Catholic Orphanages in Fujian during the 19th and 20th Centuries
Journal
漢學研究
Journal Volume
39
Journal Issue
3
Pages
187-229
Date Issued
2021-09
Author(s)
Abstract
As part of an effort to prevent infanticide, various institutions in the later 19^(th) century began to establish orphanages in China. They included local governments and Buddhists organizations, but Catholic and Protestant churches also played an especially significant role, the former of which started organizing orphanages as early as the 17^(th) century. The creation of the Holy Infancy in 1843-an international institution and sort of modern NGO raising funds all over the world to support missions worldwide-and the opening of ports following the Treaty of Tianjin (1858) drove a particularly active period of orphanage development in China until the middle of the 20th century. In order to address this broad topic, we have focused on orphanages in Fujian and Taiwan run by the Spanish Dominican sisters and Filipino or Chinese beatas (blessed virgins) from the end of the 19^(th) century to the beginning of the 20^(th) century. We seek to provide a better understanding of the scope of the abandonment of girls, the services and structures of these institutions, and the family mores and constraints in those regions of China at that time. Additionally, we examine the activities and motivations of these institutions in terms of their recognition of the dignity of female infant orphans, and their attempts to rescue and educate them to ensure a proper status in life.
Type
journal article