“地理”和“地理学”探源

Traceability of “dili” and “dilixue”

中国古人一直秉承"天圆地方"的地理观,到明末清初才有所改变。当时西方的地理学说已经传入我国,"地圆说"开始见诸汉语文献。反映到语言上,最值得注意的则是"地理"一词含义的变化。文章试图讨论"地理"和"地理学"含义的演变,从词语的角度揭示西方地理观在中国的传播过程。

＂Round sky and square earth＂as a basic concept in ancient Chinese geography was challenged by the western idea of the spherical earth spread to China by Jesuit missionaries who held high positions as astronomers at the imperial court in the 17th century.This paper attempts to discuss the evolution of the meaning of＂dili＂and＂dilixue＂,and to reveal the spreading process of western geographical view in China in the perspective of words.