Origin And Conflict Of Hu Shi's Concept Of Sinology

Hu Shi's attitude towards tradition has always been a hot topic among scholars. As a significant figure in the twentieth century academic and intellectual history in China (Yu Yingshi), Hu Shi voluntarily takes the responsibility of recreating Chinese civilization. Facing the turbulent society and fierce conflict between new and old, Chinese and western culture, he gradually absorbs our national cultural heritage and systemizes western civilization so as to introduce theories and principles into China, infusing fresh energies into"Sinology"on one side; on the other side he acts vigorously as a speaker to accept western civilization and calls on the countrymen's caution to take in foreign theories and principles. Therefore, he is destined to be placed on the state of ambivalence. After being forced to give his radical declaration, he has to continue his status of criticizing"Sinology"with a statement that ancient books should be given cautious notice. However, being a transitional figure between the old and the new, his dependence and expectations on"Sinology"are beyond imagination.Hu Shi has been dedicated to"Sinology"all his life. He prepared to be a supervisor to his countrymen during oversea study, after returning homeland, he began to systemize ancient national heritage and tried to realize his plan of recreating Chinese civilization, being active in calling on each school and educational institution to value educational career. His behaviors demonstrate that his fascination for"Sinology"is far more than critique on it. In 1923,"Sinology Booklist"came out which reveals Hu Shi's ideological construction of new tradition to recreate tradition."Sinology"belongs to culture about ideology and literature which evolves and develops in history. The more advanced a country becomes, the more progress"Sinology"will get."Sinology"plays a unique role in each era, which nowadays functions to help us to understand ancient cultural history and guide us to recreate civilization. It is the integration of all kinds of intelligence and social values rather than a pile of old books.This thesis aims to elaborate Hu Shi's concepts of"Sinology"which result in his ill reputation as well as its internal origin and conflict from three perspectives. Chapter One: Hu Shi's Systemizing National Cultural Heritage: Unavoidable Section. Through exploring Hu Shi's use of scientific measures during his early life in America and China, it suggests that systemizing national cultural heritage is an important procedure in recreating civilization, whose origin derives from his early life in America and influence of the others.Chapter Two: Controversy on"Sinology Booklist"in 1920s. Because of his methods and predictions in the course of systemizing national cultural heritage, Hu Shi's concept of"Sinology Booklist"is definitely rejected by most countrymen. This chapter analyzes the reason why Hu Shi and Liang Qichao had a controversy on"Sinology Booklist"so that it reveals their difference ideas about systemizing national cultural heritage and science turn out to be two different views on Chinese and western culture. Although Hu Shi's actions and his ideas appear contradictory, it can not be denied that he has tried to recreate civilization.Chapter Three: Hu Shi's"Sinology Booklist"and his research on"Sinology". Most of Hu Shi's Sinology research involves the twentieth century"Sinology Booklist", among which novels and classical Chinese poetries have played a significant role. It reveals his consistent idea that ancient books should given cautious notice and literature should echo the current history. However, through analyzing his emphasis on education, expectations on oversea students and his contradictory status in which he is dependent on"Sinology"while he has to drift apart from it in a radical way, it probes into the reasons why he faces such a contradictory state.Hu Shi's action to systemize national ancient heritage is against his declaration to criticize traditional culture and advocate western civilization, his emphasis on ancient Chinese prose also deviates from his western ideology. His western ideology has guided lots of radical figures to be devoted to revolting traditional civilization and practicing western civilization and science, while his behavior of systemizing national cultural heritage has paved way for many peoples'success in"Sinology", which has an indispensible role in preserving and promoting national cultural heritage. However, all these contradictions can not deny the fact that Hu Shi has been contributing to constructing Chinese culture.All sorts of hot concern with"Sinology"emerge like mushrooms after rain in such a new century. As a significant cultural leader in the May Fourth Movement in last century, Hu Shi worked as a central figure in systemizing national cultural heritage, his contradictory attitudes towards Sinology sets up a good example for us. Although there exist many researches about Hu Shi from many perspectives; a systematic work to study his contradictory attitudes towards"Sinology"is an untouched area, which is also the innovative aspect of this thesis.