The School of Combined Learning, or the Tongwen Guan (Chinese: 同文館) was a government school for teaching Western languages (and later scientific subjects), founded at Peking (Beijing), China in 1862 during the late-Qing dynasty, right after the conclusion of the Second Opium War, as part of the Self-Strengthening Movement.[1] Its establishment was intimately linked to the establishment of the Zongli Yamen, the Qing office of foreign affairs.
Small, specialized government foreign language schools have long existed in China since the Ming dynasty. As early as 1407, China had an Office for the Languages of Nations of Four Directions (四夷舘/四夷馆 sì yí guǎn), for the purposes of translating documents from minority and nomadic groups including the Mongols, Jurchens, Hui, and Burmese, who delivered tribute to the court. This office was under the Hanlin Academy, and selected students from the Guozijian. These students were made translation officials after graduating, and were to be re-evaluated every three years in order to stay on or be dismissed. In the Qing Dynasty, the Office for the Languages of Nations of Four Directions also had an affiliated Interpreter's Institute (會同舘/会同馆 Huitongguan).[2]Hanlin Academy#Bureau of Translators
The Eluosi Wenguan (俄羅斯文舘 "Russian College") was set up by the Qing Dynasty Lifan Yuan in 1708, due to the importance of Russia as a security threat to Qing-dynasty China's north-west border. Its students were selected from the Eight Banners. There were twenty-four students for each grade level, and they were examined every five years. The Russian college was merged into the Tongwen Guan in 1863.
Establishment and Organization
In 1860, Qing China was defeated by Britain and France in the Second Opium War. This event, which led to the invasion of the capital of Beijing and the fleeing of the Xianfeng Emperor to Chengde and his subsequent death, as well as the burning of the grand symbols of imperial glory, the Summer Palace and Old Summer Palace, created an urgent sense of crisis amongst the Chinese elite. A powerful faction of Chinese reformers began to call for political and educational change, calling for the shedding of old educational ways and an increase of dealing with and learning from the West in order to reform and save China. Following the Convention of Peking which concluded the Second Opium War, the Qing Empire created Zongli Yamen, the first Qing office for foreign affairs, in 1861, and one year later, founded the Tongwen Guan to supply the language skills required for the Zongli Yamen.[3]
History
When the college was first started in 1862, it only had ten students and only English instruction under John S. Burdon, a British missionary. By 1866, astronomy and mathematics were added and enrollment was up to the tens. In 1869, Dr. Willian Alexander Parsons Martin, a famed American missionary and translator in China, was appointed the first dean of studies.[4][5] By 1877, the school had expanded to teach English, French, German, Russian and Japanese, as well as chemistry, medicine, machine-making, astronomy, mathematics, geography and international law, and enrollment was over one hundred.
Similar colleges were later set up at Canton and Shanghai. Tongwen Guan published several influential works introducing Western knowledge into China.[6]
The college's operations were interrupted by war in 1900.
Legacy
The Tongwen Guan became an important founding component of the Imperial University of Peking (now Peking University) after 1902. Its language programs were the direct predecessors for Peking University's various language programs.
Tongwen Guan staff
John Shaw Burdon (包爾騰) - English (1861-1863) and head instructor (1862-1869)
^Lackner, Ph.D., Michael; Vittinghoff, Natascha, eds. (2004). Mapping Meanings: The Field of New Learning in Late Qing China ; [International Conference "Translating Western Knowledge Into Late Imperial China", 1999, Göttingen University]. Vol. 64 of Sinica Leidensia / Sinica Leidensia (illustrated ed.). BRILL. p. 249. ISBN9004139192. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
^Mu, Fengliang (2004), 四夷馆与同文馆名称考 (A Survey of the Name Change from Siyi Guan to Tongwen Guan)(PDF)
^Emily Hahn (28 July 2015). China Only Yesterday: 1850–1950: A Century of Change. Open Road Media. pp. 191–. ISBN978-1-5040-1628-5.
^Emily Hahn (28 July 2015). China Only Yesterday: 1850–1950: A Century of Change. Open Road Media. pp. 194–. ISBN978-1-5040-1628-5.
^Emily Hahn (1963). China Only Yesterday: 1850-1950. p. 194.
^Hao, Ping (2012). Peking University and the Origins of Higher Education in China. Translated by Shen, Yuping. Peking University Press. ISBN9787301201954.
References
Biggerstaff, Knight. The earliest modern government schools in China, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1961.
Evans, Nancy. "The Banner-School Background of the Canton T'ung-Wen Kuan." Papers on China 22a (1969): 89–103.
Zhongguo da baike quanshu. First Edition. Beijing; Shanghai: Zhongguo da baike quanshu chubanshe. 1980–1993.
Hao, Ping (2012). Peking University and the Origins of Higher Education in China. Translated by Shen, Yuping. Peking University Press. ISBN9787301201954.
