中體西用抑或日本模式─中國近代學制中「讀經講經」科目的設置

The research primarily examines the Study of Confucius Classics from Modern Educational System (Qin Ding School System and Zou Ding School System) in late Qing Dynasty. Current research consensus is based on the perception that most educational system, goals, context and approaches are in direct imitation of Japanese counterparts. It is thus called a Japanese model. Such viewpoint is further substantiated with the fact that two educational systems are almost identical to Japanese curriculum rather than home grown system in China. Researchers thus view the uniquely Chinese featured the Study of Confucius Classics as a result of westernization of Chinese style as opposed to Japanese model. However, the rationale of the Study of Confucius Classics should capture additional factors. In addition to westernization of Chinese style, the golden 10 years of cultural exchanges and partnership between China and Japan due to the peak period of Chinese envoys to Japan for education system surveys is a worthwhile attention. From documentation of those Chinese envoys to Japan, it is clearly noticed that emphasis on Confucianism is still prevalent at education and social aspects in Meiji Japan. The Japanese communication with China officials and civilians as well as newspaper and magazine publication on Japanese assistance to China education reforms reveal the importance of Confucianism at the core of such reform assistance. Our research mainly analyzes these journals from Chinese delegate to Japan and relevant viewpoints in Japanese newspaper and publication that called our Confucianism as prime merits to assist Chinese education. The research leverages the analysis to assess if the Study of Confucius Classics is an entire westernization of Chinese style or yet another realization of Japanese model.