“Seeking Xu Chuanxian: From Shanghai to Beijing" (xun zhao xu chuan xian: cong shang hai dao bei jing) is a biography about Xu Chuanxian, a Chinese postal figure. The author Shi Nian Kan Chai analyzes and presents Xu Chuanxian's life within the context of the era and interpersonal networks. The book draws from historical records, archived documents, industry-related materials, and accounts from individuals who interacted with Xu Chuanxian. The author also conducted in-depth research at historical sites in Shanghai, Chongqing, Hunan, Beijing, Henan, and other places to faithfully explore Xu's life and work, providing a genuine, rich, and profound portrayal of the extraordinary and bittersweet life of a Chinese intellectual in the 20th century. Simultaneously, it bears witness to the development of China's postal system from weakness to strength, reflecting the life trajectory and era's destiny of a generation of intellectuals. The book aims to enable more people to understand the dedicated and upward endeavors of the unsung heroes in that era of significant historical transformations.

The book primarily revolves around Xu Chuanxian's activities from Shanghai to Beijing, with a secondary focus on his father, Xu Xichun (founder of the Qingpu branch of the Chinese Red Cross Society), to illustrate the choices and role of traditional families during the turbulence of the late Qing and early Republican periods, recognizing the significant impact of family and lineage in China's societal transformation. Moreover, the book reflects on the relationship between the "twin cities" of China – Shanghai and Beijing – over the past century and their crucial roles in the country's modern history. It delves into their interactions in areas such as power and capital, conservatism and innovation, introversion and extroversion, localization, and globalization, which reached a delicate balance influencing not only China but also the world. From this perspective, the book can also be viewed as Xu Chuanxian's "Tale of Two Cities," wherein the cultural differences and the relationship between Shanghai and Beijing are projected onto Xu Chuanxian's life.

Xu Chuanxian's life spanned three eras: he was born in 1908 during the late Qing Dynasty, spent most of his life in the tumultuous period of the Republic, and later transitioned into the era of the People's Republic. Proficient in three foreign languages (English, French, and Russian), he traveled extensively to numerous countries, making significant contributions to China's postal industry.

Since Xu Chuanxian joined the Shanghai Post Office as a postal trainee after dropping out from the first year of the Sino-French Institute of Technology in 1924, until his passing in Beijing in 1972, his entire career remained dedicated to the Chinese postal industry. Whether as a junior postal clerk at the Shanghai Post Office, representative of the Chinese Post Office in Vietnam and Myanmar, chief of lessons at the Chinese Post Office General Administration, later as director of the Shanghai Post Office, deputy chief and division chief of the Chinese Post Office General Administration, head of the East China Postal General Administration, Chinese representative to the Universal Postal Union Congress, and later, as deputy head of the International Relations Department of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and chief of the Chinese Post Office Liaison Bureau, where he attended an international conference as a representative of the People's Republic of China for the first time. Lastly, his role as a teacher at the Beijing Institute of Posts and Telecommunications (now Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications). Throughout the changing tides of the times, what remained unchanged was his professionalism and dedication to serving the Chinese postal industry

This collection talks about scholars' work and story of Institute of History, Shanghai Academy of Social Science.

The history of modern Shanghai newspapers can be roughly divided into four periods. The first period (1850 to 1895) witnessed their birth and initial development as Shanghai as a city began to take shape, marking the preliminary development phase of Shanghai newspapers. The second period (1895 to 1915) saw a breakthrough in development, with the support of democratic political movements and the protection of foreign concessions. This period solidified the development pattern of Shanghai newspapers, which became a necessity in the daily lives of the citizens. The third period (1915 to 1937) was characterized by comprehensive and stable development. The fourth period (1937 to 1949) experienced contraction and stagnation due to two significant wars: the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. During this time, freedom of speech was restricted, exacerbated by issues like inflation, imposing immense operational pressure on the newspaper industry. By 1949, with the change in the Chinese political landscape, commercial newspapers were placed under strict military control by the new regime, leading to an unprecedented depression in the newspaper industry.

