Chinese Classical Studies
The Japanese occupation of Taiwan impacted education in Taiwan through the education policies implemented by the colonial government. The Japanese government implemented education policies to gradually decrease the number of Taiwanese students obtaining an education in the Chinese classical studies. The Japanese colonial government originally used Chinese classical studies as a selling point to attract Taiwanese students, appeasing cautious Taiwanese parents so that they would allow their children to participate in the colonial common school system. Later, the Japanese administration decreased the emphasis on Chinese classical studies in common schools, eventually phasing the subject out.[1] By that time, many Taiwanese children were already enrolled in common schools, so the number of Taiwanese students in the Chinese classics declined. The decrease in Taiwanese students studying Chinese classical studies created a rift between Taiwanese and Chinese scholars.
The Japanese colonial government also lessened the reward for scholars in Chinese classical studies, which disincentivized studying the Chinese classics. Prior to the Japanese colonization, Taiwanese scholars sat through the Chinese civil service examinations, for which thorough studying of the Chinese classics was required. A degree from the Chinese civil service examination was viewed as the “highest secular reward” during the period, and served as a symbol of status.[2] Taiwanese scholars with a degree in the Chinese civil service examination participated in the local administration under the direction of the Chinese imperial court.(CITE) Due to historical precedents of foreign governments adopting Confucian-styled administrations in China, the Taiwanese assumed that the Japanese would similarly rely on local Confucian scholars for the administration of Taiwan.[3] However, the Japanese replaced the Taiwanese scholars with Japanese officials, assigning the Taiwanese scholars ceremonial posts without salaries. (p.32 Elites) The Japanese colonial government disincentivized education in the Chinese classical studies by reserving most government posts for Japanese men. By changing the status of Chinese classical scholars, the Japanese colonial government also discouraged study in the Chinese classics by ambitious Taiwanese students. Scholars in the Chinese classics lost their means to survival, and studying the Chinese classics lost its appeal.
The Japanese colonial government also lessened the reward for scholars in Chinese classical studies, which disincentivized studying the Chinese classics. Prior to the Japanese colonization, Taiwanese scholars sat through the Chinese civil service examinations, for which thorough studying of the Chinese classics was required. A degree from the Chinese civil service examination was viewed as the “highest secular reward” during the period, and served as a symbol of status.[2] Taiwanese scholars with a degree in the Chinese civil service examination participated in the local administration under the direction of the Chinese imperial court.(CITE) Due to historical precedents of foreign governments adopting Confucian-styled administrations in China, the Taiwanese assumed that the Japanese would similarly rely on local Confucian scholars for the administration of Taiwan.[3] However, the Japanese replaced the Taiwanese scholars with Japanese officials, assigning the Taiwanese scholars ceremonial posts without salaries. (p.32 Elites) The Japanese colonial government disincentivized education in the Chinese classical studies by reserving most government posts for Japanese men. By changing the status of Chinese classical scholars, the Japanese colonial government also discouraged study in the Chinese classics by ambitious Taiwanese students. Scholars in the Chinese classics lost their means to survival, and studying the Chinese classics lost its appeal.
Sources:
1. E. Patricia Tsurumi, Japanese Colonial Education in Taiwan, 1895-1945(Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1977), [621].
2. Leo T. S Ching, Becoming "Japanese": Colonial Taiwan and the Politics of Identity Formation (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2001), [27].
3. Ibid [30]
1. E. Patricia Tsurumi, Japanese Colonial Education in Taiwan, 1895-1945(Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1977), [621].
2. Leo T. S Ching, Becoming "Japanese": Colonial Taiwan and the Politics of Identity Formation (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2001), [27].
3. Ibid [30]