“工程”与“工程师”词源考略

An Etymological Research on Chinese Terms “Engineering” and “Engineer”

汉语"工程"与"工程师"的基本词义具有丰富的历史内涵。本文在梳理经典文献资料的基础上指出,在西学传入之前,汉语中的"工程"一词的基本内涵已延续至今;清末自强运动时期,"工师"等传统称谓及"工程司"等新词汇曾与受西学影响而出现的"工程师"一词并行一时,直至在20世纪前后随着工程事业的建制化,才逐步被后者取代。

Historically, both Chinese words of ＂engineering＂ and ＂engineer＂ have rich connotations. Based on a textual research on traditional literatures, this article tries to explain how the modem Chinese term ＂engi-neering＂ directly originated from ancient Chinese terms and inherited the basic connotation from tradition. More-over, several traditional titles like ＂Gongshi＂ and later title ＂gongchengsi＂ were used contemporarily with the title ＂engineer＂ during the Self-improvement Movement. Nevertheless, the term ＂gongchegnshi＂ （Engineer）, gradually replaced the traditional titles along with the institutionalization of modern engineering in China.