This book compiles diverse historical materials, including archives from the Shanghai Municipal Archives, recollections of journalists, and articles from newspapers and magazines. It is divided into three main themes:

1. Newspaper Industry Overview, encompassing the basic characteristics of Shanghai's newspaper industry, the history of major newspapers in early 20th century Shanghai, and the functioning of newspaper industry associations.

2. Newspaper Staff, providing insights into various types of staff in newspapers, such as educational qualifications, working hours, efficiency, and salaries required by printing workers. The book also includes contracts for proofreaders at that time, shedding light on the requirements for proofreading work. Information about the treatment of newspaper staff can be referenced from a comparison table of employee benefits between Xinwen Bao and Shen Bao, detailing the number of employees in each department, work standards, and remuneration methods.

3. News Editing and Reporting, covering information collection in newspapers, and regulations related to editing news. It provides a detailed introduction to the production process of newspapers, including gathering news, editing, printing, and distribution, all meticulously documented.

近代上海報刊的歷史，大致可分為四個時期。第一個時期（1850年至1895年）誕生與初步發展，隨著上海都市的形成，上海報刊進入初步發展時期。第二個時期（1895年至1915年）突破性的發展，依靠著民主政治運動與外國租界的庇蔭，上海報刊發展格局奠定，報刊已成市民日常生活必需品。第三個時期（1915年至1937年）全面穩定的發展。第四個時期（1937年至1949年）萎縮與停滯，此時期發生了兩次的戰爭：抗戰爆發與國共內戰，致使言論空間遭到限縮，加上通貨膨脹問題，帶給報業極大的營運壓力，至1949年中國政局轉易，商業報紙遭到新政權軍管封閉，報界出現空前的蕭條。

本書收集史料種類多元，如上海市檔案館檔案、報人回憶、報章雜誌文章等，分為三個主題：

壹、報業概況，包含上海報業的基本特色、民初上海各大報的歷史、報業公會的運作。

貳、報館職工，可知報館各類職工的相關訊息，像是報館對印刷工學歷、工作時數、效能、薪資的要求，也收錄了當時校對員工的合約，了解報館對校對工作的要求。有關報館員工的待遇問題，可參考新聞報與申報兩報的員工待遇比較表，包括報館職工每部門的人數、工作標準與計薪方式，皆有完整記錄。

參、新聞編採，包含報館收集訊息、編輯新聞的相關規定，詳盡介紹從採訪、編輯、印刷、發行，報紙的出產環節均一一收錄。

This book focuses on the specific period of Shanghai's transformation from a traditional county town to a modern metropolis, with the development of folk charity as its main theme. For the first time, it systematically traces the historical development process of folk charity organizations in Shanghai and provides a classified description of the main charitable activities in the local community. It showcases how local gentry, merchants, and elites in Shanghai adapted traditional charitable ideas and philanthropic culture to meet the challenges of unprecedented changes, while also incorporating Western philanthropic thoughts and practices. Actively participating in urban construction and promoting Shanghai's urbanization process, they made significant contributions to the development of modern Shanghai.

本书立足于上海从传统县城向近代大都市转化这一特定时期， 以民间慈善事业的发展为主线，首次系统梳理了上海民间慈善组织产生以来的历史发展过程，并对上海民间慈善界的主要慈善活动进行了分类叙述，展现了上海地方绅商和精英们在面临三千年未有之变局的大背景下，改进传统慈善理念、慈善文化以适应新的局势，同时吸收西方慈善思想与具体做法，积极参与都市建设，推进上海都市化进程，为近代上海的发展作出了积极贡献。

From 1949 to 1965, the process of the Chinese Communist Party reshaping the new working class was also a journey of shaping 'new individuals.' The Communists attempted to erase the distinction between mental and manual labor, overturning deeply ingrained traditional Chinese notions such as 'all labor is demeaning except for reading,' and forging a new identity capable of engaging in physical labor while possessing advanced technology and culture. This identity was characterized as a 'worker-intellectual,' embodying both the role of a laborer and an intellectual. Essentially, this was a revolutionary transformation of the 'individual.' From a human perspective, the CCP's remaking of the working class was not only a transformation of human nature but also a rediscovery of the complexities within human nature.

