Study of Tao Xingzhi's View on Life Education

Tao Xingzhi is one of the most famous educators in modern China. The concept of life education is one of the most important components of his education ideological system. It is a comprehensive system ranging from the education content and methods to the purpose of education. The concept of "life is education" and "society are school" are its core point. The goal, content, the method of life education have been elaborated. These educational theories are still shining today, and still have important reference value for China's current educational innovation, cultural innovation and the implementation of the strategy of strengthening educational power.

Micro histories of intercultural knowledge exchange: Tao Xingzhi’s educational poetry

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a micro historical account of the work of a key Chinese educational reformer, Tao Xingzhi (1891–1946), who transformed educational ideas from John Dewey to effect social and cultural change in 1920s–1940s China. Design/methodology/approach This paper examines English and Chinese language sources, including Tao’s poetry, to present a fresh analysis of Tao’s epistemological life history. It draws upon transnational historical approaches to chart the multidirectional circulation of progressive education philosophies around the globe. It also explores some conceptual dimensions of Chinese historical thinking and historiographical strategies. Findings Tao Xingzhi engaged in critical intercultural knowledge exchange in implementing educational reforms in China. He blended and critiqued Chinese and Deweyian educational philosophies to create unique educational reform, which involved reversing some of Dewey’s approaches as well as adapting others. Originality/value This paper foregrounds Tao Xingzhi’s agency in transforming some of Dewey’s ideas in the Chinese context and challenges studies that adopt an “impact-response” approach to Tao’s contribution, which suggest a one-way flow of knowledge from a “modern” West to a “traditional” China. It brings hitherto unexplored Chinese language sources to an English-speaking audience, particularly Tao’s poetry, to gain new historical insights into Tao’s educational reforms. It contributes to transnational understandings of the multidirectional flows of knowledge about Progressive educational philosophies around the world.