物象认知与天学弘义——百鸟堂考

A Study on Bai Niao Tang Natural Museum

博物馆是进行文化展示、教化、交流、沟通的空间。"博物馆"的概念和博物馆的实体在中国出现,始自近代以来中西交通之经历。明末清初以降,西方传教士与外交通商人士在其中多有作为,而博物馆的实体源自清末"百鸟堂"。虽然法国天主教传教士谭微道神父几次深入中国内地,考察探访,发现新物种近百种,在国际生物界影响极大,但他在中国建立的博物馆"百鸟堂"却为学界所遗忘。本文通过对谭微道建立的自然博物馆"百鸟堂"历史的梳理,从北京天主教北堂迁建这一历史事件的视角,审视博物馆这一新鲜事物在当时中国社会中的文化角色与发展趋势。博物馆对国人教育、启迪心智、开拓视野的功能,随着中西交通的逐步开展和国人对博物馆理解的逐渐深入而不断拓展,博物馆终成社会发展之精神一助,并为一时所倡导。

The museum is a cultural space for displaying, enlightenment and communication. The appearance of the concept ＂museum＂ and the emergence of museums in modern China began with the experience of communication between China and the West. From the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, western missionaries, diplomats and merchants played an active role in the process. The museum in China originates from Bai Niao Tang （Hall of Numerous Birds） founded by the French Catholic missionary Jean Pierre Armand David in the late Qing Dynasty. Father David owns a great reputation in international biological community for his discovery of nearly a hundred new species during his several times of investigation in inland China. However, as an early natural museum, Bai Niao Tang has received little attention from the academic circle. This article reviews the history of Bai Niao Tang and examines the cultural role that museums have played in the social history of modern China from the relocation of the North Cathedral （Pei-tang） in Beijing. Since the establishment, the museum＇s social impact in terms of education, enlightenment and broadening the public＇s horizon has been enhanced with the development of the neutral understanding between China and the West, which at last makes the museum an inspiration of social development and national prosperity.