Jinling Bawu Fang: Jinling Women's University

Author: Sun Haiying
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: Over fifty years ago, with the establishment of the People's Republic of China, church-controlled universities ceased to exist on the mainland. Chinese church-controlled universities were long regarded as strongholds of cultural aggression by imperialism against China, sparking resentment among many Chinese people. Indeed, some churches and church-controlled universities had varying degrees of connection with Western colonialism and the religious fanaticism of "conquering China for Christianity." However, looking back half a century later, this resentment, though not entirely unfounded, is overly general and biased. It failed to distinguish the educational function of church-controlled universities as the main body from their increasingly detached religious and political functions, nor did it differentiate their normal educational work from Western colonialism's (invasion policy in China). In fact, from another perspective, Chinese church-controlled universities were also products of modern Sino-Western cultural exchange. Their development and changes are an important part of the history of modern Sino-Western cultural exchange. Although the number of Chinese church-controlled universities was small, they played a certain (demonstrative and guiding role) in the modernization of Chinese education, cultivating a batch of outstanding professionals and thus having a profound impact on Chinese academia and society. At the same time, for many Westerners, church-controlled universities were also windows—both small and significant—through which to observe and understand Chinese culture and society. Today, in the 21st century, we review the history of Chinese church-controlled universities with a calm and prudent attitude, which can also be seen as reopening a window—both small and significant—to observe and understand the history of modern Chinese education and cultural exchange. Baitofang (Hundred Rooms Building) was the earliest campus building of Jinling Women's University and one of its most representative structures. This book attempts to objectively reflect the university's traditions, style, and pursuits through a combination of text and images, from vertical historical snapshots to horizontal historical focuses, allowing readers to experience the convergence, integration, and inheritance of Sino-Western cultures. It serves as a comprehensive and detailed resource on church-controlled universities.