On the Historical Role of the Overseas Chinese Students , the Government Officials and Gentry Observing in Japan in the Course of Modernization in Zhili Province(1900—1928)

The research topic of this paper is the historical roles that the returned students from Japan, officials and the gentry on investigation in Japan and others play in the course of modernization in Zhili province. By analyzing the specialties the returned students from Japan studied and fields of interest to officials and the gentry observing in Japan, this paper approaches the profound influence of this group on the course of modernization in Zhili province, from three sides including renewal of systems, import of technology and training of bright people.The author thinks that the governor of Zhili province Yuan Shi-kai and other people took a critical move in introducing experiences form Japan and propeling the course of modernization in Zhili province an the end of the Qing Dynasty,and the government of Zhili province continues this kind of practice carly in the Republic of China,so that the modernization of Zhili province with Tianjin and Beijing as leaders takes its place in the forefront of the whole nation.During this course,Zhili province takes effective measures,paying arrention to both sending returned students to utilize the knowledge hierarchy on the modernization and promoting the transition of their conception by sending officials at all levels on investigation,thus effectively removing the obstacle caused to hinder the course of modernization as a result of discrepancy in system and conception. The author thinks that this practice of Zhili province sending students to study and officials to investigate in Japan is one of successful experiences in those nations and regions starting to develop late in the course of modernization.