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中國現代國家的起源

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余英時、許倬雲、王賡武、金耀基|共同推薦



哈佛中國史研究大家「數十年研究的圓滿總結」

走進歷史深處,揭示自帝制晚期延續至今的根本性問題



孔飛力關於中國現代國家起源的精彩系列論文,繼承了他老師史華慈的知識關懷,探討並揭示了舊帝國之下的社會和現代民族國家形成之間的深層聯繫。

—— 曼素恩( Susan Mann,美國亞洲學會前主席、加州大學榮退教授)

對專家和普通讀者來說,孔飛力的這本書都極為重要,其中不僅提出了促使人們思考的新史論,對人們所熟悉的19世紀以來的中國歷史敘述也作了令人耳目一新的再構建。

—— 羅威廉(William T. Rowe,美國約翰.霍普金斯大學歷史系講座教授)

這本書的篇幅不大,但卻精深博廣、充滿睿智。孔飛力是駕馭史料和史論的大師,書中每一頁都透露出了他宏大的專業知識和學術智慧。

——《亞洲研究雜誌》書評

本書的旨趣在於彰顯中國現代國家如何在「內部的歷史演變」與外在力量衝擊之中出現。作者討論的「根本性問題」所形成之「建制議程」,將帝制晚期與現代中國歷史連結在一起。本書展現中國現代性中普世性與特殊性相結合的特點,對整體掌握現代中國之面貌有重要啟示。

—— 黃克武(台灣中央研究院近代史研究所所長)

這是一位有著深刻「中國關切」的著名歷史學家寫的一本滲透著人文關懷、深邃思考和批判理念的偉大歷史著作。

—— 許紀霖(華東師範大學歷史系教授)



中國現代國家的形成在何種意義上是一種「中國的」過程?本書認為,早在鴉片戰爭之前,中國內部就面臨著諸多根本性問題上的深刻危機。而如今這個「現代國家」,是兩個世紀以來對於這些內部挑戰不斷回應的結果。作者探討的正是在其形成過程中,中國本土提供的知識資源,即「現代性」的中國經驗。

在本書中,作者分別從政治參與、政治競爭與政治控制三個角度入手,探索「現代國家」在中國形成和發展的「根本性議程」:在政治參與的拓展與國家權力之間的關係問題上,作者重新審視魏源基於經書典章的傳統所提出的思考;在探討公共利益是否能同政治競爭相協調的問題上,回顧晚清改革家馮桂芬的非正統建議在當時官僚中所引起的反應;面對調和國家財政需求同地方社會需要的問題,對比了清政府與共產黨政府通過政治控制所做的不同努力和試驗。
作者認為,中國「現代性」的構建,包括這個現代國家的實現若成為可能,所根據的將不是西方的路徑,而是中國自己的條件與經驗。而中國的「現代國家」經驗,不僅與中國有關,也具有普世意義。

231 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

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About the author

Philip A. Kuhn

6 books48 followers
Philip A. Kuhn (Chinese name: simplified Chinese: 孔飞力, 孔复礼; traditional Chinese: 孔飛力, 孔復禮; born September 9, 1933) was an American academic, sinologist and the Francis Lee Higginson Professor of History and of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Emeritus, at Harvard University.

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62 reviews4 followers
September 8, 2022
Modern political system is generally thought to be brought to China by westerners. However the author tapped into writings of Chinese intellects in late Qing to explore the ‘Chinese root’ of subsequent modernisation efforts by the Republic and the People’s Republic. Although the account was unconvincing in terms of establishing a Chinese origins of modern Chinese state, it did however illustrate attempts of literati, who prioritised national interests, on addressing problems of their era and how did these proposals reconcile with western political ideas.

One surprising thing about the book is it shed lights on the plight of literati under the framework of civil service examination. The author mentioned there were a lot of literati who failed to secure a job in government. Huge amount of intellects, who share same culture status with officials but possess a much inferior position in power gradient. It is foreseeable that unemployment and social instability will be the consequences between this huge mismatch between vacancies offered by government and the competition. Would be interesting to read a book that probe deeper into this issue!
Profile Image for William.
258 reviews2 followers
October 17, 2023
Philip Kuhn short essay on Chinese government is a excellent short read. He is a Qing expert and he begins with the problems of the late Qianlong period on onwards to the example of Wei Yuan in the 19th century.

He has a detailed discussion of the elite of the Qing period, the literati as well as the relationship to the clerks.
37 reviews
April 17, 2025
还是不能接受把国家作一体行动者分析,三大矛盾和不少细节论断,都很难说是条分缕析的上升到了国家层面的普遍化;及,为什么那三大矛盾是唯三的、“根本”的?孔飞力评论“魏源将诠释《诗经》当作发表政治评论的手段”(35/36),我有点怀疑孔飞力也将诠释晚清史料当成了阐发西方现代性的手段,虽然我读着非常有启发。他自觉抵制西方现代性的学理霸权,但他的概念框架、理论关怀皆出自那一套学术训练。我觉得,无根据的崇拜或敌视西方现代性,自煎于这些西方话语体系下的宏大议题,不如反刍文化焦虑/政治焦虑的来源(我没这焦虑,但见过有的人),或“我所处的这个社群有哪些微观问题”,解决问题的途上,如果西方现代性恰巧是良药,那就吃,不是就不吃。能否秉这种思路,运本土概念理论写根本性议程的历史?比较历史分析的手法可堪把玩。
Profile Image for Emily Yang.
127 reviews1 follower
November 13, 2023
导读可以不看。最末一章对比魏源和梁启超改革主张的异同高屋建瓴,他们各自的主张里各自的局限,就是这个大国一百多年的现代化之路如此泥泞不堪的原因吧
11 reviews2 followers
May 11, 2023
An essential work for any reader seriously interested in Chinese history or politics. Radically original and utterly brilliant. Will be reading much more Kuhn in the future!
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18 reviews6 followers
April 25, 2007
i like kuhn a lot. this is one of those end of a career academic works synthesizing a lifetime of research.
Profile Image for Jessica Zu.
1,250 reviews174 followers
September 9, 2015
Totally love Kuhn analysis of Chinese governmentality--with an incisive view on the key constitutional issues of big China from late Qing till Mao's era.
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134 reviews2 followers
February 4, 2020
现代国家在中国的诞生,这个说起来有点拗口的问题,孔飞力通过四篇文章阐述其特点、过程以及根源问题。个别地方的翻译略生硬,但总体可读性还是较高的。
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