Joint UMAG Programme - "The Social Physiognomy of China around May Fourth Movement as shown in the Medals and Publications concerning the Governing of Shanxi by 'Model' Warlord Yan Xi-shan" with Bassanio Kwok 五四運動前後中國社會風貌趣談: 由山西「模範」軍閥閻錫山的勳章及治晉著述說起 (in Cantonese)

五四運動前後中國社會風貌趣談:

由山西「模範」軍閥閻錫山的勳章及治晉著述說起

五四運動作為民間自發愛國運動，起因是北京學生反對一次大戰的巴黎和會中，列强將戰敗的德國在山東的權益轉讓給日本而非歸還屬戰勝國的中國。1919年5日4日，學生示威遊行，後來發展至火燒交通總長曹汝霖的居所，北洋政府予以鎮壓，並逮捕了學生代表32人，然而示威、罷課、罷市等抗議行動日益擴大，更漫延至全國其他省市。

五四運動標示「民主」、「科學」、「自由」與「平等」等「啟蒙」思潮的冒起，繼承由陳獨秀等知識份子自1915年由「青年雜誌」所開展的新文化運動，五四運動也影響着「反日」、「反封建」、「反軍閥」等作為「救亡」的政治走向及中國歷史的發展，然而後世對五四運動的評價莫衷一是。

百年過去，從多角度反思五四運動尤為重要。講座將聚焦五四前後的中國社會風貌，透過分析山西「模範」軍閥閻錫山的勳章及治晉著述，讓參加者接觸有關當時當權者及百姓情況的第一手史料，從而加深對五四運動的了解。講座內容將以展示文物及從拾趣角度探討社會風貌，務求雅俗共賞。

講座以粵語進行，講者郭競翔是資深晚清及北洋勳章研究者，也是香港大學博物館學會會員，近期曾參予孫中山紀念館「北洋軍‧政‧歲月」展覧。由今天至8月25日，孫中山紀念館亦正舉辦「動與醒︰五四新文化運動」展覽。

The Social Physiognomy of China around May Fourth Movement

as shown in the Medals and Publications concerning the Governing of Shanxi by

“Model” Warlord Yan Xi-shan

The May 4th Movement was a spontaneous civil patriotic movement led by students in Beijing objecting to the Paris peace conference after World War I, which flagrantly failed to reinstate the rights and interests in Shandong back to China from a defeated Germany.  Instead, the foreign powers in Paris elected to transfer all former German interests to Japan.

On the 4th May 1919, students took to the streets to protest the unfair peace treaty.  The residence of the Chief of Communication, Cao Ru-lin was set on fire, leading to the arrest of 32 student representatives by the Beiyang Government.    However, the protests and strikes spread rapidly among the ranks of both students and businessmen throughout the provinces and cities all over China.

The May 4th Movement marked the growth of “Enlightment” ideologies of “Democracy”, Science”, “Liberalism” and “Equality” , following the introduction of the “New Culture Movement” published in the La Jeunesse magazine in 1915 by intellectuals such as Chen Du-xiu.  The May 4th Movement also saw the rise of “Self-Salvation” political sentiments, such as “Anti-Japanese”, “Anti-Feudal” and “Anti-Warlord”, which were clearly influential in forming the character of modern China.  Of course, views have varied widely as to how actually significant the May 4th Movement was to the overall historical development of modern China.

In conjunction with commemorating the centennial memorial of the May 4th Movement, it is both critical and helpful to review this historical event from multiple angles.   By studying the medals and publications of “Model Warlord”, Yan Xi-shan which relate to his governing of Shanxi, our speaker will share first-hand information on both the sovereign and the common people.  In this way our audience will have a better understanding of both the physiognomy of China during the period surrounding the May 4th Movement, as well as the Movement itself.

This talk will be conducted in Cantonese.  Our speaker, Kwok King Cheung Bassanio is a member of the HKU Museum Society.  A veteran researcher of orders and medals of the late Manchu and Beiyang periods, Mr. Kwok recently participated in the “Beiyang Warlords: War and Politics” exhibition at the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum.  The current exhibition, “The Awakening of a Generation: The May Fourth and New Culture Movement” at Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum will run until the 25th August 2019.