Wang Longjun: Zhang Yuanji's Early Reading History and Its Effects

The cultural historian Darnton placed great emphasis on the important role that reading plays in the process of "what people think," "how they think," and "how they illuminate the world, give meaning, and inject emotions" (1). This kind of reading history research method that explores the process of individual thought formation through reading activities has been applied in the study of intellectual history. Some scholars have paid attention to the influence of Fu Lanya's book "The Law of Curing the Heart and Avoiding Diseases" on Tan Sitong's thought. (2) In recent years, the above-mentioned research methods of reading history have become increasingly familiar to researchers of publishing history, and the relevant results are reflected in the study of Wang Yunwu. (3) Some scholars have explored the relationship between Wang Yun's five reading histories and his publishing activities by linking them, and elaborated on the influence mechanism of his personal reading history. These research results provide a new way of thinking about the study of publishing history.

Zhang Yuanji's life has always been closely related to reading, talking about books, school books, visiting books, and publishing books. According to the above ideas, examining Zhang Yuanji's reading history has an unspoken important role in understanding his publishing ideas and publishing activities. However, as far as the author can see, there are no special articles or monographs that take Zhang Yuanji's reading history as the research object. Therefore, this article does not take the risk of taking Zhang Yuanji's letters and diaries as the basic historical materials, combing and clarifying Zhang Yuanji's early reading history (4), trying to accurately answer the basic questions of "where to read", "what to read" and "how to read" in Zhang Yuanji's early reading history, and on this basis, to explore the specific effects of Zhang Yuanji's early reading history on his future publishing practice.

I. Knowing the Ancient but Not the Ancient: Zhang Yuanji's Old Learning reading

In 1892, at the age of 25, Zhang Yuanji was awarded the title of Jinshi. For the scholars of the imperial examination era, achieving such great success meant having an extremely deep foundation in old learning. Zhang Yuanji was born in Haiyan, Zhejiang Province. The cultural atmosphere and reading tradition of the Shuxiang family had a great influence on Zhang Yuanji. Zhang Yuanji has been practicing "Wuzong Zhang Clan, Shiye Cultivation Reading" since he was a child. Bandits learn He Li, bandit books and he practice" of the Zhang family training. His childhood was spent in Guangdong. At that time, Zhang Yuanji had been studying with his uncle Xie Liusheng. After returning to Haiyan, he also studied under Yu Xiucai Cha Jizhong and Zhu Fuxuan, who served in the Guangxu Dynasty as the superintendent of the State Son, the Hanlin Academy, the Hanlin Academy, and the Jing feast lecturer. The strong reading atmosphere and superior home study conditions make Zhang Yuanji have a good old learning reading environment, coupled with his own efforts, Zhang Yuanji is very familiar with traditional Chinese classic readings.

In his youth, Zhang Yuanji, in addition to his in-depth contact with the old bibliography necessary for Hengwen to take the scholars, was particularly fond of his family classics and township literature. This is a major feature of Zhang Yuanji's old school reading activities. Haiyan Zhang's ancestors have many posthumous works, such as "Entry into the Confession" and "Hanping Poetry Copy". At the same time, the Zhang family is also a family of books, dedicated to the cause of book collection and engraving, and the books they have collected have not been dispersed for hundreds of years. His father, Zhang Senyu, briefed Zhang Yuanji on the writings of his ancestors and the family's collection of books, and advised Zhang Yuanji to read the "Confessions" of his ninth ancestor when he grew older. This book is a compilation of Zhang Yuanji's ninth ancestor Zhang Weichi (号螺浮) during his reign as a Beijing official during the Shunzhi and Kangxi dynasties, and its content is mainly a commentary on the king and criticism of current politics. As soon as Zhang Yuanji returned to Haiyan from Guangdong, he borrowed Luo Fugong's "Entry Into the Confession" to read. Zhang Yuanji recorded his post-reading remarks: "Reading in the open volume is the great festival of the Wuluo Floating Public Dynasty, and there are people who can reach it. (5) Zhang Yuanji's old school reading activities continued after entering Beijing. In a letter to Wang Kangnian in 1896, Zhang Yuanji said that "my brother reads the rams" (6). It can be seen that Zhang Yuanji during the Jingguan period continued to maintain his attention to traditional classics. Zhang Yuanji often expressed his request in letters with Wang Kangnian to buy books on his behalf, most of which were Western books (in this case, detailed), but there were also some old books. For example, in 1897, Zhang Yuanji asked Wang Dai to buy "Mozi Idle", which is a work of the Qing Dynasty collection "Mozi" collation survey. There is no doubt that Zhang Yuanji's old school reading activities began in his youth. His attention to and love for classical Chinese literature has become a major theme in his lifelong reading practice.

