美国传教士中医观变迁探蠡(1840—1949)

A Study on the Transitions of American Missionaries’ Views on Traditional Chinese Medicine(1840—1949)

明末清初以来,中医在西方传教士、医师等的介绍下逐渐被西方世界所关注,从中医诊疗方法到中草药性状、功效以及中医典籍的翻译与传播,传教士与海外汉学家以西方的思维模式研究中国医学,使得东西方医学有了比较的可能。到了近代,美国传教士成为继欧洲传教士之后在华传教士的主流,其态度在与中医接触的过程中逐渐发生了变化,由最初的怀疑之否定转变为同情与认可,而中医也在此态度转变之中,完成了自东徂西的历程。

Since the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, traditional Chinese medicine has attracted the attention of the western world under the introduction of western missionaries and doctors. Ranging from the diagnosis and treatment methods of TCM to the properties and efficacy of Chinese herbal medicines and the translation and dissemination of TCM classics, missionaries and sinologists overseas studied on TCM with a western mindset, making it possible to compare western and oriental medicines. In modern times, American missionaries have replaced their European peers to be the main force in China, and during their contact with TCM, their attitude towards the latter had experienced a transition from initial skepticism and denial to later sympathy and recognition;meanwhile, TCM had also completed a journey of dissemination from east to west.