Xiangbao (Full Two Volumes): A Collection of Modern Chinese Journals (Second Series)

Author: Hunan Daily Press
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2006-07-01
Features: Hunan Daily was founded on March 7, 1898, and ceased publication on October 15 of the same year (it was temporarily suspended from July 19 to August 2). It issued a total of 177 issues. Hunan Daily aimed to "pioneer trends and broaden knowledge," with content divided into eight categories: commentaries and memorial essays, imperial decrees, official documents, new policies in Hunan Province, new policies in other provinces, international current affairs, miscellaneous matters, and business. Official notices from the Hunan provincial government, except for particularly confidential ones, were regularly sent to Hunan Daily for publication, reflecting a certain degree of political openness in Hunan at the time. The "New Policies in Hunan Province" column daily reported on major events during the late Qing reform movement, including the rules and curriculum of the Tungwushu School, announcements of activities by Hunan's various study societies, and transcripts of lectures and Q&A sessions by the Nanxue Society. The "New Policies in Other Provinces" column provided detailed coverage of the national reform movement, such as the founding of the Baoguo Society and the establishment of the Imperial University in Beijing. Additionally, it published summaries of new political and academic books, catalogs of newly printed books in Changsha, advertisements for goods, and daily price lists. Founded during the height of the Hunan reform movement, Hunan Daily promoted the "principles of patriotism" and "methods of national salvation," advocating for reforms and changes to the system with highly inflammatory rhetoric. However, it soon faced criticism from Zhang Zhidong, who scolded: "Such writings, widely disseminated, will inevitably incite rogue elements and troublemakers to stir up chaos." Chen Baozhen also criticized it for being "too extreme, shocking and unconventional—words unsuitable for a recluse." Despite this, Hunan Daily slightly moderated its tone but occasionally still published articles with sharp wording. For example, in issue 104, Yang Ziyu of Zhijiang argued in "On the Causes of China's Ills" that China should not be saved by Confucian or Laozi doctrines but should instead be "saved by Western governance and Western education." Due to changing circumstances, with issue 117 in summer 1898, Hunan Daily revised its regulations and became a commercially operated newspaper, ending government subsidies. As a result, political commentary in the newspaper sharply declined. In September, the Wuxu Coup occurred, and Hunan Daily ceased publication.