Zhang Yuanji's old learning reading activities are more carried out at the level of self-cultivation and self-governance. From the perspective of the purpose of reading, it does not transcend the classical aesthetic purpose of the scholars. He once confessed to himself: "Yu Xi stored books, especially Song carving, fixed its ancient history, but also loved the essence of its production, every exhibition and play, the heart is relaxed." (7) It is worth pointing out that Zhang Yuanji reads and knows the ancient, but he is by no means muddy. Zhang Yuanji once received a copy of Kang Youwei's "Examination of the New Study of Apocrypha" from Liang Qichao, for which he was very grateful. Liang Qichao called the book "a major hurricane in the ideological world." At that time, many Confucians criticized and even cursed the book fiercely. Phrases such as "confusing the world and slandering the people," "non-holy inability," "suspicious mental techniques," and "academic misconduct" have poured in. However, Zhang Yuanji did not take the same conservative position as the Defender of the Scriptures. Combined with his activities and performance in the Reform and Reform Movement, it can be inferred that he was at least accepting, and even welcoming, this innovative theory that was contrary to the traditional scriptural ideas in the context of the time. If it is the old view of reading, it is determined that Zhang Yuanji is not a conservative Confucian scholar and scholar. Even with lifelong reading habits and hobbies, Zhang Yuanji has achieved "what he wants" and does not "force others". After the coup d'état, Zhang Yuanjin, who had resigned from his post, went to Shanghai to preside over Nanyang Public School. During this period, he changed the practice of students reading old books such as "Shi Ji", "Han Shu", "Zizhi Tongjian", and "Imperial Approval Tongjian Collection" to "encourage students to read new books" (8). Obviously, Zhang Yuanji examined traditional Chinese classics with a pragmatic eye. In a situation where the people are deep and the great powers are around, he realizes that traditional classics can no longer keep up with the rhythm of the development of the times. In order to seek new knowledge, Western books and new books are the main channels for obtaining them. In fact, Zhang Yuanji's reading history during the Jingguan period is even more eye-catching in his reading practice for the purpose of seeking new knowledge.

Ii. Drawing on Western Learning: Zhang Yuanji's New Knowledge Reading

As mentioned above, although Zhang Yuanji received a classical education under the imperial examination system, he was not a conservative nationalist. On the contrary, Zhang Yuanji, under the deepening crisis of the country, chose to embrace Western learning with a broad cultural outlook. He said, "The way to self-improvement today is to focus on self-development." If the examination does not change, it is difficult to hope for the transfer" (9). Zhang Yuanji obviously believes that the traditional theory of Confucian application through the ages has not been able to save the decadent Tang Dynasty. He turned to great interest and expectation in the newly imported advanced intellectual culture of the West. Therefore, Zhang Yuanji is very eager to contact all kinds of new knowledge books. In Zhang Yuanji's correspondence with Wang Kangnian during this period, the matter that was often mentioned was to urge Wang Kangnian to mail the "Times" and other restoration newspapers and periodicals, and to entrust Wang Kangnian to purchase various newspapers and periodicals. "If you don't come for a long time, can you try to send it by mail, in the hope of the readers?" In the future, it is necessary to use the picture book, and I intend to ask for a respectful place to visit and buy. "(10)" Before the purchase of the "Tokyo Daily News" and "Current Affairs Shinbun", the "Letter of the King" is said to have been ordered, if it has been sent, and begs the "Current Affairs Newspaper" to send it as a lotus. How many kinds of foreign graphic books are unknown to buy? I have been thinking about it for a long time, and I am especially looking forward to it. "(11)" Read thirty-two volumes of the "Shi Ji Bao", and the Zhizun Office sold the "Xiang Journal" on behalf of the "Xiang Journal". I want to buy it for a long time, but I am suffering from it. ...... Please send one cent to Beijing on behalf of you, from the first volume, the price will be paid on behalf of you, and you will pay it in the future. (12) Zhang Yuanji's attitude of drawing on the new knowledge jumped out of the paper. According to Zhang Yuanji's letters during this period, the new newspaper and periodical readings that Zhang Yuanji came into contact with included at least "Shiji Bao", "Tokyo Daily News", "Current Affairs New Daily", "Dong Bao", "Zhixin Bao", "Agricultural Journal", "Wanguo Bao", "Xiang Journal", "Hubei Journal", "Jingshi Bao", "Mongolian Journal", "Guowen Bao", "Hui Bao", and "Jiaoyan Bao". In terms of books, Zhang Yuanji's contact area is also very extensive. He once obtained a bibliography of Western Studies from Liang Qichao. This book contains about 300 translations, and was a heavyweight reading for understanding Western studies at that time. Zhang Yuanji's channel for purchasing Western books was still carried out through Wang Kangnian. During the Restoration Movement, Zhang Yuanji founded the General Arts School and presided over the work of the school. He purchased pictures for the academy through Wang Kangnian many times. "Entrusting the purchase of Gezhi and other charts (in addition to the astronomical chart and the hundred birds chart that have been purchased, please purchase the rest. And the illustration says one volume each, the astronomical chart says two volumes, the hundred birds say one book) and various books, such as brothers are too busy. Or still entrust Shaotang to buy. "(13)" A single purchase of various books, the room is not available, please consult at the Guangdong Society and the Foreign Bookstore. Astronomical birds and beasts and photoelectric hydrothermal all kinds of pictures, are beneficial wisdom books, forgiveness must be there. Please purchase the full points (but the astronomical chart says two points are required). As for various maps, such as shanghai without them, can you show them on the same day, when a friend buys it in foreign countries. (14) Zhang Yuanji's contact with Western studies is extensive, the degree is deep, and the urgency of visiting is evident. At the same time, in order to better read Western reading materials, Zhang Yuanji began to learn English. In the social context of disdain for foreign affairs at that time, Zhang Yuanji's move as a court official was definitely an alternative pioneering act. As a result, Zhang Yuanji was ridiculed as a "ermaozi" type figure.

