关于“中国史学走向世界”的一些思考

Thinking on Chinese historiography Going to the World

一个国家的史学走向世界应主要指通过国外学者的翻译将史学著述推向世界,这主要取决于这个国家的经济实力、国际地位以及由此决定的话语权状况等。据此可以认为,西方(包括美国)史学在工业化时期已在较大程度上走向世界。朝贡时代的中国史学也曾在较大程度上进入周边国家,在当时的历史条件下也可以认为是走向世界。改革开放以来中国的综合国力的确有了很大提升,但似还不具备在较大程度上走向世界的条件。我们当然可以做一些促进性工作,但关键还是通过自身的综合国力赢得他国的仰慕、接受和拥戴,使外国学者主动翻译中国史书。只要综合国力提升到某种高度,走向世界就必然水到渠成,这主要是一个自然的过程。

A country’s historiography“going to the world”,principally refers to the country’s historical books being introduced to the world through the translation of foreign scholars.It mainly depends on its economic strength,international status and the discourse power determined therefrom.Therefore,it can be concluded that the historiography of the West(including the United States)has widely spread around the world in the period of industrialization.China’s historiography,in the Tributary Era,had ever deeply influenced the surrounding countries,which then could be seen as“having entered the world”to some extent.Since the reform and opening up,China’s comprehensive national strength has been greatly enhanced but is not ready for a world-class stage.Although we could do some promotional work,the key is to win the admiration,acceptance and support of other countries by improving our own comprehensive national strength,attracting the foreign scholars to translate Chinese history books on their own initiative.Being a natural process,Chinese historiography“going to the world”will be inevitable as long as the comprehensive national strength is raised to a certain level.