以惯习之域解析明恩溥《中国人的特性》中的中国观及其对鲁迅的影响

An Analysis of Arthur Smith’s View of China in Chinese Characteristics and Its Influence on Lu Xun from the Perspective of Habitus

美国传教士明恩溥在中国生活长达半个多世纪,先后写下了多部有关中国的书籍,其中最有影响的当属《中国人的特性》一书。该书的广泛传播不仅促成了西方对中国人刻板印象的形成,更对国人认识自身的民族性起到了关键作用。本文引介布迪厄"惯习之域"这一概念,以此入手分析明恩溥在《中国人的特性》中所体现出来的中国观,讨论这些观点的局限性和成因,以及在国内的接受和对鲁迅的影响。本文认为,明恩溥的中国观受其宗教身份影响巨大,也受限于他在中国的生活环境和接触人群,但他的观点在现代中国得到诸如鲁迅等人的重视和传播,对当时有关国民性的讨论和反思起到了直接的推动作用。

American missionary Arthur Smith lived in China for over half a century and wrote several books on China,of which the most influential is Chinese Characteristics. The popularity of the book not only helped form many western stereotypes of China and Chinese people,but played a significant role in contributing to Chinese themselves’ conception of national character. This paper introduces Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of Habitus,and uses it to analyze Smith’s observations and views on China. This paper demonstrates how his conception of China and Chinese people were received inside China and made a considerable impact on Lu Xun and the discussion of( flawed) national character.