世纪之交看中国文化

A View of Chinese Culture at the Turn of the 21 Century

本文简要回顾了中国传统文化的重要特征和演化道路。作者认为，中国的经济发展水平在公元５００年左右同罗马帝国相当，十世纪前后，中国曾接近于掀起一场工业革命，千年间中国雄居世界前列；另一方面，中国传统文化也产生了文化中心主义，固步自封，不再积极应付国际国内挑战的保守心理，而最终导致在晚清的衰落。本文也对在世纪之交的中国文化面临的重要任务做了初步论述。作者认为，中华民族正处在复兴和文明创新的重要历史时期。中国因而必需找到曾使中华民族居于世界前列的科学创新精神和活力。为此。

Abstract China's economy was no less developed than that of Roman Empire at 500 AD. Around 1,000 A.D, China was approaching the threshold of an industrial revolution. It can be said that in the millennium starting from 500 AD. To 1500 AD. Chinese civilization was in the forefront of the world. However, China's long superiority over other cultures also produced a sense of culturalism, or China-centredness, and a habitual ignorance of the achievements of other cultures. Her reluctance to meet new challenges eventually resulted in China's decline in late Qing period.At present, China is undergoing a profound social and cultural transformation. To revive China and to create a modern civilization, Chinese people must rediscover the spirit of creativeness and vitality, which made China at the forefront of the world. For this aim, there is a need for a cultural renaissance movement in China.