盧作孚와 四川 北碚의 향촌건설운동

Abstract

Unlike the leading figures of the educational circles of the period, Lu Zuo-fu did not receive the benefits of regular education, but participated in the revolution due to the enthusiasm for Sun Yat Sen’s three principles of the people’s. He devoted himself to educational work in order to build China into a modernized country. As his educational work was hindered from warlords’ intensified disputes, he tried to turn his attention to business and graft its outcome onto the educational activities. He emphasized the provision of material environment with modernization to overcome feudal practices. For this he advocated active introduction and utilization of Western knowledge and technology, moreover the accumulation of capital and the training of human resources which were important to achieve modernization. To this end he was ready to cooperate with the enlightened warlords and organize or mobilize the people through education. The people were attracted to the benefits such as job creation through Lu Zuo-fu’s enterprise, and they were exposed to new modern culture and art activities, resulting in the improvement of local residents. Human resource development focused on technology education in close connection with industrial policy, which led to the supply of human resources necessary in the actual field. Regarding the improvement of material environment, he aimed to build infrastructure equal to the city level in the local areas and achieved considerable results. Connecting the establishment of a company with the creation of jobs and fostering of human resources was also the realization of Sun Yat Sen’s three principles of the people’s at the local level. In fact, these activities were realistic approach in Sichuan which was recognized Xiajiang(下江) in China at the time. Lu Zuo-fu also could avoid conflicts with native forces that were common in other intellectuals' movements. While the existing rural reconstruction movement started from educational sector and then gradually extended to various agricultural projects, it was the difference and characteristics of Lu Zuo-fu-led movement that he connected the corporate operations with educational activities, pursuing the urbanization and modernization of countryside.