| dc.description.abstract | At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, the lower-class gentry Zhang Gang (1860-1942) in Ruian, Wenzhou, began to write a diary in the 14th year of Guangxu (1888), and by the 31st year of the Republic of China (1942). He leaves a diary that spans more than 50 years for later generations. In recent years, Zhang Gang′s diary proofread by his posterity Mr. Zhang Junsun has been published, so we can get a glimpse of the entire volume of diary. The value of Zhang Gang′s Diary lies not only in its long recording time, but also in all-encompassing content, covering politics, economy, education, industry, famine, farmland, folklore, and many other aspects in Wenzhou. It is an important historical material for the study of local history. It also provides a new perspective for understanding the daily life of the lower-class gentry in modern times.
The author of diary Zhang Gang is born in a family of farming and studying. In his early years, he devotes himself to the imperial examinations. Zhang Gang, who enjoys reading since he was a child, has a wealth of books at home and writes his personal reading experience in his diary. Because Zhang Gang enjoys reading in daily life, his reading activities are not limited by time and space. He reads whenever he has time, even carries books with him for reading on the road. After looking over the contents of diary, it can be found that Zhang Gang has a wide range of reading types. A collection of classics and histories that traditional scholars must study is no doubt to say. And because he was in the era where old and new ideas are intertwined, books about new knowledge, newspapers and magazines are covered in his reading scope. In addition, he also likes reading country literature, novels and so on. After reading, Zhang Gang is used to express his personal feelings and opinions on books, new knowledge and old studies, and current political affairs. From this, we can see the interaction between the reading experience and ideas of the lower-class gentry under the turmoil situation and the collision and exchange of different cultures. | en_US |