泰戈尔“东方—西方”观及“东方文化”论——基于东方学视角的分析

Tagore's Outlook on the East and the West as Well as His Theory of Eastern Cultures:An Analysis From the Perspective of Eastern Studies

泰戈尔在关于"东方—西方"的思考中,体现了鲜明的"印度本位"意识。为了应对"西方文化"的迫临,他意识到东方各国文化的分散性而提出了"东方文化"整合论,强调:印度具有强大的宗教文化影响力和多文化融合的特性,因而有条件成为东方文化的中心。他还提出了"东方精神文明"与"西方物质文明"这两个对蹠的概念,先是主张两者的融合,进而主张用前者来克服、矫正后者,但他并非一般地反对或否定西方物质文明,而是通过弘扬"东方文化"来强调代表了东方文化的印度文化在道义上的优越,体现出了殖民统治下印度人的一种文化防卫意识。

In terms of the west and east relations,Tagore＇s stance features strong India-centered awareness.Facing the imminent threat of western civilization,Tagore realizes the divergence of east civilization and proposes the ＂convergence＂of east civilization.He argues that as Indian religion is powerful in its cultural influence and multicultural integration,Indian culture is entitled to be the center of east civilization.Besides,he claims that east civilization is oppositional to west civilization and that the former is an effective approach to rectify or conquer the latter,though he used to believe that west and east civilization can be fused.Tagore＇s argument does not deny the advantage of material civilization in the west,but aims to demonstrate the moral advantage of Indian culture through his appraisal of east civilization.Tagore＇s attitude represents his awareness of cultural defense in India＇s colonial era.