《星轺指掌》与晚清外交的近代化

Xing Yao Zhi Zhang and Modernization of the Late Qing Diplomacy

《星轺指掌》是晚清刊印的第一部专门介绍西方外交制度的国际法译作,影响深远。但关于它的外文原书及其作者情况,中文版最早刊行年代,以及对当时中国外交事务究竟有何作用等,还不甚清楚。以中、英、法文材料经考证而知,翻译时依据的外文原书为德国查尔斯.马顿斯所著法文版《外交指南》,中文版最早刊行于1876年,由同文馆学员联芳、庆常翻译初稿,贵荣、杜法孟稍加润色,最后经总教习、美国传教士丁韪良校核定稿。此书首次将西方近代外交制度系统地介绍到中国,包括国际关系准则,各国外交机构、使臣、礼仪规范等,还介绍了西方民主思想和政治制度。无庸讳言,其中有宣扬领事裁判权的消极内容,但从总体上看,毕竟填补了晚清国际法及外交学著作的空白,许多内容对当时中国外交的近代化,特别是在派遣驻外使臣、处理外交事务等方面起到了推动作用,对先进中国人思想观念的开放,也产生了积极影响。

Xing Yao Zhi Zhang （Manual Diplomatique） was the first translated book on the international laws of the western diplomatic system by W. A. P. Martin, an American missionary in China, and his students in the T＇ ung- Wen Kuan. This article examines the original book and versions in French used for their translation to Chinese, the author, and the time of publication of this book in China. It also describes translators＇ background and introduces the book＇ s content. The author of this article points out that, although this book has some negative elements, it fills the gap of China＇s diplomatic works, which pushed forward the modernization of the Late Qing dynasty＇s diplomacy, and changed some Chinese scholars＇ ways of thinking.