The Modern Transformation and Contemporary Implications of Yuan Shikais Family Education in Xiangcheng from the Perspective of Cultural Reproduction

In the development of modern Chinese educational history, the Yuan Shikai family of Xiang Cheng, Henan Province, stands out as a historically influential lineage whose educational tradition and transformation hold significant research value. From Pierre Bourdieu' s perspective of “Cultural reproduction”, this paper examines the Yuan family’s tradition of valuing education———such as strict oversight of learning content, recruitment of renowned teachers, and the evolution of educational goals———to reveal the internal logic behind the continuity and transformation of its educational values. The Yuan’s family educational values are reflected in their emphasis on moral cultivation rooted in traditional society, timely guidance of children' s interests and talents, and behavioral modelling within clan' s. Their educational transformation featured a blending of tradition and modernity, a pragmatic orientation, and a shift toward modern educational concepts. By exploring the Yuan family’s approach to education, this study offers new insights into the transformation of family education in modern China, such as the interplay between family upbringing and societal changes, and the proactive adaptation to the new educational norms.