晚清西方来华外交官夫人的中国观感

Perception of the western diplomatists' wives in the late Qing Dynasty

西方的中国形象伴随着中西关系的变化而不断发生改变,"他者的意象"往往难免"在他自己的心灵中重新思想它们"的思想史痕迹,对中国的"美化"和"丑化"既有其客观观感,也有其主观臆测。晚清西方来华外交官夫人的中国观感无疑是西方的中国形象的重要构成部分,将其视为一个独立的群体进行研究是区别于传统个案研究的新路径和新尝试。晚清西方来华女性不同的社会身份、政治背景、个人经历及其教育程度等,使得她们的对华观感异彩纷呈。通过探究晚清西方来华外交官夫人的中国观感,不仅可以厘清西方晚清来华男女关于中国观感的差异、归纳出西方来华女性群体中观感的差异,而且西方来华外交官夫人的中国观感在不同程度上影响并丰富了西方的中国形象,对西方外交政策的执行产生了深刻的影响,从而在近代中外关系史上谱写了独特的篇章,对今天正确认识和处理中西关系也有一定的借鉴意义。

The western image of China has constantly changed associated with the relationships between China and the Western countries. The myth and demonizing that behind the images not only have unintended misunderstandings,but also have intentional attacks. The perception of Western diplomatists＇wives of China in the late Qing Dynasty is a part of the image of China in the West. And it is necessary for us to regard them as an independent group to study. Because of some differences in the identity,background,experience,education and so on and so forth of the Western women who came to China in the late Qing Dynasty,the perception may look splendor. Exploring the perception of Western diplomatists＇wives of China in the late Qing Dynasty,we can also clarify the differences between men and women abroad in the late Qing Dynasty,but also summed up the differences among women who came to China in the late Qing Dynasty. Perception of the western diplomatists＇wives in the late Qing Dynasty enriches the images of China in the west and has had a profound impact on Western foreign policy implementation. It wrote a unique chapter in the modern history of Sino foreign relations,to correctly understand and handle the relationship between China and the West today also has certain significance of the reference.