王韜的新人才觀及其文教實踐與影響

Abstract

本研究旨在探討清末西學東漸之初，當代人面對這劇烈文化衝擊的反應型態。王韜之為清末新思想代表人物之一，其歷經五口通商後的上海，再因獲罪避至香港，又同傳教士理雅各遠赴歐洲。之後返港赴日，辦報出版宣揚其思想，也在上海格致書院掌院期間，曾嘗試改變書院考課的方式，並獲得一定的成功。 王韜的新人才觀在選士、養士上，較同時代其他人更系統的提出一套改革的辦法，並且系統的出版相關介紹歐洲文教狀況的書籍。在女子教育與留學教育上，王韜認為女子與男子都需要接受教育，而遣生出洋則宜在確認其對自身文化認同之後。 王韜的日報與文章出版是相當豐富的，他也寫出不少膾炙人口的小說。而其在格致書院期間在考課制度上的變革，及與傅蘭雅一同改革書院的教授內容，對促進士人學習西學，有著不可抹滅的促進作用。而格致書院的學生及當時與他有往來的康有為、孫中山等人，也都在其後的改革、革命中扮演重要的角色，而其影響性經常被低估，主要也可能是因其經歷中並未擔任政府要職的緣故。

The main purpose of this study is to inquire Wang Tao’s new ideas of intellectuals’ cultivation responded to the western culture shuck. He lived in Shanghai after the Opium War, and then exiled to Hong Kong, later traveled to Europe with James Legge. When he came back to China, he published newspapers and books to promote his ideas. Before that he visited Japan. Besides, he established the Chinese Prize Essay Scheme successfully when being the principal of the Shanghai Polytechnic Institution (SPI). Mr. Wang was a successful publisher and writer as well. His new ideas of intellectuals’ cultivation and education were more systematic than other contemporary elites, and also systematically introduced European culture and education in his publication. Firstly, he proposed to change upon the Chinese ancient academic examination with Professor John Fryer. Secondly, as for his opinions of women education and study abroad, he argued that women took the same education as men, and those who intended to study abroad should identify their original culture at first. Thirdly, he played an important role in promoting Chinese scholars to concern about western scientific and technological knowledge. Some of SPI graduates and his friends who involved in critical reforms and revolutions, such as Kang You-Wei, Sun Yat-Sen and others, were inspired by him more or less. However, the impact of Wang Tao was under-estimated, and perhaps it is because he didn’t take any main position in the government.