Mu Ouchu's Chronology (1876--1943)

Author: Mu Jiaxiu, Liu Hecheng, Mu Weijie
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Mr. Mu (1876—1943) was an extraordinary entrepreneur who not only ran businesses but was also passionate about cultural arts, social welfare, and public causes. The history of Mr. Mu's life is a living history of China's national industry. At the age of 67, he devoted himself to economic and construction efforts during the War of Resistance, implemented the (38-hour workweek), focused on employee welfare, nurtured talent, and cared for the youth—all of which are worth deeply commemorating. Mr. Mu did not live to witness the victory of the War of Resistance or the development of national industry, passing away with unfulfilled aspirations. Our national industrialists in China should inherit his legacy and, in the spirit of hardship and perseverance, lay the foundation for an industrialized nation. This book includes writings, speeches, couplets, or correspondence by Mr. Mu that were not previously included in the《Mu》(Collected Works of Mu), striving to fill the gaps. At the beginning of each year in Mr. Mu's life, there are several entries titled "Major Events of the Year," compiling domestic and international political, economic, and diplomatic events related to his activities. Explanatory notes are provided in small print below relevant entries for characters, events, or supplementary materials for reference. Dates and other numerical values in quoted text are written in Chinese characters as in the original, while dates and numbers in narrative, major events, and notes are generally recorded in Arabic numerals. Names of foreigners or foreign book titles are accompanied by their original forms as much as possible. The book includes several photographs, autographs, and book illustrations, with some placed at the beginning and others integrated into the main text. A picture index is appended at the end. Additionally, the book includes "Main References and Bibliography" and an "Index of Names." Mr. Mu was a pioneer in introducing Western scientific management and was hailed by Mao Zedong as a representative of the "new merchant class." He embodied the spirit of establishing industries, reviving forgotten arts, and nurturing the next generation. This book aims to comprehensively and accurately record the life, deeds, and thoughts of Mr. Mu. The content is primarily collected from Mr. Mu's own writings, archival materials, and contemporary newspapers and books. For important events lacking written documentation, verified recollections from relevant parties or their accounts are selectively included as notes. The entries on Mr. Mu's life are organized chronologically by the Gregorian calendar, with a few arranged thematically. Before the year 1912 (the first year of the Republic of China), traditional lunar dates are also provided.