地方士人与晚清地方的下层“启蒙”——以浙江省温州府为例

The Local Literati and the Grass-Roots Enlightenment in Late Qing

在晚清以降规模空前的西力东渐与"国族"危机影响下,温州地方士人开始面向本地下层民众的"启蒙"实践。据其自身的理解,此类实践非仅是将新知新潮在地方作普及;外来之学与士人的某些传统观念诉求结合而生的亦新亦旧的知识观念,在其间或起到更关键的作用。此外,士人还借鉴西人(主要是传教士)在民间发生影响力的方式手段,据以抟塑本国"国族",再反过来与外人形成竞争。但在文字语言改革、演说阅报、反迷信、实业教育等方面的举措,即便在士人自身的观感中,实效似也多半未合预期。士人实际多是在建构自身及其子弟亲族的"国民"地位。以"启蒙"求"合群"的初衷,终却可能固化了地方社会上下阶层之间的隔膜。

Being exposed to the unprecedented Western expansion in China and the crises endangering the Chinese nation,the literati in Wenzhou made efforts to enlighten the masses. This work did not simplistically lie in the dissemination of new knowledge,but instead resolved to create a unity of tradition and modernity that mattered more greatly not only to Wenzhou but also to the country. Methodologically,the literati was inspired by the Western missionaries. Their goal lay in the mission creating a Chinese nation that could meet the Westerners on equal terms. Nevertheless,the results were unsatisfying. It should be pointed out that this work actually created a citizenship that could only be exclusively applied to the literati themselves and their own kinsmen. Worst of all,the grass-roots enlightenment aspiring to found a much greater national community intensified the estrangement between the top and lower echelons of the Chinese society.