四裔、名物、宗教与历史想象——美国汉学家薛爱华(Edward H.Schafer)及其唐研究

Four Descents,Eminent Objects,Religion and Historical Imagination——A Commentary Report on American Sinologist Edward H.Schafer and His Study of the Tang Dynasty

作为美国最知名的汉学家之一,薛爱华的研究涉及唐代文学、历史、艺术等诸多方面,注重华裔研究,关注中外文化来往与文明交流,以流动的、发展的、历史的概念观察中国的塑造与成形。他注重语言能力的分析,穿越语言进入古典文献,进入古代中国丰富而生动的世界;他既继承欧洲汉学家的经文文献传统,又注意吸收现代西方人文社会科学的发展成果;他爱好并擅长从名物的角度切入,进行物质文化的探究;注重文采,善于营造文学氛围,在与时俱进中,形成鲜明汉学特色。

Edward H. Schafer, the best- known sinologist in the United States, has maintained his study of literature, history, art and the like of the Tang Dynasty. He has also showed interest in study of Chinese Americans and exchange of Chinese and western cultures and civilizations, observing the portrayal and shaping of China from a mobile, developing and historical view. He emphasizes analysis of language competence, by which he absorbed Classical Chinese documents describing the rich and vivid world of ancient China. Also he carries on the European sinologist tradition of interpreting Chinese sculptures and meanwhile digests the results of growth of western social and humanistic sciences. Moreover, he specializes and enjoys exploring material culture in terms of eminent ob- jects. Finally, he emphasizes styles of writing and is good at creating a literary atmosphere, establishing a sinologist distinction as time goes by.