“海洋国家”理念形成与华侨研究在近代兴起

The Formation of the “Maritime Country” Concept and the Rise of the Study of Overseas Chinese in Modern China

近代以前,华侨是天朝大国的弃民。在中西冲突背景下,随着外交事务的增多,华侨的地位逐步提升。甲午战败和马汉海权理论的传入,致使近代士大夫有了建设中国为"海洋国家"的明晰理念,由于海洋国家的一个要素是国民的海外拓殖意向和能力,华侨是中国在海外的民间力量,因此,"海洋国家"理念的形成促使华侨研究兴起。梁启超有民族国家意识,持有鲜明"海洋国家"理念,借用西方海权理论研究海外侨民,他的研究有高度、深度,梁启超是近代中国华侨研究第一人。

Before modern times,overseas Chinese were abandoned by "the great power of the heavens". In the context of the Sino-Western conflict,with the increase in foreign affairs,the status of overseas Chinese was gradually enhanced. The defeat in the Sino-Japanese War and the introduction of the Mahan Sea Power theory led to the modern scholar-officials having the idea of building China as a "maritime state". One of the elements for a maritime nation is the people’s overseas intentions and capabilities,and overseas Chinese are China’s overseas civil powers. The formation of the "maritime state" concept prompted the rise of overseas Chinese research. Liang Qichao,with his national consciousness,borrowed Western sea power theory for his profound studies of overseas nationals. He was the first person in the study of overseas Chinese in modern China.