Evolutionism and Chinese Radicalism 1859-1924

Author: Wu Pi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: From the late 19th century to the 1970s, this period spanned about 80 years and can be referred to as China's "Evolutionary Era," as evolutionary theory had a significant impact during this time. It can also be called China's "Radical Era," as radicalism was most influenced by and most prominent in China during this period. The focus of this book is on the first half of this stage, from the Self-Strengthening Movement to the May Fourth New Culture Movement. Based on an overview of Western evolutionary theory and traditional Chinese evolutionary thought, the book emphasizes the influence of Western evolutionary theory on China. Using figures such as Yan Fu, Kang Youwei, Tan Sitong, Liang Qichao, and Sun Yat-sen as threads, it employs extensive historical materials and documents to elaborate on the intellectual journey of Chinese intellectuals in accepting, promoting, and practicing evolutionary theory from the Self-Strengthening Movement to the May Fourth New Culture Movement. It distinguishes between Kang Youwei and Tan Sitong's inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese evolutionary thought, and between Yan Fu, Liang Qichao, and Sun Yat-sen's adoption of Western evolutionary theory. Additionally, it argues and reflects on the impact of evolutionary theory on Chinese radicalism. The comparison of the three different evolutionary views during the May Fourth New Culture Movement broadens the scope and perspective of this book, providing a wider lens for understanding the role of political thought in China's late Qing and early Republican periods in shaping revolutionary practice.