Considering Under The Vision Of Nationalism: Vincent Lebbe And His Causes In China

The nationalism was a branch of the modern nationalism of capitalist class. It evolved from the 18th century and prevailed in Europe in the 19th century, which was a result of the national movement of European capitalist class. The nationalism thought was introduced to China after Sino-Japanese War when all people struggled for the survival of their country. Qichao Liang and other reformers did their utmost to propagate this kind of thought. The nationalism group finally formed after the May Fourth Movement,and its main representative figures once had been Qi- Zeng, Jiaju Yu,etc. The basic contents of the nationalism include: "only country" , "only nationality";"getting rid of country thief inside", "resistting the power outside"; In addition, most nationalists emphasized that the national spirit and national consciousness were the most important factors to ensure existence and revival of a country."Social welfare"of Tianjin was established by the priest of Vincent lebbe ,and it had deep background of Catholicity . "Social welfare"of Tianjin insisited basic position of the nationalism unconsciously, though it had not put forward and prove the theory of the nationalism systemly. For the first place ,it safeguarded the unification of the motherland inside, objecting country's splitting. It could be easy to find this from the view of "Social welfare" for the domestic democratic revolution and the warlord's, faction battle. For the second place ,it insisted on punishing country thief inside, resistting the power outside, and safeguarding the national independence . It could be easy to find this in its opposition with Franch and Japanese.However,this nationalism was different from with its post nationlist for it embodied the character of reasonabless and limitness. This reasonable nationalism claimed that the backing of nationalism was decoratism,which meaned to launch " citizen diplomacy ", in other word, with the help of citizens,to promote negotiations with the outside, until making the last victory. At the same time,this reasonable nationalism claimed that inwards: the nationalism should be a forerunner for the decoratism. In other word,we should seek a certain balance between nationalism and deccoratism under the priority of the state. Firstly, we should develop a constitutional government, and state power must be running on the track of the constitution . Secondly, we should take people as a dominant factor. This not merely embodied in its aim for keeping social stability, and it still embodied in its economic goal which pursited "stability and welfare ".In addition, "Social welfare" and nationlists both emphasize -d national spirit, but "Social welfare" was not accordant with the latter for route of spirit -exercising. The nationalist regarded traditional ethics thought as the theory fulcrum to propagate the westen nationlism. But as for"Social welfare" and its founder Vincent lebbe ,they advocated thunderously Christianity, strengthening the " patriotic feeling " of Chinese to revitalize national spirit.But the question is that western missionary at that time treated the " patriotic feeling " differenely. And there was an approval crisis of understanding in Chinese Christ for their dual identity. All these made the problem thorny. This kind of situation reflected the intension between national country and God's country essentially, narrow nationalism and ecumenism,humanitarianism.If the fact that Vincent lebbe and western missionary tried to dissolve the contradiction from religious periphery, participating China modern cultural , politicalmovemrnts is supported, then facilitating the production of the nationality bishop thunderously actively after this, and the efforts to advance localization movement of Chinese Catholicity are valuable try which was carried on religious itself. This kind of try was no doubt an instinct reaction to nationalism surge of China at that time, but to a great extent, it was the result of breaking through the narrow nationalism position consciously.But the nationalism position of Vincent lebbe contradicted with his religious belief and mission inevitably,and finally, he still crashed into the mire of Christianism ecumenism.