明人荷兰观探析

On the Perspective of the Netherlands Held by the People of Ming Dynasty

以东来荷人为特殊媒介,形成于明朝末年的明人荷兰观,是十七世纪上半叶中荷关系曲折发展的意识凝结。它涵盖了明人对荷认识的方方面面,达到了当时所能企及的较高水平;但仍存在严重不足,尤其是对荷兰影响世界历史进程的重大问题缺乏清醒认识和必要警觉,是中国走向近代落后的开始。

Chinese people’s viewpoint of the Netherlands was formed in the late of Ming Dynasty, which was based on their understanding of the special media of Dutch who went to China from their motherland at that time. This view reflected the devious development process of the relationship between China and the Netherlands in the first half of the 17th century. It contained every aspect of the Netherlands in the eyes of the residents in Ming Dynasty, reaching a possibly top level at that time. However, there are still some serious shortages. People of Ming Dynasty failed to realize the important impact that the Netherlands had on the world history and become watchful. This was the beginning of China’s being left behind further and further by other countries in the modern times.