从天下中心到世界一隅——近代中华世界观地理坐标之变迁

From the Center of the World to a Corner in the World——The Transformation of Chinese Geographical Coordinate in Modern Times

传统的中华世界观不仅认为中国在地理上处于中心地位,而且认为中华文明也是世界上最高等级的、普世性的文明。然而,随着近代以来中国与西方列强间对抗的屡屡受挫,国人为了救亡图存而不得不向西方学习,在这个过程中传统文明观念不断受到冲击,最终使得国人对于西方文明的认识、对于中华文明与西方文明间关系的理解发生了巨大的、颠覆性的转变。在不到一百年的时间段里,中华文明在国人心目中从中心迁于边沿,成为了居于世界一隅的地方性文明,这一转变过程既是痛苦的,又是复杂的。

Chinese traditional world outlook holds that China is located in the center of the world , and Chinese civilization is the most advanced and universal in the world .However , China suffered frequent frustration in the confrontation with western imperialist powers in modern times .To save the nation from doom and ensure its survival , Chinese people had to learn from the West .In the process of learning , tra-ditional Chinese notions were continuously challenged and finally transformed .And Chinese people ’ s un-derstanding of the relationship between Chinese civilization and western civilization has also undergone a great and complete transformation .During the period of less than 100 years, Chinese civilization has moved by Chinese people from the center of the world to a corner of the world , and viewed as a local civi-lization .This transforming process is agonizing , and complicated as well .