Changes in Speculation about the History in the Late 19th Century China:A Case Study of Wang Tao
To comprehensively analyze the evolution of speculation about history from ancient to modern times,the perspectives of"process"and"subject"should be synthetically used.The introduction of the Western progress theory and the concept of the nation-state are two major events in the history of modern Chinese thought.Wang Tao,on the one hand,developed a process theory of a composite type,and on the other hand,employed the perspective of the"nation"(guo)in his subject theory.Thus,Wang Tao's theory responded to both above Western theories and became the representative of the changes in speculation about history in late 19th Century China.By using the beginning theory of the universal history of the recessionary theory,he temporarily diverged from Sino-centrism and formulated a novel framework of"universality-particularity",which was characterized by cultural nationalism.Reframing the traditional cyclical theory,Wang Tao interpreted the modern world as an"all of the nations"(wanguo),in which each nation underwent cyclical and impermanent changes,and in which it was difficult to observe the overall trend.The"small cycle"depicting the rise and fall of nations provides a national historical narrative,which not only consolidated the subjective position of the"nation"(guo)that underwent this cycle,but also articulated the goal of"rejuvenation"(fuxing)that could not be adequately expressed in the theory of progress.Through the futurization of the traditional notion of"the great harmony"(datong),Wang Tao developed a critical perspective of the nation-state system,which pointed to a way out,a return to the traditional"all under heaven"(tianxia).By employing the Christian historical view of divine providence and the traditional cyclical theory,he presented a rational argument for the above historical concept.He observed contemporary"changes"(bianju)from the dual perspectives of national history and universal history.According to the former,China was at that time at a pivotal juncture in its cycle of decline and prosperity.From the latter perspective,the world was standing at a turning point from"all of the nations"(wanguo)to"the great harmony"(datong).Wang Tao believed that these two were inherently interconnected.
Progressive View of HistoryCyclical View of HistoryRecessionary View of HistoryUniversal HistoryNational History
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