Commercial Press - Evolution

Evolution

In 1902 it was set up with a forward attitude toward both Chinese and Western studies.

In 1903 it became China's first primary education textbook publisher. It later produced 2,550 secondary school textbooks that became popular in the country.

In 1904 it launched the "Eastern Miscellany" (東方雜誌) with editor-in-chief (杜亞泉).

In 1907 the press moved to an 80-acre (320,000 m2) new plant.

In 1909 it launched the "Education Magazine" (教育雜誌).

In 1910 it launched "The Short Story Magazine" (小說月報).

In 1911 it launched the "Youth Magazine" (少年雜誌).

In January 1914, the founder of Commercial Press, Xia Ruifang, was stabbed to death. 1

In 1914 it set up a branch in "Hong Kong Museum" of the same year. It also launched the "Students' Magazine" (學生雜誌).

In 1915 it printed the first dictionary.

In 1916 it set up a branch in Singapore.

In 1921 with Hu Shih's (胡適) recommendation, Wang Yunwu (王雲五) became the general manager modernizing it into a business. The first edition of Zhongguo renming dacidian was published.

In 1924 it opened the "Commercial Press Oriental Library".

On January 28, 1932, the January 28 Incident occurred. The Japanese aircraft bombed the Commercial Press in conjunction with the Oriental Library. Imperial Japanese army would occupy Shanghai the next day.

In 1954 the press moved from Shanghai to Beijing shifting the focus to academic works published in the West.

In 1993 China, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand established a joint venture to become "The Commercial Press International Limited."