改易天朝体制的初试(上)——义律融调中西的模式及其趋向

An Attempt to Alter the Celestial Dynasty System——The Mode Elliont Reconciling the East and the West and Its Tendency

天朝体制是中国封建时代特有的对外关系模式,鸦片战争前,英国力图改易之,它开始遭遇了前所未有的挑战。在律劳卑的强横方式受挫之后,义律进行了新的尝试,其职官身份得到了天朝的认可。由于与本国政府的意旨不相枘凿,义律陷入了"遵此违彼"的两难之中,刚建立的官方关系中断。为打破僵局,义律更明确地提出融通中外体制的主张,设想了在他看来可以两全的新方案,未被中方接受。广东厉行禁烟之时,义律对方案作了调整,广东当局也有所变通。中英由此实现了"官方直接通讯",而由于鸦片战争的爆发,打断了这一进程。义律对华较为平和,较少强权意识,注定了被免职的结局。但他融调中西的模式及其揭示的趋向,对于探讨文明冲突,提供了可资参考的启示。

The celestial dynasty system was a special mode of external relations.The British endeavored to alter it before the Opium Warin,but encountered unprecedented challenge.After W.J Napier＇s tyrannical way was thwarted,Elliont changed his way and got his official status affirmed by the celestial dynasty.Because what he had done did not conform to the British government,Elliont was caught into a dilemma of ＂complying this while violating that＂,and the lately –built governmental relationship broke off.In order to break the deadlock,Elliont explicitly put forward a brand-new proposition of reconciling Chinese system and Western system,which was not accepted by the celestial dynasty.When the campaigns against opium smoking were conducted in Guang-dong province,Elliont adjusted his proposition,so did Guang-dong authorities.Thus,Sino-Britain realized ＂the direct official communication＂,which was interrupted by the broke-off of the Opium War.Elliont,moderate and with less power consciousness,was destined to be relieved of his post.However,the mode in which he reconciled the East and the West offered some enlightenments to probing into the civilization conflict.