国际博览会与晚清中国“国家”之形塑

World Expositions and the Shaping of the Chinese Concept of "State" during the Late Qing Dynasty

在国际博览会上,近代西方国家对晚清中国"国家"塑造以外力压迫方式产生了影响。晚清时人既在博览会言论中谈及大量"国"之词汇,又与在会场上羞辱中国的诸多行径进行坚决抗争。这些言行中所蕴含的"国家"观念是对近代西方国家的一种条件反射式移植,富有较浓情感色彩,与中国由清政府主导而展示出来的王朝、文化和农业三位一体的传统国家形象之间有着较大落差,虽缺乏近代国家之真义,但具有建设一个富强的近代国家的价值追求。因此,"国"之塑造进程愈快,社会上"国"之观念就愈强,谋求推翻清政府,建立、建设新"国家"的步伐亦加快。

Through international expositions,the modern West used external pressure to influence the shaping of the Chinese concept of 'state' during the late Qing dynasty.In discussions and speeches at such expositions,Qing dynasty representatives frequently used the word 'state',and at the same time raised strong protests against many acts humiliating China.The connotations of the concept of 'state' in these utterances and protests was a reflex conceptual transplant from the modern West charged with emotion;it was very unlike the traditional image of China purposely displayed by the Qing government,i.e.,the country as a trinity of the dynasty,the culture and agriculture.Although it did not have the true meaning of a modern state,the concept offered a value goal for building a strong and prosperous modern state.Therefore,the more rapidly the concept of 'state' took shape,and the more it took hold in society,the sooner plans could be made for the overthrow of the Qing and the setting up and establishment of a new 'state.'