During the Jingguan period, Zhang Yuanji's Xinzhi reading practice also had an important feature, that is, he was deeply involved in the construction of the Xinzhi Reading Community and became an important individual node of the Xinzhi Reading Community in Beijing at that time. During the Restoration Movement, a large number of books on Western political systems, scientific knowledge, and social culture poured in. Reading new knowledge became a fashionable move for enlightened imperial bureaucrats and advanced intellectuals at that time. Around these new knowledge books, this group of people who chase new knowledge naturally form a community with a common reading interest. They passed, shared, and exchanged advanced reading materials, becoming the main driving force of the law change movement. In the process of forming this reading community, Zhang Yuanji plays an important role as an individual node. This role is mainly manifested in Zhang Yuanji's active participation in the sales work of The Times. (15) After a period of accumulated experience, Zhang Yuanji became the "consignment point" of various newspapers in Beijing. In a letter to Wang Kangnian, Zhang Yuanji said: "The newspapers in Shanghai are now handled by their brothers, including "Agricultural Studies", "Zhixin", "Mongolian Studies", "Translation Association", "Shixue" and other newspapers, in addition to "Cui Bao" and "Qiushi" can also be merged. (16) For Zhang Yuanji, it is obviously a heavy burden to undertake so many newspaper sales work. He felt that he had a heavy responsibility and twice talked to Wang Kangnian about this matter, hoping that Wang would properly handle it. Zhang Yuanji once organized and participated in a group with the purpose of "learning about usefulness, building a self-improvement and unremitting encouragement, hoping to save the husband and cowering" (17), known as the "Jianshe". Most of its members are Beijing officials who emphasize Western learning and are open-minded. This group later developed into a larger Western School. It is very likely that the new reading materials of the Jian Society and even the members of the West Academy were obtained from Zhang Yuanji. In a letter to Wang Kangnian, Zhang Yuanji once mentioned that "your newspaper tried to translate the "Tokyo Daily News" and the "Current Affairs News", and friends were quite eager to buy it, so could you entrust Mr. Gucheng of Guiguan to do two points" (18). The friends here refer to the members of the reading community who are eager to get new knowledge from Zhang Yuanji. In the reading community with Zhang Yuanji as an important individual node, there is also a heavyweight member, that is, Guangxu. Guangxu himself had a strong desire to read new knowledge, and often listed books and submitted them to Prime Minister Yamen. This task fell to Zhang Yuanji. "At that time, there were very few new books in the Jingshi Bookstore, and Mr. Zhang often used all of them in the book and begged his friends for leave and gathered them together" (19). The "Chronicle of Japan" read by the Guangxu Emperor was presented by Zhang Yuanji.

