“明清闭关锁国”说渊源问题新探——基于晚明在华传教士中国封闭形象的历史考察

Reconsideration on the Origin of the Statement of Biguan Suoguo——A Historical Review Based on the Closed Image of China by Missionaries in the Late Ming Dynasty

“闭关锁国论”最早可追溯至晚明时期以利玛窦为代表的在华传教士和西方商人。在他们看来,明代中国是一个排斥或限制外来宗教、对外贸易和对外交往的国家,这一中国形象构成了“闭关锁国论”的早期内涵。明代中国封闭形象的形成有其相应的时代背景和立场观念基础,既与在华传教士的传教策略有关,同时也是在华传教士和西方商人站在西方立场看待和评价中国的结果,是西方中心主义的一种反映。在华传教士和西方商人对明代中国国情缺乏科学性认知则是明代中国封闭形象形成的根本原因。

The statement of Biguan Suoguo(closed borders and blockades) is not a traditional Chinese inherent cognition, but a discourse influenced by modern Western thoughts, which could be traced back to the Western missionaries and merchants, such as Matteo Ricci, in the late Ming Dynasty. In their opinion, Ming Dynasty was a country that excluded or restricted foreign religions, international trade and mutual exchanges.This image of China constituted the early connotation of Biguan Suoguo. The formation of the closed image of the Ming Dynasty has its corresponding historical background and ideological basis, which is related to the missionary strategy of the missionaries in China. Western missionaries and businessmen in China viewed and evaluated China from their own standpoint, of which a reflection of Western-centrism could be observed. The basic reason for the formation of this image is that they were lack of scientific understanding on the national conditions of China in Ming Dynasty.