《安逊环球航海记》与英国人的中国观

A Voyage around the World by George Anson and British People's Chinese Concepts

18世纪中期,英国的"中国热"达到了高潮。中国文化受到了英国社会各阶层的极力赞誉和追捧。然而,1748年,英国海军上将安逊出版了他的环球行纪——《安逊环球航海记》。该著详细记述了安逊航至中国东南沿海时的所见所闻,对中国社会生活和科技文化进行了严厉的批判和否定,在英国社会中产生了很大的反响,致使一些人开始质疑此前英国社会流行的乌托邦式中国观的真实性,并最终成为"中国热"退却的导火索。

Chinese culture was a high fad in Britain in the middle 18th century. Chinese culture was highly praised and pursued by British people. However, in 1748, George Anson,a British Admiral published his logbook,A Voyage around the WorM, which illustrated his journey in Southeast China in details and George Anson criticized Chinese social activities and technical culture severely in this logbook. This book caused such a prodigious reflection in Britain that many British people began questioning the Utopian Chinese Concepts. From then on, Chinese culture fad decreased in Britain.