晚清使臣视域下的欧西形象及省思——以王之春的《使俄草》为视点

On the European and Western Images in Eyes of the Late Qing Dynasty Envoys and Their Reflection——A Study of Zhichun Wang's A Diary in Russia

晚清王朝在西方列强坚船利炮的打击下,被迫打开了古老的国门,由此拉开了封建王朝近代外交的帷幕。在弱国办外交的艰难过程中,一大批使臣纷纷走出国门,从他们特定的视角去审视西方社会。他们一方面惊羡于西方富庶的物质文明,另一方面对其制度文明心存惊奇和疑惑,同时也进行深刻的省思,并在此基础上提出了改革本国内政的主张。从这些主张中可以看出,两种不同的文化相遇后,经过一段时间的互动磨合,可以取长补短,取优补劣,共生发展,这也是人类文明进步的共性。

Under the ferocious attack of the western imperialists,who had advanced warships and guns,the Royal Court of the Late Qing Dynasty was forced to open its ancient gate,since when began the modern diplomacy of the feudal royal court.During the hard times,many envoys went abroad and regard the western world from their special angle.On one hand,they were shocked by the rich western civilization.On the other hand,they were surprised and meanwhile confused.Hence they underwent deep reflection,based on which they put forward their own propositions as to how to reform the administration of the Royal Court of the Late Qing Dynasty.From the above,we can draw a conclusion that two cultures can compensate and even enrich each other after having met and interacted with each other for some time,which proves they can coexist and help develop each other.This is also what all forms of human civilizations have in common.