文明的再造与复兴——东西方文明兴衰的启示

Reinvention and Renewal of Civilizations: A Historical Perspective

历史证明,东西方文明的复兴都是文明再造的结果。一种文明能否通过再造而复兴,取决于其自我更新活力和适应客观环境变化的自我调整能力。西方文明在中世纪后半期复兴、在近代崛起并在世界占据主导性地位,是彻底摆脱了欧洲古典文明束缚后诞生的新文明在与其他文明不断交流、激烈碰撞过程中,吸收人类文明的一切优秀成果,全面再造的结果。阿拉伯文明则在近东文化和欧洲文化的交融中再造并崛起,对中世纪前半期世界文明的发展发挥了承上启下的桥梁作用。明治维新后日本的崛起,也是文明再造的过程。1840年至今,中华文明亦一直处于打破旧束缚、持续再造的过程中。东西方文明兴衰的规律表明:文明复兴的过程必然是文明再造的过程,文明唯有再造,方可复兴。文明的再造,是对传统文明扬弃更新的过程,既包含对传统文明优秀成分的继承和升华,又须摆脱传统文明糟粕成分的禁锢和束缚;既要保持自身文化的营养,又须汲取外来文化的活力。当代中国的改革开放,正以前所未有的气势和力度继续中华文明的再造,从东西方文明的兴衰规律看,实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦将是历史发展的必然。

From a historical perspective, the renewal of civilizations, both Eastern and Western, comes from their reinvention, whose success depends on their capability to revive themselves and adapt to external changes. The renewal of Western civilization, originating from late Middle Ages, and its current dominance in the world is a result of comprehensive reinvention after continuous exchanges and sometimes intense conflicts with other civilizations, from which the West learns the achievements. The Arabian civilization, whose reinvention and rejuvenation stemmed from the integration of Near East and European cultures, served a connecting role for global civilizational development in the early medieval period. Japan's emergence after Meiji Restoration is also a process of civilizational reinvention. For Chinese civilization, it has been discarding old rules and undergoing constant self-reinvention well since 1840, the inception of its modern era. In this sense, the process of renewal is the process of reinvention, the latter being the prerequisite of the former. The civilizational reinvention is not only an inheritance and sublimation of traditional essence, but also means breaking away from the constraints of the dross; should not only maintain its inherent integrity, but also absorb the vitality of foreign cultures. The reform and opening up of contemporary China is reinventing the Chinese civilization on an unprecedented scale and intensity. Looking from the civilizational rise and falls of both the East and the West, the realization of the Chinese Dream, namely the great national renewal, will be a historical inevitability.