아동의 발견은 인류 사회가 근대에 들어서면서 생긴 개념으로 더 이상 아동을 어른의 축소판으로 여기지 않고 독자적인 존재로 보는 것을 의미한다. 중국의 경우 아동의 발견은 근대 계몽기에 커다란 사회변동의 역사적 배경에서 서양의 문물이 들어오면서 특히 사회진화론, 근대적 교육관의 유입과 함께 생긴 것이다. 양계초(梁啓超)는 중국 근대 아동의 발견과 아동 문학의 발전에 큰 영향을 미친 인물이다. 그는 아동교육을 민지(民智) 계발의 일환으로 보고 이 분야에 대해 많은 저술을 남겼다. <논유학(論幼學)>에서 그는 중(中)·서(西) 교육을 비교하면서 중국 전통 교육의 폐단을 비판하고 나름의 주장을 펼쳤다. <소년중국설(少年中國說)>에서는 소년들에게 소년중국(少年中國)을 건설하는 책임을 부여하면서 미래와 새로움을 상징하는 소년들을 극찬하였다. 또한, 양계초는 프랑스의 탐험소설 『15소년 표류기(Deux Ans de vacances)』를 번역하기도 하였으며 아동 가요까지 창작하여 아동교육과 문학에 대한 지속적 관심을 보여주었다. 양계초는 아동을 민지 계발의 대상으로 보고 그들에게 신국민(新國民)이 되어 국가를 부흥시키는 책임을 부여하기 때문에 아동과 아동교육을 중요시하였다. 나아가 그의 이러한 아동관은 단순히 아동의 지적 발전과 인격양성을 위해서가 아니라, 아동들에게 민족과 국가를 새롭게 만드는 정치적 책임을 부여하고 그들을 자강의 힘으로 보았다.
"The Discovery of Children” is a quite modern concept, meaning that children are no longer simply treated as "mini-adults ", but rather as individuals with their independent personality and rights. It generated in modern China, with the emergence and introduction of the western thoughts, where a series of internal and external problems and national subjugation crisis facing the nation, such as the invasion of foreign powers, public ignorance and backwardness. Liang Qichao played an important role in advocating for children`s discovery and education. He pointed out that “it is a common saying that we will save the country tomorrow, but those who are determined to do so are all children before they were fifteen.” From this, it can be seen that Liang treated children as an important force in the enlightenment of the countryman, in the construction of new country, gave them special mission differs from the tradition, and clarified the importance of his views on children and children education through a series of discussion and illustration. In his essay On Children`s study, he criticized the unreasonable of old-style private education, the poisoning of imperial examination of human through the comparison of Chinese and western teaching, and put forward his own reform proposals against this. In his well-known masterpiece Young China, Liang highly praised the young who represent the new future and new look of the country, and gave them the historical task of the new country`s construction. Moreover, Liang also put his view in practice, not only did he translate the France children`s adventure fiction Deux Ans de vacances, but also personally wrote songs for children to inspiration and education, such as The Patriotic Song. His outlook and creations on children have played a certain role in the development of children`s literature at that time. Of course, there is no denying that due to the limitations of the times, Liang`s view on children has certain political complexion inevitably associating with the public enlightenment and the innovating people thought, but it is also undeniable that his view on children and children education led to a significant contribution to The Discovery of Children. This article analyzes Liang Qichao`s children thought deeply in the perspective of his view on children, children`s education and the writings of children`s literature, proved their value and significance.