Iii. The Effect of Zhang Yuanji's Early Reading History on Publishing Practice

The above is a bird's-eye view of Zhang Yuanji's early reading history. This is only the basic task of this article. If the study of reading history stays at the level of excavating and combing individual reading activities, it will not be able to get rid of the shackles of Rank historiography. Bullock pointed out that what the commander-in-chief and enlightened history studied was "understanding." (20) Using this thesis to look at the study of reading history, in addition to the reading behavior itself should be excavated, the meaning and value of reading also need to be paid enough attention. As Dai Lianbin, an expert on the history of reading, put it: "The act of reading is essentially an activity to seek the meaning of a text" (21). How to find and confirm the textual meaning implied by reading behavior and the process of textual meaning on the reader should be an important direction for the study of reading history. The enlightenment of the above two scholars is that if there is a new approach to the study of reading history, it is necessary to examine the radiation effect of reading behavior. In addition to examining the reading activities of real readers in history, the task of reading history research is also to spy on the meaning of reading through the thought formation and behavior practice of real readers. Specific to Zhang Yuanji, his life was accompanied by books, and his early reading practice was bound to greatly influence later publishing practices. Based on the above considerations, the next work of this article is to analyze the relationship between the two.

1. Pragmatic Reading Concept Helps "Enlightenment Publishing"

As mentioned above, the pursuit of "useful learning" is one of the main purposes of Zhang Yuanji's initiation and participation in the Health Club. He believed that "all kinds of scholarship in Taixi" could be used to "sweep away the old sayings of Confucianism and revitalize the spirit of the new Chinese people" (22). Although Zhang Yuanji did not make a precise explanation and definition of what is "useful learning", the new knowledge books he came into contact with are obviously the main content of "useful learning". It can be seen that Zhang Yuanji's reading activities have a distinct "practical" color. But this kind of "application" is by no means an explicit manifestation of the Confucian theory of Qi Zhiping, but what Dewey called pragmatism. In Dewey, knowledge is understood as a "purely social application" (23). Zhang Yuanji believes that Western studies contain the mysteries of rich countries and strong species, so he will do his best to contact and disseminate Western studies. On the other side of the question, Zhang Yuanji believes that what is useless is the theory of knowledge under the imperial examination system. In his own words, "Theoku is useless.". If a new wave of knowledge is not introduced, the consequence will be that "the courtiers are only promised and do not meet the current affairs" (24), and the imperial court is full of ignorant and decadent "African ancient people" (25). In this sense, the purpose of reading in Zhang Yuanji's eyes is almost the same as dewey pragmatism. Therefore, it is appropriate to label Zhang Yuanji's view of reading as pragmatic.

Although Zhang Yuanji did not develop a conscious sense of publishing during the Jingguan period, this pragmatic view of reading had begun to shape his later publishing ideas. This is clearly evident in his evaluation of the publications of the time. Zhang Yuanji has repeatedly expressed his admiration for Wang Kangnian for the Times. "The Times has read eight volumes. Advocating grand discussion, in order to boost morale, to save the decadence wave, he should be four hundred trillion people to share the virtue, this move is sincerely immortal. (26) At the same time, he was greatly dissatisfied with Sun Jianai's official bookstore and criticized it for "publishing bureau newspapers, mostly in the form of wu words." Copying the maxim is the most ridiculous. Foreign newspapers occasionally have micro-words, and the original text of the translation office has been deleted", and the way to change this outdated situation is to "produce new urgent pictures, especially it is advisable to translate and print them as soon as possible". (27) The above-mentioned "media criticism" and the proposed solution may be understood as the manifestation of the budding of Zhang Yuanji's publishing ideas. From this, it can be interpreted that Zhang Yuanji soberly realized the important role of high-quality book dissemination in changing the face of the country. In Zhang Yuanji's view, the effective use of information publishing activities can receive the effect of "Xindong Qunlun" (28).

