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Fairbank is committed to research on China for 50 years, he entered Oxford from 1991 until his death, his writings were mostly discussed the problem in China. In half a century, the Fairbank examine their own unique perspective to study Chinese, his research, writings and major views represent the views of mainstream American society, not only affected several generations of Chinese American scholar and Western scholars, and directly or indirectly affect the U.S. political and public attitude towards China, the views and the formulation of U.S. policy toward China, the United States today many influential experts in China are from the sects.
1, Life Resume
Fairbank May 24, 1907 Hu was born in South Texas, Dragon, is the only son of Ya Sebo fees and Luo Laina. Father was a pastor's son, determined to follow his father engage in early church, and from the study of law, into the St. Louis, Washington University School of Law examination. After graduating in 1901 settlers in Nandeketa states in Hu Dragon lawyer, he was appointed town attorney.
Mother Luo Laina great influence on the growth of Fairbank. She was born in Decta, school in Chicago, and finally back home, but she is always reluctant to leave Chicago, New York, Boston and there culture. She is a member of American Association of University Women, followed by either a branch of the Association President. Luo Laina his life working for women's rights, women's right to vote to participate in demonstrations and protests, organizing meetings, is a very active political figure, John King Fairbank early political aspirations are related to their mother's guidance.
Entered Harvard in 1927, the Fairbank has not yet considered of China, and then Harvard has not yet set up systems of the modern West courses. His main attack arts, including Greek, history, philosophy, politics, art and economy.
The autumn of 1929, Fairbank went to Oxford University. His 的 professional direction of East Asian Studies, but then he does not have the Chinese language and Chinese culture, the Ji Chu Li Shi, Fortunately, the degree at Oxford Da Xue Lun Wen Bu required to take the test, nor Xiangguan the Xueshu experience. Thesis completed in 1931, Fairbank began a doctorate. Is, the John K. Fairbank Archives in Washington, the U.S. Congress to collect information, then check the information in Cambridge and Paris.
John King Fairbank's two-year study at Oxford University, learned a lot on his study of modern China as the theme to American diplomatic and institutional history as a new point of view, his doctoral thesis was from the above three aspects of the history of Sino-US relations , broke through the limitations of traditional sinology, has considerable innovation.
Fairbank Chinese studies that the information should not be limited to the West should rely on local resources in China to study China's point of view, which naturally required to master Chinese language and life experiences in China. Oxford's academic research team is very limited, and there is no Chinese language courses. Fairbank apply to the Rhodes Scholarship Committee, Rhodes Scholarship Committee approved his application, Fairbank became the first Rhodes Scholarship in the Far East scholar.
The beginning of 1932, Fairbank China, study Chinese side, side studied under Tsinghua Contension studies. January 1936, he returned to Oxford, UK, gained a doctorate thesis entitled "The Origin of the Chinese customs." After this paper has been modified, added, "Chinese coastal trade and diplomatic :1842 - 1854 Opening of the treaty port" as the title, published 1954.
After completing his degree, then returned to Harvard to teach Fairbank. From 1939 onwards, he set up at Harvard University Reischauer with East Asian civilization courses. Four months before the outbreak of the Pacific War, he was called up to the intelligence work of the Coordinating Bureau of the middle office to China twice. August 1946, Fairbank returned to Harvard University, served as regional studies (China) project's first host. In 1955, he obtained the support of Harvard University and the Ford Foundation, created the Harvard University Asia Center, and himself as director until 1973. In 1977, when he retired from the faculty of the center named for the John King Fairbank Center for East Asian Studies.
March 1966, John K. Fairbank testified at the hearing:
Second, China Studies
China Studies in the United States began in Fairbank, because as the founder of modern science and the pioneer of China, Fairbank became the first modern Chinese studies in China to study the evolution of transitional scholar, he completed the classical Chinese studies from the past the transition of modern Chinese studies, the creation of a symbol of regional research study of modern China. As a pioneer study in East Asia, John King Fairbank to research on contemporary China as the main body of East Asian Studies, after he was alone, co-author, editor, edited the works of up to 60 academic books, there are numerous articles and book reviews, The theory can be divided into four groups with approximately:
The first is strictly academic works. According to some of his papers and monographs rewritten doctoral thesis, this type of work is represented by the "Chinese coastal trade and diplomatic :1842 - 1854 Opening of the treaty ports of" the importance of this two-volume monograph, is John King Fairbank's doctoral thesis at Oxford University on the basis of complete, discusses the 1842 to 1854 between the foreign powers forced to open treaty ports in China process.
