近代海关与英式海图的东渐与转译研究

A Study on the Dissemination and Translation of the British Naval Charts by the Chinese Maritime Customs

清末民初在中国领海主权意识觉醒缓慢,缺乏专门机构、人才和经费的情况下,以英国人为首的近代海关,在其内部设立测量和绘图职位,曾对中国江海及港口锚地进行过大规模的水道测量和刊绘海图工作。就近代海关对英式海图东渐的历史地位而言,这是英帝国在华殖民事业进程中的重要事例之一。它既充当了近代海图技术的传播和转译者,同时也是英式海图中国化过程中的被斗争者。

Because of the lack of specialized institutions,talent,and funds on the part of the Chinese government during the late Qing to early Republic,it was the predominantly British-managed Chinese Maritime Customs that carried out large-scale hydrographic surveys.Customs officials established posts in the interior of the country to chart its rivers,seaways,and port anchorages.The customs was one of the most important colonial enterprises of the British Empire in China.It served as both a disseminator and translator of modern charting technology,while stimulating the eventual Sinicization of British naval charts.