After entering the museum, this pragmatic-oriented publishing idea was continued and developed. In Zhang Yuanji's view, the purpose of publishing is to "bring up the majority of the people" (29). In other words, Zhang Yuanji and the Commercial Press should "take it as their duty to support education" (30). This has also become the publishing purpose set by Zhang Yuanji for the Commercial Press. On the flip side, Zhang Yuanji explicitly opposes the publication of harmful books. In a letter to Cai Yuanpei, he strongly criticized the readings involving "obscenity" (31) and hoped that the authorities would ban them. In addition, he twice refused to let the Commercial Press sell the magazine "Intolerable" with Kang Youwei advocating imperial system. This control over the quality of publications and Zhang Yuanji's criticism of Sun Jianai's official bookstore are in the same vein. Obviously, as a professional publisher, Zhang Yuanji has clear and unambiguous standards for what books should be published and what books should not be published. This criterion depends on the actual benefit of the publication to the general public. Zhang Yuanji's pragmatic view of publishing is on full display. At this point, Zhang Yuanji's emphasis on "useful" reading has been transformed into a publishing concept that emphasizes "usefulness". Under the guidance of this concept of publishing, the knowledge production activities of the Commercial Press under the presidency of Zhang Yuanji are all responsible for the pursuit of positive utility to society, the country and culture. This is consistent with the ideological core of Zhang Yuanji's pragmatic view of reading.

The Commercial Press's first major contribution was the compilation of new textbooks. In 1905, after the abolition of the imperial examination system, new schools emerged in an endless stream, and traditional Confucian enlightened reading materials could no longer adapt to the new educational situation. The development and publication of new textbooks became the largest market for China's publishing industry at that time. In this context, in order to "strive to meet the needs of the trend and conform to the original intention of advocating and assisting education" (32), Zhang Yuanji immediately organized a group of new-style intellectuals such as Cai Yuanpei, Jiang Weiqiao, Wu Dan, and Gao Mengdan to engage in the compilation of textbooks. By 1925, under the leadership of Zhang Yuanji, the Commercial Press had launched three sets of modern new textbooks: "The Latest Textbook", "Republic Textbook" and "New Textbook".

Looking at the translation and publishing activities of the Commercial Press, it also condenses Zhang Yuanji's concept of "use first". Taking Yan Fu's translations published by the Commercial Press as an example, the museum published and reprinted Yan Fu's famous works, including "The Theory of Heavenly Speech", "Original Wealth", "Qunxue Wanton Speech", "Theory of the Boundaries of Qun's Own Rights", "Social Interpretation", "Fa Yi", "Muller Famous Studies", and "Brief Theory of Famous Studies". (33) These Western masterpieces published by the Commercial Press have had a profound impact on the formation and development of modern Chinese thought. At the same time, the reading and dissemination of these translations has also profoundly influenced the course of Chinese history to a large extent. There are many similar translation contributions of the Commercial Press, such as Lin Shu's translation of "The Biography of Jiayin", "Saxon Hero Strategy", "Record of the Palm", Cai Yuanpei's translation of "Lecture Notes on YoukaiOlogy", "Ethical System" and so on. The translation and publishing business of the Commercial Press has become an important window for the Chinese people to closely observe and understand the ideological trends and ideological and cultural views of Western society. Through the translation and publishing activities of the Commercial Press, China's social development has resonated with the outer world to a certain extent. In addition, the technical translations are equally dazzling. Xie Honggeng's translation of "Geometry", Huang Ying's translation of "Zoology", Du Yaquan's translation of "Botany", Bao Guangyong's translation of "Geology", etc., (34) have greatly promoted the improvement of the natural science literacy of the Chinese people. In this sense, the translation and publishing activities of the Commercial Press have played an extremely important role in the enlightenment of modern Chinese culture and the realization of the modern transformation of Chinese social culture. The emergence of these huge social benefits is obviously inseparable from the ideological effect produced by Zhang Yuanji's pursuit of the reading concept of "useful learning" in the early years of "indulging in Western learning".

2. The integration of ancient book reading practice and ancient book inheritance and publication

Zhang Yuanji's love for traditional Chinese texts and hometown literature has already been discussed. Reading ancient books has become a way of life in the course of Zhang Yuanji's life. That's why he confessed to himself, "I'm an old silverfish in the book series" (35). Even after busy library work, Zhang Yuanji still maintains the habit of reading ancient books. After presiding over the library, Zhang Yuanji's attitude towards ancient books surpassed the aesthetic taste of traditional scholars and scholars. He began to examine the publication of ancient books from the height of preserving national culture. In Zhang Yuanji's own words, he wanted to "renew his life for the ancient books." "Preserving the essence of the country" and "feeding scholars" became the purpose of Zhang Yuanji's determination to intervene in the search, printing and publication of ancient books on a large scale. It is worth emphasizing that in the process of printing and publishing ancient books by the Commercial Press, Zhang Yuanji's identity is dual. Specifically, he is not only a far-sighted publishing manager and planner, but also participates in the process of searching, editing and sorting ancient books as a philologist, bibliographer, proofreader and editionist. The former is a professional status, the latter is a scholar status. The formation of the latter's identity is based on Zhang Yuanji's decades-long reading research on classical literature as a traditional reader.

