Eastern Western Monthly Magazine was the inaugural modern-age Chinese language magazine first published on August 1, 1833 in Canton (Guangzhou), China by the Prussian Protestant Missionary Karl Gützlaff[1] at a time when foreign missionaries risked strangulation or deportation.[2] In 1837, due to increasingly strained Sino-British relations presaging the First Opium War, the magazine moved to Singapore with its last issue appearing in 1838. Contributors included fellow missionaries Robert Morrison and his son John amongst others, with the publication covering religion, politics, science, commerce and miscellaneous topics.[3]
Originally from Prussia, Gützlaff arrived in Southeast Asia as a missionary for the Netherlands Missionary Society in 1827 but shortly afterwards left to join the London Missionary Society. At the beginning of 1831 he set out on a tour of China and soon became dismayed at the widespread view amongst the Chinese that Westerners were "Barbarians". Gützlaff announced that he would start a monthly magazine that would correct this impression by introducing the ideas of Western art and science and promote understanding and friendship.[4] In March 1834 the magazine carried an article entitled "A Discussion of Newspaper Strategy" 《新闻纸略论》 (Xīnwénzhǐ Luè Lùn), which was the first treatise on the Western press to appear in China.[5] Although only 331 words long, the article covered newspaper origination, freedom of the press and reviewed the details of a number of Western papers. Copies of the magazine were circulated to Nanking (Nanjing), Peking (Beijing) and other cities but its reception is not recorded.[6]
The magazine ceased publication after Issue 10 in May 1834, restarted in February 1835 only to cease again in July of the same year.[3] The magazine relocated to Singapore in 1837, printing its last issue in 1838.
Publication style and featuresedit
The Eastern Western Monthly Magazine employed Chinese style printing techniques using wooden blocks with a structure similar to Chinese Monthly Magazine 《zh:察世俗每月统计传》 produced by Robert Morrison, Walter Henry Medhurst and William Milne. Although edited by a missionary, the magazine played down this aspect, focusing instead on promoting the superiority of Western culture and criticising the Chinese people's arrogant xenophobic attitude in three sections covering religion, morals and ethics and scientific thought. Gützlaff wrote in the prospectus:
"The monthly periodical, which is now offered for the patronage of the foreign community of Canton and Macao, is published with a view to counteract these high and exclusive notions [the Chinese profess to be first among the nations on earth, and regard all others as 'Barbarians'.], by making the Chinese acquainted with our arts, sciences, and principles. It will not treat of politics, nor tend to exasperate their minds by harsh language upon any subject. There is a more excellent way to show that we are not indeed 'Barbarians', and the Editor prefers the method of exhibiting facts, to convince the Chinese that they still have very much to learn. Aware also, of the relation in which foreigners stand to the native authorities, the Editor has endeavoured to conciliate their friendship, and hopes ultimately to prove successful.[7]
Gützlaff's pseudonym, "One who loves the Chinese" (爱汉者), appeared on the front cover of early issues of the magazine.[8]
Surviving copiesedit
Despite its importance for research into historical Sino-western exchanges, few copies of the Eastern Western Magazine still exist in China although 39 issues are held in the Harvard University Yenching Institute (燕京学社) Library.
^Maclay, Rev. R.S. (1861). Life Among the Chinese: with Characteristic Sketches and Incidents of Missionary Operations and Prospects in China. New York, Carlton & Porter. p. 337. foreigners strangled or expelled.
^ ab (in Chinese). Chinese Culture University, Taiwan. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
^Liu Jialin (刘家林) (1995). A Narrative History of Chinese News 《中国新闻通史》 (in Chinese). Wuhan University Press (武汉大学出版社). p. 53. ISBN7-307-02122-6.
^Sun Xupei (孙旭培) (March 7, 2006). "Review of Chinese News and Media Research (中国新闻与传播研究的回顾)" (in Chinese). People's Daily. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
Britton, Roswell S. (1933). The Chinese Periodical Press 1800-1912. Shanghai, Kelly & Walsh.
Zhang, Xiantao (2007). The Origins of the Modern Chinese Press: The Influence of the Protestant Missionary Press in Late Qing China (Media, Culture and Social Change in Asia Series). ISBN978-0415380669.
Further readingedit
One who loves the Chinese (爱汉者) (1997). Eastern Western Monthly Magazine《东西洋考每月统记传》 (in Chinese). Zhonghua Publishing (中华书局). ISBN9787101015829.
