近代镇江的慈善事业

Charities of Zhenjiang City in Modern Times

频发的自然灾害、恶劣的渡江环境和惨烈的战祸兵燹造成大量缺衣少食、无家可归的灾黎难民,近代镇江迫切需要慈善事业进行急赈与其他形式的救济。近代镇江的经济繁荣为慈善事业的善款提供了经济来源。中西慈善文化的冲突与融合则进一步催生了近代新型慈善组织。镇江社会慈善事业由官办转为依靠义捐作为主要渠道,反映社会基层的自治化趋向,亦使地方利益和地方意识由此强化。慈善捐助者涉及社会各个层面,而商人则成为社会慈善的主力。

Frequent natural disasters, harsh environment and tragic battles, all of these caused many refugees lacking food and shelters. Therefore, Zhenjiang City in modem times needed relieves from charities and other forms of help. The economic prosperity of Zhenjiang in modern times provided financial supports for charities, while the conflicts and mergence of Chinese and western charities gave birth to new charity organizations. Social charities in Zhenjiang transferred from be- ing government-runned to depending on donation, which reveals the self-governance trend of basic social organizations and strengthens the municipal interests and awareness. Donators covered all walks of then society and businessmen accounted for the majority.