Introit

Introït. Ch'ing-shih wen-t'i has to make up its mind, This totally unexpected state of affairs has arisen because of the remarkable response by Ch' ing scholars to the idea of having a Society for Ch' ing Studies. So many people have joined (cf. lists of members in CSWT 1:2 and present number) that the bulletin is financially secure for the time being. Because there is now a fine chance that the Society will keep a comprehensive membership, it seems worth making the effort to reach as many people as possible who are studying the Ch* ing period but have not yet joined; in plain language, to continue sending the bulletin out to potentially interested people, using existing funds. Therefore, unless there is a sustained outcry we will continue sending the bulletin to all those at present on the mailing list; those receiving the bulletin are naturally invited to join the Society if they have not already done so. This they may do by sending a check for five dollars (payable to the Society for Ch1 ing Studies) to the editor. Or, as some members have already delightfully done, sending ten dollars for two years. Or, as one member has done in his unshakable confidence, sending fifteen dollars for three years. One project for the Society that has developed is to increase contact between Ch' ing scholars in thé West and in Taiwan. As a first step in this direction, Chieh-hsien Ch1 en and Samuel Chu have sent a preliminary list of Ch1 ing scholars working in Taiwan, which is printed below. Discussion is now going on concerning the creation of a branch in Taiwan, the launching of some joint work, and the printing of regular Taiwan-research-in-progressreports in the bulletin. Suggestions are welcome. The bulletin also intends to keep those interested in similar fields in touch with each other--if they are interested in keeping in touch with each other. The first such attempt will be made in the next number of the bulletin, when we will print a list of those at present engaged in research on the Ch' ing dynasty before 1820; the editor at present has these names: Craig Dietrich, Harold Kahn, Lawrence Kessler, C. I. McMorran, Thomas Metzger, Kent Smith, John Watt and Silas Hsiu-liang Wu. Would all others working on this period who would like to be listed please send their names and brief details on their current research to the editor; this includes distinguished scholars who have already published in this field, or those starting work on their dissertations. Would teachers receiving the bulletin bring this matter to the notice of relevant students? Similar lists will appear later for the much more heavily populated later Ch'lng field. Suggestions on the most practical way to divide this field for the purpose of compiling easily usable lists will be appreciated. On April 4 at the annual meeting of the AAS in New York, at 5:30 p.m. in a location to be announced but probably in the Americana Hotel, there will be first anniversary cocktails and dinner for members of the Society for Ch' ing Studies and their spouses. True to the principles of the founding fathers, each member will have to pay for what he consumes. Please address all suggestions and expostulations to the editor, Jonathan Spence, 2185 Yale Station, New Haven, Connecticut 06520. ...