本稿の目的は中国における高等教育の進展がいかなる理由に由るものかを明らかにすることである。高い教育熱が歴史的に国民性によることは自明のことではあるが，そのほかに計画経済体制から市場経済体制への変化が，高等教育と社会との密接な関係を促進し，大学運営の効率を高め，経済的・社会的発展に貢献したということと，国民所得の拡大が将来の高収入や名誉欲を満足させるための高等教育進学に拍車をかけたということが分かった。また高等教育への進学率向上の要因として，中国の高校生の進学動機が深く関わっていることが明らかになった。課題として，出身戸籍による進学意識の差異が大きいということが分かった。

The purpose of this paper is to present and explain the progress of tertiary education in China. First of all, the change from the system of a planned economy to the system of a market economy resulted in complex implications for tertiary education and society. The efficiency of the university system and its operations were improved, and it significantly contributed to economic and social development. It also provided impetus to the expansion of the national income and strengthened the traditional desire to preserve the honor of the family. Thirdly, it created a fresh incentive for high school students and clarified deep relations of the motives of high school students in China to further advance their education. Additionally, the complexity of student motivation to further their education has been understood and explained in a new and improved context.