近代大门口的对话与挥别——试论中西高端信息对流的发生及其不对称性

A Reflection on the Commencement of Cultural Intercourse Between China and the West and Its Asymmetrical Characteristic

16世纪末到18世纪初叶,中国历史出现了一段长约140年、以西方传教士为媒介、中西社会部分精英为主体,以欧亚大陆两端人文、科技典籍双向译介传播、对话交流为主要标志的中西高端信息对流期。透过信息流新视角,重点考察这一时段中西非物质资源交流的特点与得失,发现在前近代特殊机遇期,因内生机理差异,中西双方获取信息明显不对称,而这很可能与中西近代走向分岔有内在关联。

Viewing the interflow of information and the substantial contacts between China and Europe during the time of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties in a new light, the article examines the prominent features and effects of Sino-European scientific and cultural interchanges which lasted for about 140 years with the western missionaries as the Europe. This very period bred primary agents and the active participation of intellectual circles in China and some decisive factors in future development for both ends of Eurasia. However, stemming from the differences in intrinsic social and cultural contexts and mechanisms, the asymmetrical charaeteristie of information exchanges and assimilation to the transposition of the roles of the two leading at the two sides was obvious, which could be seen as a clue civilizations on the world stage in modern history.