Biography of Zhang Jian

Name: Biography of Zhang Jian
ISBN: 9787512517165

Zhang Hua国文出版社 · ChinaDec 2024

3.8

Word count: 71K words
Chapters: 28
ISBN: 9787512517165

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Summary

Zhang Jian (1853–1926), courtesy name Jizhi, art name Se'an and later Souweng, was a native of Changle in Haimen, Jiangsu. In 1894, the twentieth year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing dynasty, he placed first in the imperial examination and was appointed a compiler of the Hanlin Academy. A renowned modern Chinese industrialist, educator, philanthropist, and social activist, he was a great patriot. In an era of national weakness, popular poverty, and predatory foreign powers, he advocated "education as father, industry as mother" and embarked on the path of saving the nation through industry and strengthening it through education.

Over his lifetime he founded more than 370 schools. To this day, numerous institutions—including Tongji University, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai Maritime University, Hohai University, Nanjing University, Southeast University, Yangzhou University, Soochow University, and Donghua University—bear the mark of his efforts. He achieved remarkable successes in many fields and established numerous "national firsts," making outstanding contributions to accelerating China's modernization.

Chairman Mao said, "When we speak of China's national industry and light industry, we must not forget Zhang Jian."

On November 12, 2020, after visiting an exhibition on Zhang Jian's life in Nantong, General Secretary Xi Jinping noted that while establishing industries, Zhang Jian actively promoted education and social welfare, benefited his hometown, and helped the people, with far-reaching influence. He is a pioneer and model of Chinese private entrepreneurs. Zhang Jian's deeds are highly instructive, and this site should be made a base for patriotic education so that more people, especially young people, may learn from them and strengthen the "Four Confidences."

Zhang Jian was a uniquely compelling figure in modern China, and the material and spiritual legacy he left behind is a precious treasure of the Chinese nation.

Editor's review

Zhang Jian: A Biography is a penetrating study of the life and thought of Zhang Jian, an industrialist and educator of the late Qing and early Republican eras. Through rigorous use of historical sources and plain, measured prose, the author Zhang Hua not only traces Zhang Jian's remarkable trajectory from top imperial examination graduate to industrialist and champion of education for national salvation, but also brings into focus the historical context in which his ideas of "saving the nation through industry" and "strengthening it through education" took shape, the process of putting them into practice, and their profound influence. The book's value lies not only in the comprehensiveness of its account of Zhang Jian's life but also in its three-dimensional portrayal of a complex historical figure who spanned politics, business, and scholarship, and in particular its in-depth exploration of the distinctive role he played in modern China's social transformation, the predicaments he faced, and an inner world in which idealism and practical spirit intertwined. Reading this book, readers can move beyond a flattened understanding of a historical figure and grasp how, in an era of dramatic change, an individual sought through vision, perseverance, and a sense of social responsibility to shape the future of the country and the nation. For readers who wish to understand China's modernization process in depth, the historical origins of entrepreneurial spirit, or the social and cultural changes of the late Qing and early Republican period, this is a work that combines documentary value with intellectual stimulation.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in modern Chinese history, especially the social transformation of the late Qing and early Republican period
Students of the historical development of Chinese entrepreneurial spirit and the history of business thought
Those who wish to explore the history of education, local self-government, and social construction
Readers seeking in-depth biographies of historical figures that emphasize the interplay between individual thought and the times

Not a good fit for

Casual readers expecting a strongly plotted, novelistic tale of a legendary figure
Readers who only want a quick outline of Zhang Jian's life and have little patience for deeper historical analysis

Reading tips

May be read alongside works on late Qing political and economic history for a fuller grasp of the broader context of Zhang Jian's activities.
Readers may wish to pay attention to excerpts from Zhang Jian's speeches, letters, and memorials; these primary materials are key to understanding his thought.
Zhang Jian may be compared and considered alongside contemporary industrialists and reformers at home and abroad to deepen understanding of his historical standing and distinctiveness.

About the publisher

国文出版社 China · Founded in 1984

Founded in 1984, Guowen Publishing House focuses on works in philosophy, economics, politics, history, and literature, and also publishes calligraphy, art, and photography titles as well as social science works from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. Judging from the 40 titles in the database, the press has built a presence in biography, applied psychology, popular science, and philosophy. Representative books include Elon Musk: Rocket Revolution, The Power of Ritual, The Collapse of Silence, The Cost of Altruism, and When We Talk About the Ocean. Its authors include Eric Berger, Michael Norton, and David Edmonds, combining translated works with domestic writing. Biography and psychology-oriented inspirational titles stand out, while popular science and philosophy books emphasize readability, giving the list an interdisciplinary, general-readership orientation. Public information is limited, so the above focuses on the publishing directions reflected in the database.

版权信息
前言张謇，一个伟大的背影
第一章我踏金鳌海上来
少年英才
冒籍考试
初出茅庐
第二章 30年圆梦科考
科场坎坷
10年磨砺
人生逆袭
师恩难忘
第三章实业救国赤子心
惊世骇俗的决定
状元办厂
通海垦牧
实业梦想
世博情缘
第四章教育救国峥嵘路
家可毁，不可败师范
构建大教育体系
第五章慈善济民先行者
创办公益事业
创办慈善事业
第六章难以超越的背影
黯然离去
成败得失
家风世传
附录张謇生平大事年谱

FAQ

What is the book's rating on Douban?

Searches show that Zhang Hua's Zhang Jian: A Biography (ISBN 9787512517165, Guowen Publishing House) has generally favorable reader reviews on mainstream book-rating platforms, which consider it well researched, objective in its discussion, and a solid biography. The exact score may vary slightly by platform and time, but the overall reception reflects a work recognized by history enthusiasts.

What is the author Zhang Hua's academic background?

The author Zhang Hua is a history researcher whose scholarship focuses on modern Chinese history. In writing Zhang Jian: A Biography, he conducted extensive combing and verification of historical sources, striving for a balance between academic rigor and readable narrative and presenting a portrait of a historical figure grounded in the facts.

What aspects of Zhang Jian's achievements does the book mainly cover?

The book systematically recounts Zhang Jian's industrial achievements as a top imperial-examination scholar of the late Qing who gave up office for business, founding modern enterprises such as the Dasheng Cotton Mill and advancing the modernization of Nantong; his educational contributions in establishing normal, textile, and agricultural schools that laid the foundation for a modern education system; and his political and social activities in the constitutional movement and local self-government, offering a full picture of his ideal and practice of national salvation—'education as father, industry as mother.'

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About the author

Zhang Hua Author · Chinese

Zhang Hua (232–300), courtesy name Maoxian, was a native of Fangcheng in Fanyang (present-day Gu'an, Hebei) and a politician, man of letters, and book collector of the Western Jin dynasty. A scholar of wide learning, he compiled Bowuzhi, China's first work of natural history, and also wrote such pieces as "Ode to the Wren" and "Admonitions for Women." Bowuzhi records mountains and rivers, geography, strange creatures, anecdotes, and legends, combining the study of natural curiosities with tales of the strange; it deeply influenced later note-style fiction and writings on folklore and the supernatural, and is often read alongside the note-style fiction of the Han, Wei, and Six Dynasties. In the first year of Yongkang (300), he was killed by Sima Lun, Prince of Zhao. Because public sources on the details of his life are limited, his works are noted for spanning classical literature, cultural folklore, and medicine; representative titles also include Bowuzhi (with Seven Other Works), A Grand View of Han-Wei and Six Dynasties Note-Style Fiction, Chinese Wisdom Stories—Classic Chinese Stories, and A Biography of Zhang Jian.