超越历史分期概念：汉语“现代”概念的创出

Beyond the Concept of Historical Periodization:The Emergence of the Concept of the Chinese Term "Xian Dai"

"现代"这个词在汉语中出现于20世纪初,被普遍使用则要到20世纪20年代。晚清到民国初年翻译西方历史、接受三段历史分期观念的过程中,较早使用的词是"近世"或"近代",但相比之下,"现代"更能摆脱单纯的时间远近的规定,体现"modern"内涵中的"新异性",因而后来被更多地使用。到五四运动后,汉语中的"现代"概念逐渐通过自我确认获得正当性,一方面它将自己与"传统"相区别,树立自己的一套规范性表述,另一方面它逐渐成为一种价值尺度,从而摆脱了单纯的时间性。"现代"由此超越了一个简单的历史分期概念,而成为特别的价值观念。

The Chinese term ' xiandai' firstly occured at the beginning of the 20 century,and then became widely used in the 1920 s.At first,scholars used 'jinshi' or 'jindai' to translate 'modern age' in the Late Qing period.Compared with 'jindai',the term 'xiandai' acts better as the expression of 'newness'.After the May Fourth Movement,the concept 'xiandai' acquired legitimacy through self-assertion.On the one hand,it distinguished itself with the 'chuan tong/tradition' and created normative narrations.On the other hand,it constructed a particular value system.From the 1920 s,the term 'xiandai' went beyond the concept of historical periodization.