literary giant in the sky", where he went, he was deeply touched and slightly out of control, which broke the rules of the old style, swept around the reform movement of 1898, opened up a new image of a generation of style, and had a great influence on the style of newspapers and periodicals in the Revolution of 1911 and the May Fourth Movement.
Third, enlightenment.
Facing the current situation that journalists' sense of social responsibility and mission is weakening day by day, we deeply realize the necessity and urgency for journalists to learn from their predecessors' patriotism and sense of social responsibility, absorb the essence of their predecessors' running newspapers, establish a sense of social responsibility, cultivate their own personality and be a responsible journalist through the understanding and understanding of the contents and functions of reformists' running newspapers during the Reform Movement of 1898.
(Author: School of Political Economy, Shaanxi Normal University)
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