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陸海之間：東南亞與世界文明
陸海之間的東南亞，如何在古往今來各大文明的
沖刷下，不斷重新自我定義？
史學大家王賡武60年學術積澱，思考文明的本質與出路
「有兩個畫面始终清晰地留在我的腦海中：其一是「陸地盡頭」（Ujong Tanah），其二是「漂泊」（merantau）。帶著這兩幅浮現的畫面，我以嶄新的眼光觀察了新加坡與眾多世界之間許多意想不到的聯繫。...... 前者讓我思考文化和文明的起源，後者則引領我探討全球化世界中現代文明所面臨的民族問題。」
史學大家王賡武以六十年學術深耕為基礎，結合其在馬來西亞、新加坡、香港等多元文化環境的親身體悟，精要概述印度、中華、伊斯蘭等古代文明和現代文明在東南亞的互動與交匯，以及東南亞地區如何在世界歷史多重脈絡的層疊交織下，發展出自己的歷史和傳統，講述一個在古往今來的文明洪流之中「調整和適應的非凡故事」。王教授以此對「文明」與「文化」這一對經典命題提出了新的闡釋，並嘗試為當代世界的衝突與焦慮提供可能的解方。
沖刷下，不斷重新自我定義？
史學大家王賡武60年學術積澱，思考文明的本質與出路
「有兩個畫面始终清晰地留在我的腦海中：其一是「陸地盡頭」（Ujong Tanah），其二是「漂泊」（merantau）。帶著這兩幅浮現的畫面，我以嶄新的眼光觀察了新加坡與眾多世界之間許多意想不到的聯繫。...... 前者讓我思考文化和文明的起源，後者則引領我探討全球化世界中現代文明所面臨的民族問題。」
史學大家王賡武以六十年學術深耕為基礎，結合其在馬來西亞、新加坡、香港等多元文化環境的親身體悟，精要概述印度、中華、伊斯蘭等古代文明和現代文明在東南亞的互動與交匯，以及東南亞地區如何在世界歷史多重脈絡的層疊交織下，發展出自己的歷史和傳統，講述一個在古往今來的文明洪流之中「調整和適應的非凡故事」。王教授以此對「文明」與「文化」這一對經典命題提出了新的闡釋，並嘗試為當代世界的衝突與焦慮提供可能的解方。
208 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2025
3 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Wang Gungwu
95 books46 followersWang Gungwu is an academic who has studied and written about the Chinese diaspora, although he has objected to the use of the word diaspora to describe the migration of Chinese from China, because it is inaccurate and has been used to perpetuate fears of a "Chinese threat". He was born in Surabaya, Indonesia, and grew up in Ipoh, Malaysia. He completed his secondary education in Anderson School, Ipoh before going to the university.
He studied history in the University of Malaya, Singapore, where he received both his Bachelor and Masters degrees. He holds a Ph.D. from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (1957) for his thesis on The structure of power in North China during the Five Dynasties. He taught at the University of Malaya (in both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur) before going to Canberra in 1968 to become Professor of Far Eastern History in the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies (RSPAS) at Australian National University. He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong from 1986 to 1995. In 2007, Wang became the third person to be named University Professor by the National University of Singapore.
He studied history in the University of Malaya, Singapore, where he received both his Bachelor and Masters degrees. He holds a Ph.D. from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (1957) for his thesis on The structure of power in North China during the Five Dynasties. He taught at the University of Malaya (in both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur) before going to Canberra in 1968 to become Professor of Far Eastern History in the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies (RSPAS) at Australian National University. He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong from 1986 to 1995. In 2007, Wang became the third person to be named University Professor by the National University of Singapore.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 11, 2024
Lots of rambling and repetition in this book, but the key concepts propounded by the author are summarized below.
Difference between Cultures and Civilisations: The author posits that there can be many cultures and sub-cultures, but there are only four old civilizations (Indic, Sinic, Islamic, and Christian) and a fifth new one, i.e., Neo-modern, created by the Global Maritime which created a different new world. His definition of culture is something every group has shared because they developed it together. It is something that they identify as their very own, which makes culture resilient and distinct. But civilization, as he explains it, stemmed from visionary efforts by prophets and teachers to explain, through first principles, how the universe evolved and the meaning of life on earth, and in turn, developing conceptual and moral systems to uplift everyone beyond their local cultures to inspire borderless common humanity and purpose. This rather simplistic explanation seems to ignore the Native American and Australian - or at least does not give these cultures the exalted status of "civilization".
Then he devotes pages to developing the history of the Global Maritime and how it resulted in flowering of imperial Hellenistic power and Roman empire, but thereafter the idea that modern civilization could go further and bring progress to humankind without any divine intervention. This atheism, capitalism, call it what you will- he calls Enlightened Modern. Here he explains how the ancient civilizations interacted in varying ways with this new arrival, and the growth of nation states, which also brings him to a discussion of Singapore that tries to develop a plural society drawing from the best of the civilizations for its idea of modernization and development.
For me the best part of the book and most valuable was the last section on South East Asia. Living with Civilizations, is the part that made the most sense to me and covers new ground.
The book is an easy read, I read it in just 2 sittings on a long flight.
Difference between Cultures and Civilisations: The author posits that there can be many cultures and sub-cultures, but there are only four old civilizations (Indic, Sinic, Islamic, and Christian) and a fifth new one, i.e., Neo-modern, created by the Global Maritime which created a different new world. His definition of culture is something every group has shared because they developed it together. It is something that they identify as their very own, which makes culture resilient and distinct. But civilization, as he explains it, stemmed from visionary efforts by prophets and teachers to explain, through first principles, how the universe evolved and the meaning of life on earth, and in turn, developing conceptual and moral systems to uplift everyone beyond their local cultures to inspire borderless common humanity and purpose. This rather simplistic explanation seems to ignore the Native American and Australian - or at least does not give these cultures the exalted status of "civilization".
Then he devotes pages to developing the history of the Global Maritime and how it resulted in flowering of imperial Hellenistic power and Roman empire, but thereafter the idea that modern civilization could go further and bring progress to humankind without any divine intervention. This atheism, capitalism, call it what you will- he calls Enlightened Modern. Here he explains how the ancient civilizations interacted in varying ways with this new arrival, and the growth of nation states, which also brings him to a discussion of Singapore that tries to develop a plural society drawing from the best of the civilizations for its idea of modernization and development.
For me the best part of the book and most valuable was the last section on South East Asia. Living with Civilizations, is the part that made the most sense to me and covers new ground.
The book is an easy read, I read it in just 2 sittings on a long flight.
July 29, 2025
Not the most hardbaked but fascinating concept
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews