From Evolution to Jinhua:The Process of a Western Concept Entering Modern China
The theory of evolution was the first Western doctrine systematically assimilated by modern China.In this process,the translation and understanding of relevant terminologies and concepts are of great importance.As the original word of Jinhua,"evolution"in Western intellectual history carries rich connotations and has undergone a long and complex semantic change.This concept,in 19th-century England,through Herbert Spencer's definition and interpretation along with the incorporation of Charles Darwin's theories of natural selection and struggle for existence,formed a semantic concept containing various subordinate concepts.It not only includes the meaning of species evolution in the biological field but also extends to social,cultural,and intellectual domains.In Japan,"evolution"was translated as Jinhua and subsequently introduced into modern China,presenting a complex conceptual landscape in both China and Japan,with diverse semantic interpretations emerging.It is precisely this semantic diversity gave rise to multiple possibilities for interpretation,creating conditions for the integration of theory of evolution with various doctrines and thoughts,and providing abundant theoretical resources for modernization in China.
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