Faced with the situation that a large number of precious ancient books were destroyed and scattered in the chaos of the war, Zhang Yuanji sighed: "Since Xiantong, Shenzhou has gone through many deaths, and the old books have fallen on the day. The difficulty of asking for books, the smallness of Chinese studies, is not worse than that of those at this time. 36 Zhang Yuanji felt a great responsibility for this. Therefore, for the preservation of ancient books, he will say that "the responsibility for holding on to the remnants and keeping the deficiencies lies with my generation"37. This is due to the cultural self-consciousness of a traditional knowledge molecule. In this way, finding books, reading books, and compiling books are almost Zhang Yuanji's instinctive behavior. In order to obtain a rare book, in the process of interacting with the people of the time, Zhang Yuanji often instructed others to buy ancient books for the Commercial Press. For example, he said in a letter to Ding Wenjiang: "Wherever the gentleman goes, if there is a person who has a book that is not available in our library, please pray for the purchase." If you can't buy it, then entrust someone to copy it on your behalf, although it costs more than money. "38 Take Zhang Yuanji's diary in 1916 as an example, review it, and the records of entrusting people to buy books are everywhere." Sun Xingru introduced the yuan book "Holy Pilgrimage Mixed Party Public Opinion Victory" in six volumes, and the price was 100 yuan. Also a hundred dollars. Uncle Yuan purchased Ming's copy of "Wenyuan Yinghua", two hundred and forty yuan. Wu Yinchen also engraved the "Song yuan periodical this word", thirty yuan. (February 14) 39 "Tobo Heng bought "Xuehai Class Compilation" four hundred yuan "Mohai Golden Kettle" five hundred yuan "Xuejin Yuan" three hundred yuan. If the three parts are purchased at the same time, they can add 200 or 300 yuan. "(March 21) 40" for the old book department to buy "Zizhi Tongjian", "PeiWen", "Calligraphy and Painting Spectrum", "Duan Shuowen", "Xu Shuowen", "Li Discernment" and another, a total of eighty-two yuan. (March 22) 41 Zhang Yuanji has repeatedly gone out to visit books despite the long distance and difficulties. In 1928, Zhang Yuanji crossed the ocean and visited Japan. "During my visit to Japan, for more than a month, except sundays, every day I concentrated on reading the song and Yuan old papers that were rarely rumored in China, and sorted out my notes at night, often until midnight, without tiredness." 42 "Qiu Zhi Fang, the collector of the beggars, close to the two capitals, far away from the territory." Every time there is something to look for, there is a shadow. The accurate description of 43 is a vivid portrayal of Zhang Yuanji's hard work in visiting, asking, asking, and choosing books. At the same time, Zhang Yuanji personally practiced and participated in the process of sorting out and editing ancient books in great detail. In the case of Zhang Yuanji's 1925 correspondence with Ding Yinggui, the editor of the museum, the records of the compilation of ancient books are also everywhere. "I have also read the "Meta Secret History" sample." 44 "The New Voice of Lefu" has been read by the school, slightly changed, and the original manuscript is returned. "45" A volume of the "History of Song" was read and returned. "46" "Luoyang JiaLanJi" has been read. 47 It can be seen from this that in the process of publishing ancient books by the Commercial Press, Zhang Yuanji's above two identities are highly integrated. The tireless pursuit of ancient books is not only due to the enthusiasm of the reader Zhang Yuanji for reading traditional documents, but also the embodiment of the high responsibility of the Commercial Press under the leadership of the publisher Zhang Yuanji for inheriting the national culture. That is to say, Zhang Yuanji's long-term reading practice in ancient books as a reader and Zhang Yuanji's publishing practice as a publisher are highly unified. It is this unification that has largely created another major historical contribution of Zhang Yuanji to the Commercial Press--the compilation and printing of ancient books such as "The Secret Of Han Fenlou", "Four Series", "The First Compilation of Series of Books", "Continuation of the Ancient Yi Series", and "Twenty-Four Histories of the Hundred Books".

