The Late Qing Dynasty Western Military Science Translation Spreading In China (1860-1895)

It is during the late Ming Dynasty and the early Qing Dynasty that Western strategic works first came to China.After the First Opium War (1839-42),Western strategic works revived because of Protestant missionaries' activities in China.After the Second Opium War(1856-60), the trend of introducing this Western knowledge turned out to be extremely strong:a large number of Western strategic works were translated and printed.These works,pertaining great importance of the transmission of Western knowledge into China,deserve today scholars' attention to do comprehensive and systematical research.The author has made systematic inquiry of Western strategic works that are collected in NLC(the National Library of China),Shanghai Library,Library of Fudan University,and Peking University Library.A series of research on Western strategic works(1860-1895)is based on the sorting of these original literature.The dissertation includes four chapters,in addition to introduction and conclusion.On the basis of previous studies,ChapterⅠ,named "Introduction of New Strategic Knowledge During the Late Ming Dynasty and Early Qing Dynasty",is the investigation of new knowledge of strategies that were introduced during the period of time.The author argued that the scope of transmission is limited then and new knowledge didn't not confront or conflict with traditional knowledge of strategies, not to mention that it would become common sense among average Chinese.ChapterⅡ,known as "Transmission of Western Strategic Knowledge the Late Qing Dynasty",firstly outlines panoramic conditions that Western strategic works were translated and transmitted in China through ways and means integrated macroscopic and microscopic visions. Secondly,the chapter analyses and concludes characteristics of translation activities and their reasons from different angles of institutions, translators,sort,number of publications and choice of texts.Then it follows case studies focused on two representative works,one is Illustration of Operating of Firearms(《枪炮操法图说》)and the other one is New Significance of Naval Battles(《海战新义》).ChapterⅢ,about Institutions and Translation,is specifically focused on the Kiangnan Arsenal,an institution which played an important role during the process of translation and publication of Western strategic works.This chapter begins with investigation of the bureau's translation and publication,then chooses translators,sort, publication quantity and choice of texts as breakthrough points to analyze and to conclude characteristics of its translation activity.Then it follows the sorting of types and influence of their translation through the clew of representative translators domestically and from abroad,such as Shu Gaodi and John Fryer,to investigate their respective contributions to the translation of strategic works.ChapterⅣValue of Texts:A Case Study of Wang Tao's Records of the War between France and Prussia(《普法战纪》).The book was translated and edited by Wang Tao.The chapter begins with the investigation of the compilation process of this work,then analyses transmission of edition,content and literature values.Wang Tao's military thoughts and the influence of his works are also discussed in the chapter.AppendixⅠis a review work of the translations of Western strategic works.It is based on the works mentioned in the dissertation research and the reference to a large number of contents and literature of Late Qing Dynasty.AppendixⅡincludes contents of reference in this dissertation.