The second type is mainly for students and scholars in East Asian Studies, prepared a summary of research on Chinese literature describes the directory and that he and Liu, eds, "Modern China :1898-1937, the Chinese book titles Guide", is a historical document on China Bibliographic description; "in Qing Dynasty" is about Chinese history and literature annotation and translation of teaching materials, is particularly useful reference book for graduate students; and edited Deng Si-Yu, "China's response to the West: The Book of General" and " China towards the West: A Research Guide "is also representative of this type of work.
The third category is to educate the public writing in China and Sino-US relations on the book, which was undoubtedly the most well-known "The U.S. and China." From the length of said third type of writing in all his works account for the largest weight. Such work is based on secondary sources, is to fully absorb the latest research results, and to digest these results explain in the framework of the Fairbank own product.
The fourth category is the direct discourse and U.S. policy toward Sino-US relations, the article put forward policy recommendations. These articles and commentary articles in general different. He was always a combination of history and reality set up the problem, discusses the historical background and current issues context, rather than the sake of discussion. After the publication of these papers were consolidated into multiple volumes, such as "China: People's Middle Kingdom and the United States of America", "Understanding China: Sino-US relations in the image and policies" and other works are: "China's world order: China's traditional foreign relations "," Sino-US interaction: A Historical Review "," Prospects of Sino-US relations, "and so on.
1. Important writings
- "The United States and China"
"The U.S. and China" is the John King Fairbank's first book, is his book of a multi-year research study of Chinese history and Sino-US relations masterpiece, it is a masterpiece of American Studies. The book did not, as the general history books as the pursuit of full and accurate details, but a brief outline pull out territory on China's natural environment, historical evolution, social structure, cultural traditions, lifestyles, and Sino-US relations in the past and present, such a description is consistent China and the Sino-US relations not know much about the American public needs. First edition appeared in 1948, immediately subject to the academic attention, and get a higher rating, known as the classics.
Since then, he has been supplemented and amended, in 1958,1971,1979,1989, respectively, to the second, third, fourth, fifth edition, issued hundreds of thousands of copies as the Western works on China issues one of the most popular works . Later, in preparation for Nixon's historic visit to China, the "United States and China" is also his understanding of the relationship between China and the United States one of 23 kinds of reference books.
Fairbank With the advance of Chinese history, and continue to study Chinese society, one is constantly revised its performance, rich, "the United States and China," the contents of the book. Reprinted several times in the course of the next, Fairbank added The People's Republic of China 30 years after the founding of the history of completed traditional and modern Chinese history, a complete inspection. "The U.S. and China," the study of China's past and present, and from China's historical development and evolution of Sino-US relations. The aim is to introduce the author's analysis of China's historical tradition and present situation of the Americans understand China, the two countries to eliminate barriers and misunderstandings, thus improving Sino-US relations.
- "Cambridge History of China"
As the U.S. the main organizer of Chinese Studies, Fairbank has also done a lot of useful work of the academic popularity. He presided over the preparation of the "East Asian civilization," the "China problem" textbook, is particularly worth mentioning is that once presided over a 15-volume capacity of the preparation of the "Cambridge History of China", the Chinese translation of "Cambridge History of Qing", "Cambridge History of China "," Cambridge History The People's Republic of China "and" the great Chinese revolution. " "Cambridge History of China" from 1966 to 1991, the last volume of planning "The People's Republic of China History" printed, too total of 25 years, each volume authored by subject experts, the final assembly by the senior editor, to the world about China in recent the evolution of modern history, creating a greater influence, termed as an influential country projects collapse. This book embodies the John King Fairbank and the many efforts, he not only served as editor in chief, but also one of the major contributors. Since the beginning of 1966, he and 12 countries from around the world more than 100 experts in Chinese studies, "Cambridge History of China," writes, so this basically reflects the contemporary masterpiece, History of Western China, the highest level. Since 1985, this "super Symposium" (Fairbank words) of the Chinese translation of the volumes in China have been published widely welcomed by the academic and praise. Look people will notice the academic front, this "Cambridge History of China", especially the late Qing Dynasty, Republic of China since the volumes of some of the views, the Chinese academic community has been affected.
