持重趋新孚老成——论陈兰彬的文化品格

Chen Lanbin's Character——Moderate,Progressive,and Mature

陈兰彬以翰林加身,书生入仕,因入幕于曾国藩、李鸿章,相继而为首位官派留学生监督、海外华工维权人、首任驻美日秘公使。他忠于职守,筚路蓝缕,书写了中美外交史、文化交流史的首卷。在中与西、新与旧、传统与现代的两难抉择中能做到主次分明,体现出陈兰彬身上传统而趋新、趋新而持重、持重而保底的文化品格。这是特定时空背景塑制的特殊文化现象,颇值得人们思考与品味。

Chen Lanbin took office under Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang, being the first supervisor of overseas studies, legal advocate for oversea Chinese workers, and first envoy to USA and Japan. He overcame difficulties in establishing the Sino-US relationships and promoting cross-cultural exchange. His difficult choice between Chinese and foreign, new and old, and tradition and modern reflected his cultural character of being at the same time traditional, progressive, and moderate.