As mentioned above, paying attention to the literature of the township state is a major feature of Zhang Yuanji's old school of reading, which also affects the cultural temperament of the publication of ancient books in the Commercial Press. The unique interest in Sangzi literature in the past years made Zhang Yuanji not only pay attention to the inheritance of classic ancient books, but also pay great attention to the collection and publication of local characteristic literature, especially the writings of his ancestors in Haining, his hometown. He said: "There are also very few survivors after the Han family's ancestors have been burned by the soldiers, and the brother has been searching for it for many years, but he has not found one, and he has pursued Wei Zude, and his feelings are endless." "48" This is really a thousand years of hate. 49 Inspired by this emotion, Zhang Yuanji paid great attention to the search for literature in Haiyan and other places. After learning that Ding Wenjiang had traveled to Guizhou, Zhang Yuanji instructed him to "collect Guizhou County Chronicles"50. He said to Wang Jiarong, who was also from Jiaxing in the same year, "Friends saw that the library of Xiushui Higher Primary School had a copy of the Haiyan Literature compiled by Wang Wenlu, a Haiyan man, counting twenty volumes. If you can lend a reading is the best, otherwise the trustee will copy a point on behalf of the person, beg for the copy, and entrust it. [51] At the beginning of the Republic of China, he collected more than 2,600 kinds of national fangzhi. Through Zhang Yuanji's decades-long visit to his township literature, the Commercial Press has successively compiled and printed haiyan local literature such as "Inscriptions on The Garden", "Inscriptions on the Garden", "Inscriptions on the Garden", "General Catalogue of the Surnames of the Li Andi Clan", and "Yokoura Anthology". Among them, the Yokoura Anthology is often given to friends by Zhang Yuanji as a gift, which shows how much he attaches importance to and cherishes it.

3. The "national personality" derived from reading is injected into publishing practice

The theory of "national personality" in Zhang Yuanji's thought is widely respected by scholars. When some scholars explored the formation of his theory of "national personality", they believed that the influence of the two factors of the essence of the Confucian tradition and its genealogical origin was great. [52] On further investigation, Zhang Yuanji drew his love for the nation and loyalty to the country from traditional Chinese texts, especially Confucian classics. "Consider the literature and love the old state", Zhang Yuanji's well-known quote, suggests that this patriotic idea is largely rooted in his reading of traditional Chinese classics. When Zhang Yuanji read many Confucian classics, he believed that Confucius's "killing to become benevolent" and Mencius's "rich and noble cannot be adulterous, poor and lowly cannot be moved, and mighty cannot be bent" are "famous words of the personality of the Chinese nation". [53] This shows the important role played by Confucian classics in the formation of Zhang Yuanji's patriotic thought. At the same time, Zhang Yuanji also gained the recognition and care for the nation from the reading of documents in haining, his hometown. As mentioned above, zhang Yuanji in his youth read his ancestor's "Confession". This act of reading made him "wise and enlightened". Although this feeling after reading is a little feudal, it can still be regarded as the early germ of Zhang Yuanji's "national personality" thought.

Zhang Yuanji personally practiced this "national personality". After Shanghai was occupied by the Japanese army, Zhang Yuanji, who was deeply impoverished, preferred to sell words and articles rather than stand for the Japanese authorities; in 1948, at the opening ceremony of the first academician of the Academia Sinica, he denounced the Kuomintang's maladministration and called for peace; after the founding of New China, he offered ideas and suggestions for various undertakings of New China. In Zhang Yuanji's long publishing career, his "national personality" is also reflected everywhere. One of the major contributions of Zhang Yuanji's publishing career is the creation of a new style of textbook publishing. Later generations revered him as the "father of modern Chinese textbooks". Explaining the reasons for his involvement in this cause, Zhang Yuanji said that he "can fulfill his national obligations". In the field of printing and publishing ancient books and preserving national culture, Zhang Yuanji "has made great achievements that will never be worn out" and is a well-deserved "chinese cultural sustenance". [57] In order to enlighten and communicate Chinese and Western cultures, Zhang Yuanji actively disseminated new learning. Some scholars believe that this has always been "to love the motherland and renew the society as their starting point" [58]. In a word, as a publishing giant, Zhang Yuanji injected the "national personality" derived from his own reading into his lifelong publishing practice.