1949-1965年，中国共产党再造新工人的过程也是一个塑造“新人”的历程。共产党人试图消除脑力劳动和体力劳动的差别，推翻在传统中国根深蒂固的“万般皆下品、唯有读书高”等观念，塑造出一种既能从事体力劳动、又掌握了先进技术和先进文化，既是工人、又是知识分子的“工人知识分子”形态。从本质上说，这实际上是一场关于“人”的革命。而如果站在人的角度上来看，中共对工人的再造既是一种对人性的改造，也是对复杂人性的重新发现。

This book relies on various historical documents such as genealogies, local records, and tomb inscriptions to systematically analyze 86 prominent clans in the historical Qingpu region. The primary focus is on exploring the origins, lineage changes, characteristics, and societal contributions of these clans, with brief descriptions of representative figures within them. Additionally, to facilitate readers' understanding of the background of relevant surnames, each surname's research section provides an overview and a concise history of its development in Qingpu. The book also includes field investigations and records of the current status of the residences of some clans' descendants in Qingpu.

本书依托族谱、方志、墓志等诸文献，共梳理出历史上青浦地区86个望族，重点探究这些望族源流、世系变迁、特点及其社会贡献，对其中代表人物进行简略叙述；此外，为方便读者了解相关姓氏背景，每个姓氏研究的篇首交代了该姓氏概况及其在青浦发展简史，对部分望族在青浦的居住地包括少数后裔的现今状况进行实地的调查和记录。

"From November 1937 to June 1940, a Frenchman named Robert Chales Emile Jacquinot de Besange, with his philanthropy, wisdom, and perseverance, established the Jacquinot Zone in Shanghai to provide aid and protection to over 300,000 Chinese refugees during the wartime. He was hailed as the 'Father of Refugees' and a 'Friend of China.'

This 'Shanghai Model' was later extended to Nanjing, Hankou, Guangzhou, and even to France, Germany, and played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The consensus to protect civilians during wartime became a driving force behind the advancement of human civilization.

After the war, Jacquinot passed away in Berlin, Germany, due to exhaustion from his efforts to assist German refugees. His philanthropic principles and compassionate character transcended national boundaries, race, religion, and political affiliations. His famous motto was, 'I will devote my last strength to those in misfortune!' He stands as a shining example of humanitarianism in the 20th century.

Despite spending 27 years of his life in China, Jacquinot 's touching deeds remain largely unknown. In November 2014, scholars from France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, South Korea, China, and other countries gathered in Shanghai to hold the first academic symposium on Jacquinot. They called for and anticipated that the heritage of the Jacquinot Refugee Zone should be recognized as a part of humanity's cultural legacy."

1937年11月至1940年6月，法国人饶家驹以他的博爱、智慧与坚韧，在上海创立救护战时平民的饶家驹区，保护了30多万中国难民，被称为“难民之父”、“中国之友”。 这个“上海模式”推广到南京、汉口、广州，乃至法国、德国，并推动日内瓦第四公约的订立。战时保护平民成为各国的共识，从而推动了人类文明的进步。 战后，饶家驹因救助德国难民劳累过度而死在德国柏林。饶家驹的“博爱主义”、慈悲情怀的高尚人格，超越了国家、种族、宗教与党派。他的名言是“我将为不幸的人，尽最后的力量！”他是20世纪世界人道主义的光辉典范。 然而，在中国生活了27年的饶家驹的感人事迹却鲜为人知。2014年11月，来自法、德、荷、美、韩、中等国的学者齐聚沪上，第一次主办饶家驹先生的学术研讨会，代表们呼吁并期待，饶家驹难民区的遗存应该成为人类文化遗产。

Some people say that the history of Shanghai is the 'darling' of the academic world, receiving special attention all along, and indeed, it is so. Renowned overseas scholars such as Frederic Evans Wakeman, Jr, Lee Ou-Fan, Yeh Wen-hsin, and others have produced classic research works about Shanghai, while within the domestic academic community, there is 'A Comprehensive History of Shanghai' edited by Xiong Yuezhi. The distinctive feature of this book lies in its focus not on macro-level narration, but rather on exploring the discontinuity and continuity of Shanghai's history in the early years of liberation from the perspective of micro-level social and cultural aspects such as lanes, cinemas, newspapers, and universities. During the 1950s, a period of profound upheaval, Shanghai's culture, ideas, and customs also retained certain inherent elements, hinting at the complexity of modernization as a comprehensive societal endeavor.

