晚清来华新教传教士对中国科举制度的批判——以《万国公报》为舆论中心

A Critique to Imperial Examination System by the Protestant Missionaries in China in Late Qing Dynasty——With The Globe Magazine as the Public Opinion Center

科举制度作为中国封建社会一种选拔官吏的考试制度,到清代以后,已完全腐朽。自19世纪70年代至20世纪初,来华新教传教士以《万国公报》为主要阵地,围绕考试内容、文体、目的、后果对科举制度进行批判。批判的官辞激烈程度、系统性、深刻性超过了当时中国开明士大夫;批判的目的是为了在中国推行西方文化教育及其新式学校教育制度。但是,西教士很少有人明确提出废除八股文及其整个科举制度,在这点上,则只能由中国开明官员和思想家提出并完成。当科举制度废除后,西教士既非常赞成,又批评新学堂与科举制度藕断丝连。

The Imperial Examination System for choosing government officials in the Chinese feudal society had completely rotten up in late Qing dynasty. From 1840s through early 20th century, the protestant missionaries in China proceeded to criticize the system of its contents, style, purpose and result. The critical words are so fierce, so systematic and so deepening that none of the contemporary scholar-officials with open mind could catch up with. The critical purpose was to promote the western culture and education, and to establish a modern school education system. But, few of the missionaries proposed definitely to abolish 'eight-part essay' as well as the whole examination system. On this hand, it could be put forward by the enlightened Chinese officials and thinkers only. When the Imperial Examination System was abolished in 1905, the missionaries highly approved it, while they also criticized that the new schools were still bound to the old system.