- "Observation of China"
Fairbank's this "watch China" in 2001 by the World Knowledge Publishing House, resolving policy implementation prevention translation, which listed a total of five titles, which is a new concept of imperialism; Mao's China Insider; normalization of the Road; Cultural Revolution ; aftermath: the United States burst of optimism.
2. To create East Asian Studies Center
As the founder of modern American and pioneer of Chinese Studies, Fairbank is not only knowledgeable, but also longer than the academic organizations (some joked, Fairbank deserves to be "academic entrepreneurs"), Fairbank's success is not accidental, he Harvard East Asia Research Center for their solid backing, Fairbank all planning and ideas, through the center of operations, implementation, affecting U.S. and Western modern building of the contingent of Chinese Studies.
John K. Fairbank at Harvard University in the U.S. colleges and universities in order to base the preparation Harvard University Asia Center, funded by the Ford Foundation. Major study of East Asian Studies in China, also of Japan, Korea and other Southeast Asian countries and regions, the center has collected large amounts of data, especially on the collection of Chinese modern and contemporary history information. Collection of information, including major historical facts, biographies, and thought the system. These data were collated information on file in English for the common use of researchers.
Research Center also published a large number of writings. From the center to establish, first published 20 years a total of 140 kinds of books. 1970 and 1971, published 43 years on almost a monthly publication of two, the number is considerable, mainly by Harvard University Press, Fairbank's own writings, most are Harvard University Press. In addition to the above, the research center also developed a large number of China experts and Masters and Ph.D. graduates.
3. Called for East Asian Studies
Fairbank's claim reflects his academic research on the national strategy should serve the interests of the United States point of view, in his appeal and advocacy, the U.S. academic community and the public led to a protracted discussion of U.S. foreign policy.
4. Support of other countries and regions in Chinese Studies
Fairbank United States not only created the modern Chinese studies, but also support other countries and regions of China studies, and had a significant impact. 1952-1953, the John K. Fairbank language learning in Japan, research directory, end with Japanese scholars City Proterozoic three professors prepared a set of information on China. 60 years, he has made two trips and visited Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Hong Kong and Taiwan and other countries and regions, in some stage of academic development at the "remote areas "Fairbank help local researchers to establish research centers.
Third, academic thought and practice
1. Emphasis on empirical
Fairbank is a key feature of academic stress positive, do not want to build a huge theoretical system. People can not understand, like him creatively and scholars, it is hard work from his academic ideas found in the system. In 1968, he was the 80th president of the American Historical Association's third speech, Fairbank said bluntly that he is the main Zhang Jingshi country, he believed that research should have practical effect, scholars lies not only increase knowledge but is public education is to influence policy. In his life he has always emphasized academic research the history and reality, emphasizing the academic research and practical political relations.
In Fairbank's life, he spent a lot of time to prove, For today's China must understand China's past. Fairbank believe that China's raw data that is not even the Chinese perspective and unnecessary point of view, is absolutely wrong. Westerners that rely solely on the United Kingdom, France and the United States, historical materials to write books about China, the practice has lost its place on the West's reliance on raw data, reflects a self-righteous attitude. He tried to promote the new study, China's historical claim to explore in depth and conduct of the population, social mobility, intellectual orientation, cultural history, economic system, tax system, the examination system and other issues of family research.
File using the Chinese, China's raw data of Chinese history is advocated by John King Fairbank, John King Fairbank was Oxford University's Dr, but his doctoral thesis has mainly done in China, he excavated the work of archives as their own important part. In 1932 he came to China, the Forbidden City just opened a large file inside, Fairbank became the first scholar to use one of these files, it may be the first foreign scholar to use these files. 1933 files in Chinese and English that he wrote the first scientific paper, "Treaty of 1858, before the legalization of the opium trade", in "Chinese Social and Political Science," Vol 17 No. 2 published, which is mounted Fairbank the first step in the academic arena. Fairbank changes made under the post-doctoral thesis of "China's coastal trade and diplomacy" is based on a large number of files and written Chinese. This monograph may be too specialized, not "the United States and China," as well known, but this is a great academic value of work, won widespread praise, and firmly established the John K. Fairbank diplomatic and institutional history as the late Qing aspects of the status of outstanding historians. Since then, the use of archival research in China John King Fairbank Chinese History as an academic standard. In some of his later papers, such as "Tianjin Massacre behind mode" just a few. Fairbank is not only to China as a source file, and as understanding of China, an important basis for China's characteristics. Fairbank, not only do, but also to guide, help and ask students to do the same.
