“甲午”溯源:近代东亚格局下的牡丹社事件及其历史意涵

Tracing back to theOrigin of the Sino Japanese War:TheMudanshe incident and its historical significance under the pattern of modern East Asia

牡丹社事件是日本明治维新后首次对外用兵,同时埋下甲午战争之祸根。除运用传统中日文献对此事件进行记述外,还基于西人“他者”视角对牡丹社事件进行梳理和阐释。西人对“牡丹社事件”整体呈支持日本之立场。他们认为清政府治台多有过失之处,对此横加指责,且对日本抱有怜悯之情,试图为这一侵略行径进行辩解和推脱。同时,牡丹社事件也宣告了当时东亚政治格局的全面重构:日本虽败却未失侵吞台湾之野心,不断加强军事战略准备工作;清政府对台政策由“消极”转为“积极”,积极治理并宣示主权;西方诸国则将台湾视为挑拨中日关系的重要筹码,从中进行斡旋与平衡,籍此攫取利益。

The MudansheIncident was the first time that Japan used foreign troops after Meiji Restoration,and at the same time laid the root of the Sino Japanese War.In addition to using traditional Chinese and Japanese literature to describe the incident,it also combs and interprets the MmudansheIncident from the perspective of"the other"of Westerners.The Westerners supported Japan as a whole.They thought that the Qing government had many mistakes in governing Taiwan,so they criticized it and felt pity for Japan,trying to justify and evade this aggressive act.At the same time,The MudansheIncident also announced the comprehensive reconstruction of the political pattern in East Asia at that time:although Japan was defeated,it did not lose its ambition to invade Taiwan,and constantly strengthened its military strategic preparations.The Qing government's policy toward Taiwan changed from"negative"to"positive",actively governing and declaring sovereignty.Western countries regard Taiwan as an important chip to stir up Sino Japanese relations,from which they can mediate and balance and seize interests.