被扭曲的史观与史实——评大英博物馆展览《中国的隐秘世纪(1796-1912)》

Biased Conception of History and Distorted Historical Truth:A Critical Review of the British Museum Exhibition“China's Hidden Century:1796-1912”

在花旗银行赞助下,大英博物馆数月前推出展览《中国的隐秘世纪(1796-1912)》和同名书籍,在西方引起不小关注。然而,该展览和同名书籍持错误的历史观,回避甚或美化罪恶的帝国主义侵华史,片面强调西方冲击对中国产生的所谓“正面”作用,同时深受“新清史”影响,在涉及中国边疆和民族问题时,曲解中华民族多元一体格局和中华文明统一性的突出特性,多有荒谬之言。在论及具体史实时,也多有常识性错误。史观与史实被严重扭曲,该展览及书籍对这段历史的解读自然也就不可靠、不可信。

Sponsored by Citibank,the British Museum launched an exhibition and accompanying book,both titled“China's Hidden Century:1796-1912,”several months ago,garnering significant attention in the Western world.However,both the exhibition and the book present a biased view of historiography,evident in their avoidance or even glorification of the history of imperialist aggression in China,and their uncritical praise of the purportedly“positive”impact of Western influences in the country.Influenced by the“New Qing History School,”they misinterpret the diverse yet unified nature of the Chinese nation and the historical continuity of Chinese civilization,particularly in relation to issues concerning China's borderlands and ethnic groups.Furthermore,both the exhibition and the book are riddled with factual errors in presenting historical truths.With their biased historiography and distorted historical truth,the exhibition and the book cannot be relied upon to offer a trustworthy interpretation of the history they cover.