In the field of publishing, the most typical embodiment of the "national personality" that originated from reading activities is Zhang Yuanji's book "The Personality of the Chinese Nation" published in May 1937. Feeling that at that time, a small number of traitors who were attached to the rebellion and fell into the water, Zhang Yuanji selected a number of stories from his well-read "Zuo Zhuan", "History", and "Warring States Policy" and compiled them into books, so as to inspire the people to rise up against Japan and save the land. The publication of this pamphlet caused a great response, "Shanghai newspapers, when borrowing books to speak to the police".[59] In the book, Zhang Yuanji stressed that there are many Haojie in the book who can be used as models. His selection of characters came from "books that everyone must read". Here, it is not difficult to see that Zhang Yuanji is appearing to explain the great role of traditional classics in the formation of people's patriotic ideas with his own reading and understanding. When the book was published, the Commercial Press placed an advertisement in the newspaper. This slogan clearly and unmistakably presents the relationship between Zhang Yuanji's reading activities and the book. "When the author was proofreading the "Twenty-Four Histories of the Hundred Books" and recently proofreading the "History of History," he deeply felt that the personality of the ancient heroes was noble enough to arouse the spirit of the nation, because more than a dozen people were selected in the biography and the "Left Biography" and the "National Policy," all of whom sacrificed their lives for righteousness, and who were ashamed of their lives, and who could be regarded as models of today's people, and translated the original text into vernacular, arranged at the upper and lower levels, read it in comparison, understood and superficial, and was particularly touched; today if we want to revive the nation, we must first improve our personality, and this is a book that must not be read in an extraordinary period." [61]

IV. Conclusion

Zhang Yuanji is a representative of typical intellectuals in the context of the gradual development of Western learning and Eastern learning. Personal choices and the influence of the times combined to shape his early reading practices that spanned East and West. Read shaping ideas, ideas creating practices. Some scholars in Taiwan have described Zhang Yuanji's cultural outlook as a kind of cultural outlook of "adjustment orientation", "neither the 'nationalist faction' or the 'Europeanization faction', nor the 'Chinese body and Western school', which can indeed be macroscopic and tolerant of Chinese and Western cultures, and has diversified respect for the views of different positions" [62]. This mixed cultural temperament, which originated from reading practice, was projected into Zhang Yuanji's publishing practice. Zhang Yuanji "while actively disseminating new learning, he attached importance to the circulation of ancient books, and worked hard to communicate Chinese and Western cultures throughout his life". From Zhang Yuanji's reading history to publishing practice, there is a clear chain of influence between the two. In summary, Zhang Yuanji's reading practice of integrating East and West has largely shaped the commercial press's seemingly opposing cultural feats of opening up new knowledge, introducing Western learning and preserving the essence of the whole country, and disseminating ancient books. The Commercial Press's leading atmosphere and the cultural temperament of combining East and West echo each other with Zhang Yuanji's reading practice.

Darnton argues that at the heart of the study of reading history is "how a fluid readership constructs the meaning of a changing text". Reading is an information input behavior, through a complex process of intrapersonal communication, it will always be exported in various ways. The meaning and effect of reading will eventually be revealed as an individual's behavioral activity. Therefore, in addition to the reading feelings, understandings, and thoughts recorded by real readers in history, examining the various behaviors and practices of real readers is also a window to spy on the meaning of reading. "There is poetry and bookishness in the belly" implies this truth. That is to say, the practical history of real readers can be linked to their reading activities, and an explanatory channel from reading to practice can be established to enrich the possibilities of reading history research. As a case study, the connection between Zhang Yuanji's reading history and publishing practice may be rough, but digging deep into and presenting the reading history of publishers and clarifying the mechanism of action from reading to publishing practice should be a feasible way to broaden the connotation of future publishing history research.

exegesis:

(1) Darnton. Tu Cat Chronicles: French Cultural History Hook Shen[M].Lü Jianzhong, trans. Beijing:Nova Press,2006:1.]

(2) ZHANG Hao. Martyr Spirit and Critical Consciousness: An Analysis of Tan Sitong's Thought[M].Beijing: Central Compilation Publishing House, 2016:50.

(3) Relevant achievements include "On Wang Yunwu's "Encyclopedic" Reading Concept and Its Practice", "The Reading Career of Publisher Wang Yunwu", "Wang Yunwu's Reading Concept", "How Wang Yunwu Reads", etc.

(4) This article defines Zhang Yuanji's early reading history as Zhang Yuanji's reading activities before joining the Commercial Press in 1901, mainly examining the reading activities of Zhang Yuanji before he joined the shi, serving as a Beijing official, and presiding over the Nanyang Public School Translation College.

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About author:Wang Longjun is a 2018 doctoral candidate majoring in journalism and communication at the School of Journalism and Communication of Shanghai University. Original issue of the article: Modern Publishing, No. 3, 2020.