郭嵩焘与近代西方天文学

Kuo Sung-tao and Modern Western Astronomy

作为洋务运动的发起者和中坚,中国近代第一位驻外外交官郭嵩焘,对彼时西方科学发现和技术发明予以关注考察,并进入英法精英界,结交社会名流——包括众多的科学家,相与切磋和探讨科技与强国之关系。目前,学界从科技的视角对郭嵩焘与西学关系的探讨可谓寥寥。事实上,郭嵩焘以他独特的文化视野观察、思考、记录下的这次中西文化思想交流,极具史料和学术价值。本文以天文学为案例和线索,将郭嵩焘游历西洋的经历置于近代西方科学进展的大背景下,分别从其得益友人、就教西士、游访天文台、读报相谈等方面进行研究,梳理出郭嵩焘接触近代西方天文学的机缘、途径,并分析作用于这种接触结果的科技思想、科技观。

Kuo Sung-tao （1818-1891）, is a prime mover and key personnel of Westernization movement, set a precedent of official travel western world as First ambassador in Chinese modern history. He jumped into the British and French privileged elite, and paid attention and fact-finding to scientific discoveries and technological invention in the 19th century, and discussed the relationship between science ＆ technology and powerful countries with many scien- tists. However, a lot studies have addressed research of Kuo Sung-tao and Western Learning in the field of the his- tory of science. In fact, it is academically valuable that the important turning in the history of human civiliza- tion and the history of Chinese by Kuo Sung-tao with his unique the cultural view. Following are a study, with case and historical course of Modern Western Astronomy, to discuss that he is fated to have a permanent relation with western astronomy and analyze thought and view in science and technology.