January 01, 1970
eastern, western, monthly, magazine, inaugural, modern, chinese, language, magazine, first, published, august, 1833, canton, guangzhou, china, prussian, protestant, missionary, karl, gützlaff, time, when, foreign, missionaries, risked, strangulation, deportati. Eastern Western Monthly Magazine was the inaugural modern age Chinese language magazine first published on August 1 1833 in Canton Guangzhou China by the Prussian Protestant Missionary Karl Gutzlaff 1 at a time when foreign missionaries risked strangulation or deportation 2 In 1837 due to increasingly strained Sino British relations presaging the First Opium War the magazine moved to Singapore with its last issue appearing in 1838 Contributors included fellow missionaries Robert Morrison and his son John amongst others with the publication covering religion politics science commerce and miscellaneous topics 3 Eastern Western Monthly MagazineTraditional Chinese東西洋考每月統記傳Simplified Chinese东西洋考每月统记传TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinDōng Xiyang Kǎo Meiyue Tǒngji ZhuanYue CantoneseJyutpingDung1 Sai1 Joeng4 Haau2 Mui5 Jyut6 Tung2 Gei3Southern MinHokkien POJTang sai Iuⁿ kho Mui goe h Thong ki toanTai loTang sai Iunn kho Mui gue h Thong ki tuan Contents 1 History 2 Publication style and features 3 Surviving copies 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 Further readingHistory editOriginally from Prussia Gutzlaff arrived in Southeast Asia as a missionary for the Netherlands Missionary Society in 1827 but shortly afterwards left to join the London Missionary Society At the beginning of 1831 he set out on a tour of China and soon became dismayed at the widespread view amongst the Chinese that Westerners were Barbarians Gutzlaff announced that he would start a monthly magazine that would correct this impression by introducing the ideas of Western art and science and promote understanding and friendship 4 In March 1834 the magazine carried an article entitled A Discussion of Newspaper Strategy 新闻纸略论 Xinwenzhǐ Lue Lun which was the first treatise on the Western press to appear in China 5 Although only 331 words long the article covered newspaper origination freedom of the press and reviewed the details of a number of Western papers Copies of the magazine were circulated to Nanking Nanjing Peking Beijing and other cities but its reception is not recorded 6 The magazine ceased publication after Issue 10 in May 1834 restarted in February 1835 only to cease again in July of the same year 3 The magazine relocated to Singapore in 1837 printing its last issue in 1838 Publication style and features editThe Eastern Western Monthly Magazine employed Chinese style printing techniques using wooden blocks with a structure similar to Chinese Monthly Magazine zh 察世俗每月统计传 produced by Robert Morrison Walter Henry Medhurst and William Milne Although edited by a missionary the magazine played down this aspect focusing instead on promoting the superiority of Western culture and criticising the Chinese people s arrogant xenophobic attitude in three sections covering religion morals and ethics and scientific thought Gutzlaff wrote in the prospectus The monthly periodical which is now offered for the patronage of the foreign community of Canton and Macao is published with a view to counteract these high and exclusive notions the Chinese profess to be first among the nations on earth and regard all others as Barbarians by making the Chinese acquainted with our arts sciences and principles It will not treat of politics nor tend to exasperate their minds by harsh language upon any subject There is a more excellent way to show that we are not indeed Barbarians and the Editor prefers the method of exhibiting facts to convince the Chinese that they still have very much to learn Aware also of the relation in which foreigners stand to the native authorities the Editor has endeavoured to conciliate their friendship and hopes ultimately to prove successful 7 Gutzlaff s pseudonym One who loves the Chinese 爱汉者 appeared on the front cover of early issues of the magazine 8 Surviving copies editDespite its importance for research into historical Sino western exchanges few copies of the Eastern Western Magazine still exist in China although 39 issues are held in the Harvard University Yenching Institute 燕京学社 Library References edit Zhang 2007 p 39 Maclay Rev R S 1861 Life Among the Chinese with Characteristic Sketches and Incidents of Missionary Operations and Prospects in China New York Carlton amp Porter p 337 foreigners strangled or expelled a b Eastern Western Monthly Magazine 東西洋考每月統紀傳 in Chinese Chinese Culture University Taiwan Archived from the original on May 17 2014 Retrieved May 15 2012 Liu Jialin 刘家林 1995 A Narrative History of Chinese News 中国新闻通史 in Chinese Wuhan University Press 武汉大学出版社 p 53 ISBN 7 307 02122 6 Sun Xupei 孙旭培 March 7 2006 Review of Chinese News and Media Research 中国新闻与传播研究的回顾 in Chinese People s Daily Retrieved May 15 2012 Britton 1933 p 24 Britton 1933 p 23 Zang 2007 p 40Bibliography editBritton Roswell S 1933 The Chinese Periodical Press 1800 1912 Shanghai Kelly amp Walsh Zhang Xiantao 2007 The Origins of the Modern Chinese Press The Influence of the Protestant Missionary Press in Late Qing China Media Culture and Social Change in Asia Series ISBN 978 0415380669 Further reading editOne who loves the Chinese 爱汉者 1997 Eastern Western Monthly Magazine 东西洋考每月统记传 in Chinese Zhonghua Publishing 中华书局 ISBN 9787101015829 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eastern Western Monthly Magazine amp oldid 1209453816, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
