Journey to the West: Research on the Chinese Studying Physical Education in the United States during the Republic of China (1912–1949)

Abstract

During the Republic of China period (1912–1949), the Chinese students studying physical education (PE) in the United States such as Wu Yunrui, Yuan Dunli, Zhang Huilan and many others constituted a remarkable group. Either self-funded or sponsored by the government, universities or Christian organizations, they traveled all the way to study in the US and obtained doctorate, master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Springfield College, Columbia University, Wellesley University, University of Iowa and other well-known American universities. After returning to China, they introduced knowledge of modern sports into China and promoted the reform of physical education. They advocated academic research of sports and promoted the institutionalization of physical education as a discipline by writing books or published journal articles. They also boosted the development of women’s and competitive sports in China. Moreover, they founded various societies and took part in government policy-making to help complete the sports management system and improve sports laws and regulations. In the meantime, they took advantage of their language abilities to facilitate the communication between eastern and western sports culture. They are not only an important part in the history of overseas education in modern China, but also a monument in the history of modern Chinese sports.