东海西海——从明清间儒学与天学的交涉看中国比较文学之渊源

Integration of Catholicism Into Confucianism During Ming & Qing Dynasties: A Source of Chinese Comparative Literature

比较文学作为一个学科已有一个多世纪的历史;这一学科的形成除了与它形成期的社会思潮和倡导者有关外,还与历史上的运用比较方法的种种先例有着密切的联系。明清间天主教大规模介入中国文化,导致了西方文化与儒家文化的第一次大碰撞。出于传教的目的,西士及中国信徒做了大量的天、儒沟通工作,这一工作从本质上讲是跨文化乃至跨文明的,具有比较的性质,不失为中国比较文学的渊源之一。

Comparative Literature has already seen a history of more than one century. The formation of this discipline is not only related to the trend of social ideology and initiators in the period in which it took shape, but also closely associated with the precedents of utilizing the method of comparison in history. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Catholicism became actively involved in Chinese culture on a large scale. In order to preach religious ideas, the Western missionaries and the Chinese disciples did plenty of work in linking up Catholicism with Confucianism. Such work as was substantially cross-cultural possesses the character of comparison and constitutes one of the sources of Comparative Literature in China.