'Despite the city's departure, modernity still remains' — Did old Shanghai truly disappear without a trace? Has the local essence of Shanghai endured? How do the national agenda and urban presence interact?... Just as the questions continue to surface endlessly, almost every query is ripe for in-depth exploration, and each holds potential to spawn new inquiries. This book, starting from the perspectives of 'working people,' 'intellectuals and cultural figures,' and 'ordinary citizens,' reexamines the social and cultural landscape of 1950s Shanghai, with the aim of bringing back that departed city of historical significance into the realm of truth.

有人说上海史是历史学界的“宠儿”，一直受到特别的关注，确实如此。魏斐德、李欧梵、叶文心等海外著名学者都有关于上海的、堪称经典的研究著述，国内学界，则有熊月之主编的《上海通史》。本书特点表现在作者不是宏观叙事，而是从里弄、影院、报业、大学等社会文化微观层面探讨解放初期上海历史的断裂与延续。1950年代的上海，在经历天翻地覆大转折的时候，其文化、观念、习俗也延续着某些惯性的东西。由此也提示我们，整个社会的现代化是一个复杂系统的工程。 “都市远去，摩登犹在”——老上海是否曾消失得无踪影？上海的地方性是否延续？国家“入场”与都市“在场”怎样互动？……如同问题的发掘难以穷尽，几乎每一个问题都大有文章可做，且大有引发新问题的余地。本书仅从“劳动人民”“知识人与文化人”以及“小市民”三个研究主体出发，对1950年代的上海社会文化作一次重访，以期将历史巨变中那个远去的都市拉回到历史的真实中来。

"The Fusion of Department Stores and Urban Culture in Modern Shanghai" integrates the research achievements of the author, Toshio Kikuchi, up to the present day. It focuses on the department stores owned by Chinese national capital that once appeared on Nanjing Road in Shanghai. From the perspective of the diverse urban functions they possessed, this book analyzes the history of these department stores. It elucidates how Shanghai's department stores, with their urban and entertainment functions, led the development of consumer culture and urban culture in 'Modern Shanghai' during the 1920s and 1930s. Furthermore, as multifunctional commercial facilities rich in urban attributes, the book examines their contribution to the development of Shanghai as a city.

The viewpoints presented in this book not only significantly alter people's preexisting impressions of department stores, but also clearly define the crucial role and central position that Shanghai's department stores played in the development of modern Shanghai's commercial and urban culture. Grounded in present-day Shanghai while envisioning its future, the Japanese historian engages in a sincere dialogue with the past. The research outcomes achieved by this exploration of Shanghai's history will undoubtedly receive high praise within Chinese academic circles as well.

《近代上海的百货公司与都市文化》融合了作者菊池敏夫迄今为止的研究成果，重点聚焦曾经出现在上海南京路上的中国民族资本的百货公司，从其具有的都市机能的多样性角度对百货公司的历史进行了分析，阐明了上海的百货公司曾经以怎样的都市机能和娱乐机能引领了20世纪20～30年代“摩登上海”的消费文化和都市文化发展，并且，作为一种富有都市多功能性的商业设施，如何对上海的都市发展作出了贡献。本书的观点不仅大大改变了人们原先对百货公司留有的印象，更是明确了上海百货公司在近代上海的商业都市文化发展过程中所起到的重要作用和核心地位。《近代上海的百货公司与都市文化》立足上海的现在，展望上海的未来，日本历史学者真挚地与过去对话，其所取得的上海史研究成果在中国的学界也一定会同样获得高度的评价。