学以致用:民初中国地学会的边疆研究

Learning for practical use: Chinese Geographic Society's borderland studies in the early period of the Republic of China

民初边疆陷入前所未有的危机,引发各界的关注与热议。新学地理社团中国地学会,倡言学以致用,本专门学理研究边疆,提议殖产兴业发展边疆,以维系人心巩固国基,并上书当道以为国用。然而限于国家的实力,在边疆地区不言进取,维持现状亦是奢望,中国地学会只能搜集、留存证据,以待国力复兴后有所作为。

In the early period of the Republic of China, the border area was plunged into an unprecedented crisis, which received much concern from all walks of life. The new Chinese Geographic Society advocated the learning of practical knowledge for the borderland studies and encouraged the industrial development to maintain the people＇s confidence and to consolidate the national cornerstone. It also offered some proposals for the national development. However, due to the limited national strength, the border area in those days only hoped to maintain the status quo rather than make some progress. Facing such a situation, the Chinese Geographic Society could only collect and retain useful data and evidences for the future when the country became powerful again.