Scouts of China

History

Mainland China (1912–1949)

Following the birth of the Republic of China, the first Scout troop was organized by Reverend Yen Chia-lin in Wuchang on February 25, 1912, and the Scouting movement spread rapidly all over the country.

The General Association of the Scouts of China was formally established in Nanking, the former capital of the Republic of China in 1934, and became a member of the International Scout Bureau in 1937. Many Scouts actively participated in the Second Sino-Japanese War from 1937 to 1945.

There were 570,000 registered members in 1941.

Japanese military authorities did not consistently encourage the Scouting movement in occupied territories. Where local conditions were favorable, authorities would permit local Scouting or introduce Japanese-style Scouting, or Shōnendan, and sometimes even made this compulsory. On the other hand, where conditions were not favorable, and anti-Japanese sentiments were likely to be nurtured through Scouting, the authorities would prohibit it entirely. Taiwan was a colony of the Empire of Japan from 1895 until 1945, and Taiwan Boy Scouts/Shōnendan and other forms of pro-Japanese youth education had been introduced. Conversely, a number of Taiwanese boys were formed into a Shōnendan-style boy corps called Taiwan Shaoniantuan from 1939 through the 1940s to assist in Chinese resistance in the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Scouts of China in Taiwan (1945–)

In 1945, Chinese administration of Taiwan began. A few years later, in 1949 the ROC government relocated to Taiwan, where it remains today. However, Scouting has continued in Taiwan to this day under the name Scouts of China.

Program

There are five programs or sections in the Scouts of China. They are Beaver Scout (稚齡童軍), Cub Scout (幼童軍), Scout (童軍), Senior Scout (行義童軍) and Rover Scout (羅浮童軍).

Beaver Scout is served for the children aged 6 to 8 including three ranks: Star (星星), Moon (月亮) and Sun (太陽).

Cub Scout is served for the children aged 8 to 12 including four ranks: Anor now, Scouts of China are promoting the development of Sea Scouts.

Individual representation and recognition

Nine Taiwanese Scouts have been awarded World Scouting's only award, the Bronze Wolf Award by the World Scout Committee, Chuan Kai Teng (1974), You-hwa Shieh (1976), Chung-Shin Chen (1982), Dr Ming-Huey Kao (1987), Teh-Li Tsui (1990), Chih-Yun Liu (1995), Shoei-Yun Wu (1996), Shou-Po Chao (2003), and Dr. Ie Bin Lian (2025).

Footnotes

References

References

1. "WOSM's Membership Census {{!}} Scout Learning Zone".
2. "SCOUTING IN CHINA-SCOUTS OF CHINA". N2ZGU.
3. WOSM. (1990). "Scouting ´Round the World". Public Relations and Communications Department, World Scout Bureau.
4. Michel, Rudi. (1963). "Der Kornett Heft 5 Pfadfinderbewegung". Bund Deutscher Pfadfinder Landesmark Westfalen.
5. http://www.scout.org.hk/article_attach/14529/p14.pdf War and Occupation, 1941–1945 by Paul Kua, Deputy Chief Commissioner (Management), Scout Association of Hong Kong, 2010
6. WOSM. (1990). "Scouting ´Round the World". Public Relations and Communications Department, World Scout Bureau.
7. "中國童子軍進程合格標準".
8. 蘇芳賜. (2015-08-21). "海童軍體驗聯團活動圓滿閉幕".
9. (2025). "Bronze Wolf Awardees". [[World Organization of the Scout Movement.
10. (10 July 2025). "Scouting awards Bronze Wolf to outstanding leaders from the United States, Scouts of China, and Ethiopia".