Appears in the John King Fairbank, China and the West is indivisible, and must be the same as learning the history of the world's history, while the Chinese and the United States into the same scenario is wrong. It is thanks to the different nature of China, Fairbank boycott to be effective, the long-Americans in China, only to find they want to look for this trend. Fairbank believe: the more a better understanding of China, the more harmony with the Chinese.
2. "Impact - response model"
50-60 years, "Impact - Response" quite popular in the United States and the West to hold this view of history is not the John King Fairbank for one, but the greatest impact Fairbank, his study of modern China really has run through this model, whether it is "the United States and China," or he and Deng Si-Yu co "China towards the West," the "impact - response" model is made very profound discussion, in "China's Western response" in the beginning that the Chinese culture, "both the traditional heritage, but also by Western influences, they intertwined." Finds that the historical process of China is a more powerful invading alien society driven.
"Impact - Response" The core issue is China's traditional society and traditional culture. Appears at the John K. Fairbank, China's traditional Confucian doctrine in a long time to successfully occupy the ideological legitimacy, so that the stability of Chinese society has maintained tremendous. When the modern large number of Westerners coming to China to seek trade opportunities along the coast, this ancient Chinese empire to the outside world astonishingly inert, it inward, exclusion of all foreign forces. To this end, Fairbank stressed that the challenge of the West to China as a stimulus for China to provide an opportunity for progress.
Fourth, evaluation and dispute
1. Academic contribution
Fairbank's research touches all aspects of modern China. Limited expertise in their field, read materials on modern Chinese history, almost all of the important historical figures. Fairbank area studies in a number of Chinese scholars in the unique, since 1929, China and the whole of East Asia (including Japan, Korea and Vietnam) and its relations with the West have become the focus of his entire academic career. The important academic contribution is:
First of all, the greatest achievement of Fairbank academic career is the creation of Contemporary Chinese Studies. This "Chinese Science" is different from the emphasis on linguistics, cultural studies, traditional Chinese Studies in Sinology. Sinology in Europe it is the biggest difference, with particular emphasis on the use of multiple files, multilingual, multi-method of social science research in China, leading to what is called the "New Philology" The Formation of China.
Secondly, Fairbank also the process of normalization of Sino-US relations have made unremitting efforts. Writings in the John King Fairbank, the Sino-US relations and foreign policy studies accounted for a large proportion. He discusses the impact of a whole generations of scholars and post-war U.S. China policy the U.S. government, for the normalization of Sino-US relations have made important contributions. From the 20th century, 50's and 60's, Fairbank advocate the U.S. government as soon as possible to give up on China's "containment and isolation" policy to "contain and isolate" policy, recognize the PRC, the normalization of relations. These ideas embodied his years of deep thinking on Sino-US relations is in line with historical trends. John K. Fairbank great influence on the U.S. government's China policy, his influence and academic experience in the public and policy decisions about the United States played a major role. As a Sino-US relations experts, advocates and interpreters, Fairbank to influence the historical process, not just to understand and interpret history. He followed his mentor, Lord Charles Webster's claim that historians should use their knowledge and research to change the reality. He insisted that the future for the United States and the development of the world, Americans must re-understanding of China, to re-examine U.S. relations with China. John K. Fairbank The reason why the U.S. government a major impact on China policy, precisely because his ideas and policy perspectives and pragmatic decision-makers, utility beds.
Also, Fairbank was a historian, dedicated to the mid-19th century history of East-West cultural exchanges, explore the characteristics of traditional Chinese society, to change the history of China's major accident and the whole process of cultural exchange. He is a senior re-look the history of teachers, students everywhere. Education at Harvard University, thousands of undergraduate students studied under his Ph.D. students, scholars in the United States and other countries to teach up to 100 people.
Again, Fairbank hard to promote East Asian Studies, including the study of modern Chinese history. After his lifelong efforts, East Asian Studies should also be given academic status and a lot of financial support. In addition to strengthening academic awareness and raise funds, Fairbank also helped establish a series of research projects, such as the promotion of East Asian Research at Harvard University to expand the disciplines and areas of domestic and international impact. Harvard University, he almost called the academic research base. Harvard in 1979, he once described as his lifelong beliefs.
