Minister Rockhill
to the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Peking, September 4,
1905.
No. 85.]
Sir: In continuation of my dispatch No. 42, of
August 1, in which I reported a most important change in the educational
system, by which foreign study was rewarded by promotion in the civil
service, I have now the honor to inclose copy of an imperial edict of
September 1 encouraging the sending abroad of students, who are to be
under the supervision of the various Chinese diplomatic representatives,
and promising successful scholars places in the civil service.
In another edict of September 2 the present time-honored courses of study
are completely abolished, arid a new educational system on modern lines
is substituted in its place.
Still another edict appeared on the 4th instant making the provincial
literary chancellors, who have heretofore directed and presided over the
examinations in their respective provinces directors and inspectors of
the various schools which are to be established in their
jurisdictions.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
Imperial edict of September 1, 1905.
We have repeatedly issued orders to the provinces to select and send
students to foreign countries for education, and the viceroys and
governors have obeyed our directions and sent many students. All
these young men abroad must be very earnest in their studies in the
investigation of special subjects in order that they may be useful
to their country when they return. They must not avoid difficult
questions for the sake of easier ones nor pass their
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time only in useless studies or
pleasures. They must each take up a special department of study and
master that subject thoroughly. In such case they will be duly
rewarded when they return and receive a proper position. At present
there are many students in Japan. Let more students go to Europe and
America. The court feels a high appreciation of the services of all
those abroad who are really working for their country. The Chinese
ministers abroad are the superintendents of the students, and they
must take a fatherly interest in all these young men and watch their
progress. No matter whether they are studying at the government or
at their own expense, if they are earnest, well conducted, and
working hard they must be fully protected and looked after. If they
are sick or in any difficulty, sympathy must be shown them and
arrangements made for their assistance. If there are any students
who do not conduct themselves well, they must be severely dealt with
in order that they may be a credit to themselves and to our country,
but no partiality must be shown by the ministers. This is the idea
of the court with regard to the education of the young men
to-day.
[Inclosure
2.—Translation.]
Imperial edict of September 2, 1905.
Yuan Shih-k’ai and others have memorialized, praying for the
discontinuance of the present system of examinations for the civil
service in order to encourage the extension of the (new) school
system and proposing a satisfactory method of procedure.
During the “Three Dynasties” (Hsia, Shang, and Chou, 2205–250 B. C.)
and before in the selection of civil officials the men were all
obtained from the schools, and most excellent they were. As a matter
of fact, China’s time-honored custom of encouraging worth and
nourishing talent and the successful methods of the various foreign
nations East and West in making themselves wealthy and powerful all
alike without exception depend upon the schools.
The present situation is one that is full of difficulties, as the
demand for talent is urgent. The court, considering that every
examination under the present system is but a practice of empty
rhetorical composition, has repeatedly issued edicts directing the
viceroys and governors of the various provinces to establish schools
more widely, so that the people of the whole Empire may be enabled
to make progress in real learning and men be properly prepared for
the public service.
The matter is one in which we feel a very deep concern.
Sometime ago, in response to a proposal submitted in the memorial of
the minister of education and others, we agreed that the fixed
numbers allowed to pass at the examinations for the provincial and
metropolitan degrees should be progressively decreased in the
succeeding three examinations. Now we have received the
above-mentioned memorial of the said viceroy and others stating that
unless the examinations be discontinued the people will encourage
one another to rest their hopes on them, and that if it is desired
to extend and develop the school system the present system of
examination must first be discontinued.
Their statement is not unreasonable, and we therefore decree that
beginning with the year ping-wu (1906) the examinations for the
provincial and metropolitan degrees shall both be discontinued, and
that the examinations for the degree of licentiate shall also be
stopped in all the provinces. Let those, however, who previous to
that date shall have already secured the degrees of provincial
graduate, senior licentiate, or licentiate, be entered on the civil
service list for employment according to their several capacities.
As for the other proposals of the memorial they are hereby
sanctioned. Let action be taken as requested.
In a word, the new school system is substantially the same as that of
the ancient academies, and in its encouragement of learning by
rewarding of posts in the civil service it is in no way different
from the present system of public examinations. Regulations for the
schools have been issued from time to time which in the main look to
the cultivation of character and the study of the classics. The
various courses of study which they provide are all thoroughly
practical. It now rests with the officials and gentry to make known
the general plan, that those who hear of it may shape their actions
accordingly, and that schools may be established in larger numbers,
that education and culture may be diffused. Thus the state will be
enabled to secure men of talent, and the localities establishing the
schools will also win renown.
After the issue of this edict let the minister of education at once
provide the text-books needed in the various departments, indicating
clearly their places in the course, and thus furnishing
comprehensive training for the public service.
The viceroys and governors, moreover, are charged with the
responsibility of taking the whole matter into careful
consideration, and strictly commanding the various prefects,
sub-prefects, department magistrates, and district magistrates to at
once establish elementary schools both in their cities and in the
villages, and to exercise caution in selecting capable
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teachers, so as to
increase the intelligence of the people. Let each one
conscientiously discharge his duty and make examination from time to
time. There must be no glossing over of faults or any undue leniency
shown which will lead to corrupt practices. We earnestly hope for an
increase in worth and in practical abilities, a cultivation both of
the common (Chinese) branches and of those more rare (foreign),
which will further the purpose of the court to encourage education,
so as to produce men of ability.
Respect this.
[Inclosure
3.—Translation.]
Imperial edict of September 4, 1905.
A few days ago we issued an edict discontinuing the present system of
examinations and directing special attention to be given to the
establishment of schools.
Let the literary chancellors in their provinces make it their special
duty to inspect the schools in their several provinces, and to
consult with the viceroys and governors concerned as to the
management of educational affairs.
