王韜變法思想的形成及其意義

Abstract

在十九世紀末中國，中西文化之間逐漸展開大規模交流的早期階段中，王韜是一個相當特殊的例子，他有著相當深厚的中學基礎，但也在很年輕時，就因為協助傳教士翻譯中國經典工作的需要，而與西方文化有密切接觸。王韜更因上書太平天國的事件而被迫逃亡到香港，這個中國近代以來最早受到西方國家管理的地方，最後他獲邀至蘇格蘭，在西方社會環境下生活了兩年多的時間。王韜相當特殊的人生經歷，是他得以能在同時代知識分子中突出的主因，他對西方文化的態度以及本身變法理念，也隨著自己人生經歷而逐漸變化，從上海時期的保守警戒，到香港期間的開放，最後從歐遊歸來後的積極學習，王韜從一個有志於科舉仕途的傳統讀書人，逐漸成為試圖積極向西方學習的知識分子。也因此王韜思想的變化歷程在晚清思想史上，具有相當重要意義，王韜的思想變化與當時主要變法思想依據：「中體西用論」有著密切的關係，也清楚呈現了同時代的知識分子在面對西方這個課題上，可能會遇到的許多問題。Wang Tao is a very special case in the field of cultural exchange between Chinese and Western culture during late 19th century. He is proficient in Chinese Classics, but also, for the need of helping missionary translate the Chinese Classics, he had very close touch with Western culture. Also, he fled to Hong Kong because he wrote letters to the head of the Taiping rebellion, which is also the place governed by the UK. In the end of his exile life, he was invited to Scotland and live in the western society for more than two years. His special life experience is the reason why he stands out from other intellectuals in China at the time. His attitude toward Western culture and thought of reform while he was in Shanghai changes from conservative and cautious to positive during his life in Hong Kong and Europe; he changes from a traditional Chinese scholar to an open-minded intellectual who is willing to learn from the West. Therefore, the process of change of Wang Tao’s thinking is significant in the history of thought in late Qing dynasty. In conclusion, Wang Tao’s thinking has an important connection with the Zhonh Ti Xi Yong theory, it also presents the problems the intellectuals might occur to while dealing with the Western issue at that time.