基于近代海洋意识觉醒视角的魏源“海国”理念探究

An examination on Wei Yuan's the "ocean country" concept from the perspective of ocean consciousness awakening in modern age

19世纪中叶以后,西方的科学技术以"坚船利炮"的方式一度显示了西方海洋文明的强势。在鸦片战争之前,中国统治者一直将海洋当作对外防御的天然"长城"。海洋从来没有被纳入中国国家安全的考虑范围。鸦片战争后,如何面对来自海洋的威胁,执行什么样的海洋战略成为中国不得不面对的问题。作为经历了鸦片战争之变的近代思想家,魏源在中国近代史上最早提出放眼世界、向西方学习的主张,并力图从不同的方面更深入地了解西方海洋文明强盛的根源。魏源吹响了"师夷长技以制夷"的号角,主张改漕运为海运、发展海商、巩固海防、建立新式海军、掌握海权,期望中国通过发展海洋文明而成为一个能够足以"制夷"的"海国"。魏源的"海运—海商—海防—海军—海权"的"海国"理念标志着中国近代海洋意识的觉醒。随着西方海权理论在近代中国的传播,近代国人的海洋意识逐渐从增强"海上力量"过渡到争取"海洋权利"的转变。

In the later nineteenth century,western techniques of strong ships and guns showed that ocean civilization of western powers was strong.Before the Opium War,Chinese rulers recognized the sea as external natural defense ＂the Great Wall＂.The ocean had never been incorporated into Chinese national security considerations.After the Opium War,China has to face the problem of how to face the threat from the sea and perform what marine strategy.As a modern thinker experiencing the Opium War,Wei Yuan put forward having the whole world in view,learning western strategies,and understanding of Western strong roots from different aspects.Wei Yuan advocated to use western good technology to control western countries.He advocated to transport the grain by sea instead of river,develop ocean commercial and new navy.He wanted that China could become a modern ocean country which could control western countries.As a modern Chinese thinker,Wei Yuan’s ideas of ＂ocean transporting,ocean commercial,ocean defense,navy,ocean power＂ showed that Chinese ocean consciousness awakening.With the development of the Western sea power theory in modern China,modern Chinese marine consciousness gradually changed from the enhancement of ＂sea power＂ transition to strive for ＂sea right＂.