Journal of East China Normal University(Educationa ›› 2019, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (2): 53-58.doi: 10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5560.2019.02.006

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How China Shaped Dewey's Ideas of Cultural Diversity and Democracy

James Zhixiang Yang   

  1. Chinese Language and Culture Center, BNU-HKBU United International College, Zhuhai 519087, Guangdong China
  • Online:2019-03-20 Published:2019-03-21

Abstract: From 1919 to 1921, at the invitation of a group of Chinese scholars, John Dewey intensively traveled and lectured in China. During his two-year trip, Dewey contributed over 200 lectures on the diversity of topics in China. Since he left for the U.S, his speeches were translated and published by his Chinese devotees as the book titled Five Major Lectures from John Dewey. During the Republican period in Chinese history, in particular throughout the 1920s and the 1930s, Dewey's educational philosophy had a tremendous influence on Chinese education. It is important to note that educational encounter between China and John Dewey is an evolving process of two-way cultural communication. When Chinese educational reformers embraced Dewey's legacy wholeheartedly, in return Dewey's perception of cultural diversity and democracy had been shaped by his understanding of the May Fourth Movement.

Key words: John Dewey, The May Fourth Movement, two-way communication, cultural diversity, democracy