Reflected from outside China on Europe (Far West Dialogue)

Author: (French) Fran?ois-Joseph de La Barre, translated by Zhang Fang
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2005-12-01
Features: China is one of the ancient civilizations of the world. The world has known China since ancient times, and tracing back history, there have been five high points of cultural exchanges between China and the outside world. The depth and breadth of these exchanges have also surpassed those of ancient times. Cultural exchange, integration, absorption, and mutual complementarity are not inevitable phenomena. Only when a nation is strong, culturally advanced, and scientifically progressive can it take the initiative in exchanges and absorb what is useful for itself. When a nation is weak, its culture stagnates, and its science lags behind, it often finds itself in a passive position in exchanges, even losing the initiative to choose foreign cultures, becoming a completely passive recipient. After the Opium War, during the long span of more than a hundred years, some of the foreign cultures introduced into China were actively absorbed, some were rejected by China, and some were forcibly introduced. History tells us that the current world economy has been integrated, and an economic crisis in one region of the world will shake the entire globe. While cultural exchanges have not reached such a close level, they also have a tendency of "pulling one thread and shaking the whole body." The conditions for cultural exchanges today far surpass those of ancient times, and the means of transmission are so swift that they are unimaginable to the ancients. Therefore, the responsibility of cultural exchange is also far heavier than in ancient societies. The "International Sinology Studies Series" carries the arduous task of promoting cultural exchanges between China and the outside world in the 21st century.