The Westernization Group Ministers's Cross-cultural Cogition Of The “West”

Cross-cultural cognition is an important component of the interaction and exchange between countries,nations and cultures in the context of globalization.In the present study,“cross-cultural cognition” is defined as the acquisition and application of external heterogeneous cultural information by the subject,and more precisely,as a behavior involving the transformation of heterogeneous cultural information into his own knowledge and the use of this knowledge to guide his social practice.The cognition of “The West” by the ministers of the Westernization Group in the Late Qing Dynasty,such as Yì X?n,Wen Xiang,Zeng Guofan,Zuo Zongtang,Li Hongzhang,and Zhang Zhidong,is typically cross-cultural,and the Westernization Movement is the product of their “West” cross-cultural cognition.A processing process model for the “West” information acquired by ministers in the Westernization Group is proposed as the research framework based on theories of cognitive psychology,communication,cross-cultural psychology,and cross-cultural communication,especially the schema theory and genetic epistemology in the field of cognitive psychology,and Axelrod's information processing process model and Goffman's interpretation of the frame theory in the area of communication and other theories.Specifically,the original “West” schema the ministers in Westernization Group have would be activated spontaneously after new information about “The West” is available,and the information would be incorporated into the original schema for assimilation.New information would be assimilated successfully if it matches the original schema and would be recognized and interpreted according to the schema,which further enhances the schema,and finally leads to a balance between the subject and the object.New information would not be assimilated if it does not conform to or even conflicts with the original schema and would be recognized and interpreted based on the new characteristics of the information after moving into the phase of cognition adjustment,which results in modifications of the original schema or establishment of a new schema and eventually a balance between the subject and the object.In short,the final result of “West” information processing by ministers in the Westernization Group will become the basis for the subsequent processing of new information about “West”,no matter whether the processing leads to the strengthening of the original schema,its modifications or the establishment ofa new schema.The study reveals that the cross-cultural cognition of “The West” by ministers of the Westernization Group starts from the “Westernization Movement”,and ever since then,“The West” has become an important subject in the practice of the cross-cultural cognition which features particular purposes,relevant practices,psychological complexity,partial stance on values,multi-dimensional feelings and individual differences.The sources of the cognition include the conventional interpretation “The West” as being “barbarian and inferior”,the introduction of western artifacts,the soft but solid influence of western literatures and beliefs,the face-to-face communication with “westerners” and the in-person visits to “The West”.The development process of the cross-cultural cognition of “West” may be sorted out and the development and transformation of the cognition schema may be understood by the timelines of historical development under the research framework of the “West” information processing process model.Based on their life experiences and cultural foundation,the initial schema of cross-cultural cognition of “West” by ministers in the Westernization Group is barbarians that can be embraced and controlled,and changed from barbarians to tyrannical barbarians after Gengshen Event.They believed that Western strength relies on its firm ships and advanced artillery in the beginning of the Westernization Movement,and then in the middle stage they realized that Western military strength is supported by science and education and business system,and finally in the last stage of Westernization Movement and the Late Qing Reforms period they admitted that Western strength is based on its political system.The processing process model for“West” information is continuous and cyclic as shown in the timelines,and thus explains the development of cross-cultural cognition of“West”.Based on this,the psychological process model of cross-cultural cognition of“West”by ministers in the Westernization Group can be summarized as follows:The initial schema:“barbarians”that can be embraced and controlled-“assimilation”of West:a task that cannot be accomplished-cognition adjustment:continuous modifications to form a new scheme-balance between the subject and the object,i.e.the“West” schema is used to guide the Westernization Movement.The cross-cultural cognition development of “The West” by ministers of the Westernization Group stems from their Chinese cultural root,including the claim ofsuperiority in “Confucianism” and “Civilized China”,the assertion of inferiority in“Barbarian West”,the loyalty and devotion to the emperor and monarchy,the conventional exclusion of outsiders and the quick-success pragmatism in traditional Chinese philosophy.In terms of results,the cross-cultural cognition of “The West”has a big impact on the practice of “Westernization Movement”.A westernized Chinese style was put forward to solve the dilemma encountered during the learning from the West and political reforms were proposed for the Qing government in Late Qing Reforms period after the Westernization Movement.However,the cross-cultural cognition of “West” has the limitation of being “inner self first”.In other words,they insisted on Chinese cultural centralism,and considered learning from the West as a way to conquer and control the West.In addition,the conflict and confrontation between “inner self” and “alter ego” are obvious and the guiding ideology of westernized Chinese style is essentially an unfit cultural eclecticism.These factors influence and determine the fate and outcome of the Westernization Movement and finally results its failure.The study and reflection on the cross-cultural cognition of "The West" by ministers in the Westernization Group is of much significance as well as help for the current development of cross-cultural cognition both academically and practically.Nowadays,international political,economic and cultural connection and exchanges are increasingly expanding as the result of globalization,but there are still many obstacles on the road to globalization.Regarding this,the approach to a better development of cross-cultural cognition is advised from the macro and the micro levels,namely the country and the individuals.At the macro level,different countries must strive to establish an agreement that is grounded from the political sovereign equality,mutually beneficial exchange of international cultures and trade and the notion of a community with a shared future for mankind as the political premise for the common good of heterogeneous cultures;At the micro level,we ought to be aware of the equality between the culturally different “others” and “us”,improve the capabilities of cross-cultural cognition and promote the harmonious co-existence of “inner self” and “alter ego” cultures with the perspective of“inter-culturalism”.