From 'Evolution and Ethics' to 'SEZ Media': Decoding Enlightenment through Fujian's Journalism Archives
Geographic Connections Fuzhou (Houguan), Xiamen (Egret Island), Mawei, Siming West Road, Gulangyu, Ding’an Road, Nanjing, Manila, Singapore, Hong Kong, and London. Introduction: Ideological Messengers at the ‘Treaty Ports’ In the grand narrative of the Fujian Provincial Chronicles, Fujian is not merely a geographic gateway but a pioneer wharf for modern Chinese thought. In the late 19th century, with the impact of Western civilization brought by the “Five Treaty Ports,” Fuzhou and Xiamen became the earliest regions to adopt modern printing technology and journalism culture. Archives record a shift in Fujian’s publications from traditional classics to modern humanities and sciences. This transition was not just a technical upgrade but a profound social enlightenment. As a center for “opening eyes to the world,” Fujian introduced modern biological evolutionary thoughts, such as “Natural Selection,” through books and newspapers, fundamentally shaking the foundations of feudal ethics. ...