Fairbank contact with China began in the 20th century, 30's and 40's particular historical period, his work influenced public opinion on the views of the Chinese revolution. Composition in his thought there are many factors, especially his ideas of mass democracy, "New Deal" liberalism are the intellectual and academic colleagues agree.
2. Dispute
Fairbank is a controversial figure. Not only is he a top scholar, but also a statesman and foreign critics; he not only engaged in academic research, but also engaged in policy research, is a "amphibious people." His view of China is a complex "multi-surface objects", not only reflects his unique history of Western liberal ideas, cultural values, but also reflected his special historical experience, but also reflect the specific conditions of his political attitudes .
Fairbank was a contradictory figure. He should be loyal to both academic and also worked exhaustively U.S. national interests and the reality of politics, which can not but make him into a dilemma, also on behalf of the "Official" inevitably lead to criticism of all parties. Some of his "radical" move of the right-wing politicians will lead to dissatisfaction. John King Fairbank and understand the tortuous process of development of Sino-US relations is closely related to his views with the development of the situation where there are many self-contradictory, and thus incurred the criticism and censure from all sides.
Fairbank Chronology:
19 075 24, born in Huron, South Dakota
In 1911 his family moved to South Dakota's sufers
1923 into the New Hampshire school Phillips Exeter
1925 into the University of Wisconsin
1927 transferred to Harvard University
1929-1931 were Rhodes Scholarship, studying at Balliol College of Oxford University
19322 month to China to do research for their PhD thesis; early summer, in Beijing and 威尔玛迪尼 Oka Shannon (Wilma, Denio · Cannon) married
1933-1935 Lecturer, Tsinghua University, Beijing office
Christmas 1935 and returned to the U.S. from China
Autumn 1936, taught at Harvard University
19 418 months, into the Far East, Washington, DC, Bureau of Intelligence Coordination Working Group
1942 of the Intelligence Coordinating Council (in June 1942 renamed the Strategic Intelligence Agency) sent to Chongqing
Back to Washington by the end of 1943, transferred Bureau of Far Eastern Department of the Army Intelligence
19 459 months, to China, working for the United States Information Service
Autumn 1946, returned to Harvard to teach
1948 "The United States and China," published by Harvard University Press
19523 10-11 were charged to the McAllen Committee (the Senate Internal Security Sub-Committee) to make a statement
1952-1953 to the Guggenheim Foundation, the identity of scholars to visit in Japan
1953 "China's coastal trade and diplomatic :1842-1854 treaty ports open" a book published by Harvard University Press
1956 A Hybrid established East Asian Studies Center (Harvard University) Director (1961 renamed the East Asian Studies Center, 1977 it changed its name to John King Fairbank Center for East Asian Studies)
1958 was elected President of the United States Association for Asian Studies
The first went to the Soviet Union in 1960, participation in international Orientalist Congress
1960 "East Asia: the great tradition," [and Reischauer (Edwin, O. Reischauer) cooperation] published by the Hong Dayton Mifflin
1965 "East Asia: the Modern," [and Reischauer, Craig (Albert M. Craig) co] published by the Hong Dayton Mifflin
1966 started to the "Cambridge History of China", and Twitchett (Denis Twitchett) jointly edited (March 10) in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to testify on China policy
1967 held in Cambridge ① 60 birthday celebration; Feuerwerker (Albert Feuerwerker), Murphy (Rhoads Murphey), Rui Mali (Mary Wright) and other editor of the "Introduction to Modern Chinese History" (published by the University of California Press) gift book for
1968 was elected President of the American Historical Association
1972 summer, and Wilma revisited China
19 735 months, resigned as director of the Center for East Asian Studies, he was appointed Chairman of the Harvard East Asian Studies
19 773 months, to lecture at Harvard University for the last time
Thanksgiving Day 1979, nearly fatal heart attack
1982 "Heart China" published by the Hubble a Lou
1991 September 12 to complete the "China: A New History" manuscript submitted Harvard University Press; two days after the Sept. 14 death in Cambridge
Note: Since 1978, Mr. Fairbank began to deny all his previous research on China.
Wrote a set of life and ultimately the essence of a book, "The new assessment of China."
Translated by Google