The Study Of The Natio Konan’s Hypothesis Of “Modern China Starts In The Song Period”

Naito Konan’s hypothesis of “China’s Modern History Started in the Song Dynasty” has widely influenced Chinese historiography since the mid 20 th century. However, little systematic research on the hypothesis has been carried out in academia. Any historical understanding is rooted in its time, and this is especially true for the Naito’s Hypothesis. To a large extent, it is not so much constructed on the basis of a full study of the Tang and the Song Dynasties as a strong reality concern.Starting with the analysis of Naito Konan’s major experiences and academic activities, this thesis points out that Naito’s thoughts and academic direction, synchronizing with the change of modern Japanese society and its foreign relations, are guided by his reality concerns. As Japan became the dominant power in East Asian and moved on the path of expansion, Naito constructed a vision of oriental culture and focused his concerns on China. In this process, studying Chinese history became Naito’s effective methods to solve practical problems. Naito’s Hypothesis was put forward to answer the question of China`s political future after the Revolution of 1911. By analyzing the long modern time since the Song Dynasty, Naito pointed out that despite the possibility of being a republic country, China did not have the political implementation capability, which set the stage for other countries, especially Japan, to interfere in China’s affair. Naito’s Hypothesis became one of the argumentations of legality for Japanese invasion to China.The Naito’s Hypothesis is a grand statement about the phases of Chinese history in the political, economic and cultural aspects. This thesis examines the empirical basis for each of these aspects, and points out quite a few questions such as inconsistencies between many basic statements and historical facts, excessive interpretation of historical data and its significance, misunderstanding and negligence of other important relevant facts, etc. The Hypothesis is not strict in logic, and shows the following problems: unclear and misused concepts, lack of evidence in the demonstration process, isolated evidence, induction by simple enumeration, avoidance of the disproof, and judgment put forward in a way of deductive logic, etc. From the perspective of its theory source, the core concepts of Naito’s Hypothesis and the theoretical elements in the “Middle Ages”---“Modern Ages” pattern are consistent with those in the history writings on western civilization introduced to Japan after the Meiji Restoration. The Hypothesis is a narration about Chinese history within the framework of Universal History which centers on the western civilization. Examining the historical data sources of Naito’s Hypothesis, it is found that many of his historical judgment were quoted from the historians in the Ming and the Qing dynasties instead of direct historical facts.In conclusion, Naito’s Hypothesis is not a precise or wholly convincing theory about Chinese history, but a brash interpretation which adopted the model of western historical explanation in theory, and mixed other historian’s writings and his own vague understanding about Chinese history.