Renowned as one of the most
distinguished universities in the world, Peking University (PKU or,
colloquially, "Beida") has been at the forefront of higher education in
China since its inception. Its roots arguably date to the origin of
Chinese higher education. Hao Ping traces the intricate evolution of the
university, beginning with the preceding institutions that contributed
to its establishment, and stretching from the first Opium War of 1839
through the first of several eye-opening defeats for the then-isolated
Middle Kingdom to the Xinhai Revolution and the early days of the
Republic of China.
Hao Ping
chronicles the contentious debates between reform-minded leaders who
championed Western models of learning and conservatives who favored the
traditional schooling and examination system, providing readers with
details about the workings of the imperial court as well as the
individual officials and scholars involved in Chinese educational
reform. This authoritative history of the founding of Peking University
defends the university’s claim to be the first modern university in
China and offers insight into the formation of higher education as it
exists in China today.
Hao Ping has been both a professor and an academic administrator at
Peking University and Beijing Foreign Studies University. In his current
role as vice minister of education, Hao Ping is a leading figure in
China’s education reform and development. He is author of several books,
including Sun Yatsen Revolution and the United States and An
Unfortunate Ending: John Leighton Stuart and China.