January 06, 2023
tongwen, guan, school, combined, learning, chinese, 同文館, government, school, teaching, western, languages, later, scientific, subjects, founded, peking, beijing, china, 1862, during, late, qing, dynasty, right, after, conclusion, second, opium, part, self, str. The School of Combined Learning or the Tongwen Guan Chinese 同文館 was a government school for teaching Western languages and later scientific subjects founded at Peking Beijing China in 1862 during the late Qing dynasty right after the conclusion of the Second Opium War as part of the Self Strengthening Movement 1 Its establishment was intimately linked to the establishment of the Zongli Yamen the Qing office of foreign affairs Tongwen GuanTraditional Chinese同文館Simplified Chinese同文馆TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinTong wen guǎnWade GilesT ung2 wen2 kuan3W A P Martin headmaster and other faculty members of the Tongwen Guan c 1900 Contents 1 Background 2 Establishment and Organization 3 History 4 Legacy 5 Tongwen Guan staff 6 Notes 7 ReferencesBackground EditSmall specialized government foreign language schools have long existed in China since the Ming dynasty As early as 1407 China had an Office for the Languages of Nations of Four Directions 四夷舘 四夷馆 si yi guǎn for the purposes of translating documents from minority and nomadic groups including the Mongols Jurchens Hui and Burmese who delivered tribute to the court This office was under the Hanlin Academy and selected students from the Guozijian These students were made translation officials after graduating and were to be re evaluated every three years in order to stay on or be dismissed In the Qing Dynasty the Office for the Languages of Nations of Four Directions also had an affiliated Interpreter s Institute 會同舘 会同馆 Huitongguan 2 Hanlin Academy Bureau of TranslatorsThe Eluosi Wenguan 俄羅斯文舘 Russian College was set up by the Qing Dynasty Lifan Yuan in 1708 due to the importance of Russia as a security threat to Qing dynasty China s north west border Its students were selected from the Eight Banners There were twenty four students for each grade level and they were examined every five years The Russian college was merged into the Tongwen Guan in 1863 Establishment and Organization EditIn 1860 Qing China was defeated by Britain and France in the Second Opium War This event which led to the invasion of the capital of Beijing and the fleeing of the Xianfeng Emperor to Chengde and his subsequent death as well as the burning of the grand symbols of imperial glory the Summer Palace and Old Summer Palace created an urgent sense of crisis amongst the Chinese elite A powerful faction of Chinese reformers began to call for political and educational change calling for the shedding of old educational ways and an increase of dealing with and learning from the West in order to reform and save China Following the Convention of Peking which concluded the Second Opium War the Qing Empire created Zongli Yamen the first Qing office for foreign affairs in 1861 and one year later founded the Tongwen Guan to supply the language skills required for the Zongli Yamen 3 History EditWhen the college was first started in 1862 it only had ten students and only English instruction under John S Burdon a British missionary By 1866 astronomy and mathematics were added and enrollment was up to the tens In 1869 Dr Willian Alexander Parsons Martin a famed American missionary and translator in China was appointed the first dean of studies 4 5 By 1877 the school had expanded to teach English French German Russian and Japanese as well as chemistry medicine machine making astronomy mathematics geography and international law and enrollment was over one hundred Similar colleges were later set up at Canton and Shanghai Tongwen Guan published several influential works introducing Western knowledge into China 6 The college s operations were interrupted by war in 1900 Legacy EditThe Tongwen Guan became an important founding component of the Imperial University of Peking now Peking University after 1902 Its language programs were the direct predecessors for Peking University s various language programs Tongwen Guan staff EditJohn Shaw Burdon 包爾騰 English 1861 1863 and head instructor 1862 1869 William Alexander Parsons Martin 丁韙良 English 1864 1867 and head instructor 1869 1900 John Fryer 傅蘭雅 English 1863 1864 M J O Brien 額布廉 額伯連 English 1867 1874 J P Cowles 柯里士 English 1874 1878 Hosea Ballou Morse 馬士 English 1878 1879 Charles Henry Oliver 歐禮斐 English 1879 1884 Anatole Billequin 畢利幹 chemistry Baron Johannes von Gumpach 方根拔 astronomy and mathematics Hermann Fritsche 費禮飭 astronomy 1877 1879 Li Shanlan 李善蘭 mathematics started 1869Notes Edit Lackner Ph D Michael Vittinghoff Natascha eds 2004 Mapping Meanings The Field of New Learning in Late Qing China International Conference Translating Western Knowledge Into Late Imperial China 1999 Gottingen University Vol 64 of Sinica Leidensia Sinica Leidensia illustrated ed BRILL p 249 ISBN 9004139192 Retrieved 24 April 2014 Mu Fengliang 2004 四夷馆与同文馆名称考 A Survey of the Name Change from Siyi Guan to Tongwen Guan PDF Emily Hahn 28 July 2015 China Only Yesterday 1850 1950 A Century of Change Open Road Media pp 191 ISBN 978 1 5040 1628 5 Emily Hahn 28 July 2015 China Only Yesterday 1850 1950 A Century of Change Open Road Media pp 194 ISBN 978 1 5040 1628 5 Emily Hahn 1963 China Only Yesterday 1850 1950 p 194 Hao Ping 2012 Peking University and the Origins of Higher Education in China Translated by Shen Yuping Peking University Press ISBN 9787301201954 References EditBiggerstaff Knight The earliest modern government schools in China Ithaca Cornell University Press 1961 Evans Nancy The Banner School Background of the Canton T ung Wen Kuan Papers on China 22a 1969 89 103 Zhongguo da baike quanshu First Edition Beijing Shanghai Zhongguo da baike quanshu chubanshe 1980 1993 漢俄合璧韻編 掌院修士巴第遺篇 1888年 北京同文舘 Chinese Russian Dictionary by Archimandrite Palladius 1888 Tungwen Guan Volume 1 1 Volume 2 2 1896 edition Hao Ping 2012 Peking University and the Origins of Higher Education in China Translated by Shen Yuping Peking University Press ISBN 9787301201954 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tongwen Guan amp oldid 1129326831, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
