Abstract: The centennial development of modern vocational education in China is a historical process of gradual modernization.Using the “historical analysis” and “structural analysis” paradigm of new institutionalism and the “macro-structure-medium institution-microscopic actors” interpretation framework,this paper analyzes the historical evolution process and development trajectory.It can be divided into three periods:“exploration period,development period and reform period” and the development venation of “slow transformation of progressive institutional change,survival and return of radical institutional change,institutional fracture,and adaptive reproduction of progressive institutional change”.Environmental change and our country dominate the generation and practice of modern vocational education system.The concept and cognition of actors are the driving force of institutional change.Collective action and cognitive constraints lead to the road dependence of vocational education development.Chinas vocational education modernization still face

Key words: modern vocational education in China, new institutionalism, institutional change, historical logic