翻譯與政治：唐才常的西學知識與政治思想

Abstract

This article examines the application of Western concepts in the political writings of the late Qing intellectuals through a study of the life and works of Tang Caichang (1867-1900), a well-known Hunan reformer in the latter part of the nineteenth century. The life and intellectual development of Tang Caichang can be divided into two periods: the first period covers the first twenty-eight years of his life (1867-1894) in which his academic interest lies mainly in the traditional Chinese learning; the second period runs from 1895 to 1900, in which he shifted his attention to Western learning and made enormous efforts to introduce it through various journals established at that time to his fellow countrymen in the hope of saving the nation from falling into the hands of the invaders. This demonstrates very clearly a mentality that was prevalent in late Qing: Chinese intellectuals were eager to apply Western concepts and ideas in natural and social sciences that they did not really understand in their effort to strengthen their country. They were able to do that by acquiring some knowledge of the West through reading works translated by Western missionaries, most of whom, however, were not trained in the areas of science and technology.