论王先谦的《五洲地理志略》

On Wang Xianqian's Outline of the Geography of the Five Continents

《五洲地理志略》是王先谦晚年在学术研究方向转变之后所撰的一本比较成熟的史地学著作。作者以传播、普及中外历史地理知识为宗旨,向人们介绍西方史地学知识,并且将忧国意识与传统的史学方法融入撰写内容之中。作者对中外相关书籍认真比较后,广搜博采,严密考订,尤其关注于新近出现的人文地理大事件。作者重视探讨救亡途径,故而该书的撰述还体现出经世思想与忧患意识的时代特征。

A Brief Records of Geography about Five Continents is a mature geographical book written by Wang Xianqian who changed his direction of scholar study in the latter years of his life. As a conservative historian, he devoted to communicating and popularizing the knowledge of historical geo^aphy of China and foreign countries so as to let people know more about western geography. The new context is full of consciousness of worrying about China and the use of traditional method of history researching. On one hand, the author wrote this book with religious care, comparison between different books and selection of historical material. Mr. Wang was also concerned especially about the new events of historical geography in that age, which made the key points of his book. In this case, this book can meet the readers＇ standpoint and needs. On the other hand, the author expressed his poignant anxiety of China all the time in his book. He tried to make explorations to save China from dying and find out the radical solution of making China wealthy and powerful.