The Pursuit of Modernity: On the Center Transfer of the Telegraph Construction in the Period of Nanjing National Government

As an important scientific and technological achievement of the modern Western countries, the telegraph had been gradually introduced into China since the late Qing Dynasty. Its construction center had been shifted in the period of Nanjing National Government. Firstly, its technical center, which was built from the late Qing Dynasty to the period of the Beijing Government of the Republic of China, was shifted from the cable to the wireless. This was not only for the need of the domestic and foreign affairs, but also out of a foundational factor, namely the change of the international communication technology. It indicated that the Nanjing National Government actively introduced and implanted modern factors into China. Secondly, its center of gravity was shifted from the east to the west during this period. This was both for the need of the interned and external wars and for Sun Yat-sen's ideas of telecommunication construction. It demonstrated the Government's intention of implanting the modern factors all over China. This is the national pursuit of modernity represented by the Government. It also presupposed the basic idea and main path of the science and technology development and regional development in future China. Key words: telegraph construction; center shift; modernity; Nanjing National Government