The process and characteristics of advanced Chinese learning from the West in the 19th century

The process seems to be divided into several different factions and stages (some of them are older than the 19th century, but they are written together for easy analysis, such as the Xinhai Revolution and the New Culture Movement).

1.The advanced Chinese before the Opium War opened their eyes to the world, such as Lin Zexu and Wei Yuan.

He advocated learning from Western science and technology, but he did not practice it.

2.The Westernization movement of the Westernists.

With the slogan of subduing and razing, Shiyi has carried out the practice of the "Westernization Movement", only learning science and technology, not the system.

3.Early Restorationists.

Beginning to learn from the West at the institutional level and advocating the democratic system of the West, it has also not yet been put into practice.

4.The Restoration, represented by Kang Liang.

Learn from the Western constitutional monarchy system, carry out reform and reform, and finally fail.

5.Bourgeois revolutionaries.

Learning from the democratic system of the West, advocating the emulation of the United States, further proposing the abolition of the monarchy, and finally the Xinhai Revolution succeeded in overthrowing the Qing Dynasty.

6.Democrats, such as Hu Shi, Cai Yuanpei, etc.

Cultural reforms and new cultural movements were launched.

As for the characteristics, it should be that the degree and scope have been gradually deepened and expanded, from the study of science and technology to the study of systems to the study of culture, and the classes of study have changed from advanced landlords and intellectuals to the bourgeoisie, and so on.

Regarding the specific content of each thing, my personal advice is still a little bit, there are all of them.

Westernization Movement: Wait.

In the first stage, the technical feeling of utensils was inferior to that of the West, so there was a Westernization movement with the guiding ideology of "Chinese style and Western use"; In the second stage, the system felt inferior to the West, so there was a reform and reform; In the third stage, the cultural and psychological feeling is insufficient, and then there is the New Culture Movement.

Since the Opium War in 1840, China has gradually degenerated into a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, and in the face of the destruction of the country and the extinction of the country, the Chinese people have begun to learn from the West in order to save the nation from peril and get rid of the national predicament. In his article "Introduction to China's Evolution in Fifty Years," Liang Qichao divided the historical process of Chinese learning from the West and pursuing modernization into three stages.

In this way, China's modernization process has deepened step by step, from admitting that "technology is inferior to others" to shouting "Down with Confucius".

1.The ideological theme of modern Chinese learning from the West and seeking change is for China's independence, democracy, and prosperity. Learning from the West is linked to resisting aggression, enlightenment, and salvation, and embodies a strong anti-feudal and anti-aggression nature.

2.The pre-learning process of learning from the West is a complex process of deepening from the shallow to the deep, from the surface to the inside, from the "utensils" to the "system" and then to the "cultural traces".

3.The Chinese people's understanding of Western culture has gone through a process from passive acceptance (such as Lin Zexu and others germinating new ideas, foreign affairs movement) to active choice (such as the Xinhai Revolution), and finally the Communist Party of China chose Marxism, which became the ideology to save the country and transform society.

There are three processes of change in the experience of learning from the West in modern China.

1. Learn Western techniques, like the Westernization Movement.

2. Studying the Western system, people found that only learning advanced technology could not save China, so they sought an advanced political system, like the Wuxu Reform, and the more fierce was the Xinhai Revolution.

3. After learning advanced ideas, Marx's scientific outlook on thought was introduced into China, opening up a new road for China's self-help. Only correct and scientific thinking can truly save the Chinese and save China.

From utensils to systems to ideas.