从理学家到著名实业家的王锡彤——一个近代中原士绅的嬗变追踪

Wang Xitong, from a Scholar of Confucian School to a Well-known Industrialist --Tracking the change of a modern gentry of Henan Province

谈到近代中国最大的实业家,南方要属张謇,北方要算周学熙。中州著名实业家王锡彤(1866—1938),不仅曾在河南省办实业,还是周学熙诸多企业的主要创办者、管理者之一。在河南近代经济史乃至中国近代经济史上,王锡彤占有一定的位置。在河南浓重的理学氛围中,王氏不仅当初对理今情有独钟,即便成为实业家之后,他还时时做着理学家的梦。社会变迁呼唤文化转型,文化变迁推动着社会转型。社会变革的大潮毕竟不可阻挡。中州文化圈中的人们,也逐渐发生了重大变化。追踪王锡彤一生由理学家到近代企业家的历史轨迹,探索王锡彤一生的心路历程,旨在说明在浓重的理学氛围之下,中原地区的近代化进程是多么的艰难。进一步说明,在今天我们进行现代化建设中,观念的转变是何等的重要。

With regard to the largest industrialists in modern China, in south part it must be Zhang Qian, in north part it must be Zhou Xue-xi. Wang Xitong (1866-1938), a well-known industrialist of Henan province, had not only run industry, but was one of the main pioneers and managers of the enterprises run by Zhou Xue-xi. He owned a certain position in the modern economic history of Henan province, even in that of China. Among the thick Confucian atmosphere in Henan province, as a modern industrialist, he originally was very interested in Confucian school, even he got into an industrialist, he still dreamed to be a scholar of Confucian school. But the society calls the change of culture and the change of culture pushes the change of society forward After all, the tide of social reform is unable to be checked. The people in the cultural field of Henan had also greatly changed. The purpose of tracking Wang Xitong's transform and seeking the course of his ideas lies in showing in the thick atmosphere of Confucian school, how difficult was the course of modernization in central plain of China; further showing that how important it is in the present construction of modernization to change our ideas.