The Awakening of China

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 3, 1907

The Awakening of China

CHINA, with a grossly ignorant population, is now in the toils of reconstruction. The old is giving place to the new. The empire which has stood unchanged for millenniums is now laying aside its once-loved customs and practices, and is fast adopting western ways and methods. Especially is this true in the educational system. On every side we see schools springing up like mushrooms, and it seems that the whole empire is bent on learning. The time-honored examination halls are fast being transformed into schools with large, airy class rooms, where instruction is given, not according to the old method of dinning long portions of abstruse classics into the memory of the boys, without explanation of meaning, but an attempt is being made to give a simple course of instruction in reading and writing practical Chinese. The sciences are also receiving due consideration. Already the government has established, mainly under Japanese direction, agricultural, medical, and veterinary colleges. At the present time, in Chi-li province alone, eighty-six thousand students are being educated according to modern methods, all advanced instruction being given in English; but translations of important text-books are being made, and some of these are already in use.

A universal desire for change has laid hold of China. Students do not now rest content with studying at home; for during the last two years there has been an unprecedented exodus of students to other lands in quest of modern learning. Japan alone has received over eight thousand of China's eager students. After finishing a course in some western college or university, many return, and are gladly received by the government. This is evidenced by the way government examiners regard foreign-educated students. For the first time in the history of literary examinations in China, the highest degree, practically speaking, in the land was conferred on eight men whose chief claim for the honor was that

they had been graduated from some western university. And what was more remarkable was the fact that the candidates were at this examination permitted to write their papers in the language of the country in which they pursued their education, and their knowledge of Chinese literature was not considered in the rating of their standing.

This awakening of China is a call to our young people to prepare themselves to carry the third angel's message to this people (now that prejudice is being laid aside, and the doors are swinging wide open), lest these people, now just arousing from their long sleep, grasp at a shadow and not the eternal riches. There is no good reason why every young man and woman should not secure a good preparation. The days of youth are for that purpose, and no other. All our schools should be filled with youth purposing to gain a speedy preparation, that there may be a host of consecrated workers to carry the triumphs of the cross into all lands.

In the beams of the Sun of Righteousness the outlook is bright for an abundant harvest from the land of Sinim. But where are the reapers? and who will go?