Stepping Forth into the World: The Chinese Educational Mission to the United States, 1872-81

Former University of Texas professor Edward Rhoads gives a lecture on his new book, Stepping Forth into the World, about the fascinating history of the first 120 Chinese students to study in the U.S. at the end of the 19th century at Yale University.

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Some 130,000 students from China now study a variety of fields in colleges and universities around the United States. What about the first group of Chinese students in this country? Edward Rhoads’ new book, Stepping Forth into the World: The Chinese Educational Mission to the United States, 1872-81, examines the individual and collective histories of the first 120 government-funded Chinese students in the United States. Sent overseas by the Qing government to gain technological expertise in order to strengthen China against foreign and domestic enemies, these young men, serving as early ambassadors to the United States, lived and studied in New England. Abruptly called back to China in 1881, they slowly rose through the ranks in Chinese government, eventually holding top administrative and political posts in the post-Boxer era, and helping China’s modernization efforts. Ultimately, these pioneers paved the way for the many Chinese students in the United States today. This fascinating tale of one of the first meetings between East and West presents not only Chinese history, but also the history of U.S.-China relations and of Chinese in America. It documents the struggle the students faced to preserve their culture, heritage, values and beliefs while attempting to integrate into their adoptive homeland. Although the book recounts a time nearly a century and a half ago, many of the themes and issues that Dr. Rhoads addresses have remained constant throughout the years.

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