Research On Transformation Of Lin Shu’s Thoughts

This thesis studies the ideological transformation of Lin Shu by analyzing the prefaces and postscripts of Lin’s translations.Based on the contents as well as the change of quantity and translating enthusiasm of these complex prefaces and postscripts,these prefaces and postscripts are divided into two time periods.Then these prefaces and postscripts of the two time periods are analyzed and compared from these aspects such as ethics,literary ideology,martial spirit,and political revolution.The early prefaces and postscripts mainly involve ethics,literary ideology,and the thought of saving nation.Lin Shu,who has received traditional education from early age,would unconsciously preach the Confucian Ethics in his prefaces and postscripts.But he also favored the Western free and independent view of love,supported setting up women schools,and advocated women’s rights.Lin Shu compared Chinese literature and Western literature,and he appreciated the advantages of modern western literature.In order to save the nation,he supported the Reform Movement of 1898.In his prefaces and postscripts,Lin Shu advocated the martial spirit,and strongly appealed to compatriots to learn from the West.These prefaces and postscripts witness that Lin Shu has advocated the reform of government system,and encouraged young students to learn from the West for the survival of the nation.After the Revolution of 1911,the chaotic political situation made Lin Shu feel disgusted and disappointed with the “republic” system.In the meantime,he noted that the traditional culture and ethics are about to collapse.He began to show his worry about the collapse of Confucian ethics in these prefaces and postscripts in his later translations.Lin Shu’s thoughts tend to be conservative gradually,and his translations gradually had no passion.Lin Shu began to turn to collate the ancient Chinese prose.The New Culture Movement which advocates opposing tradition,Confucianism,and classical Chinese directly hit Lin Shu.The controversy centering on classical Chineseand modern Chinese that between Lin Shu and the favorers of the New Culture Movement made Lin Shu become the remaining evils of feudalism.He was regarded as the enemy of the New Culture Movement and a completely frustrated anachronism.In retrospect,Whether he is a innovator or a fogey,Lin Shu’s ideological transformation are all about the choice between Chinese culture and Western culture.Compared with the advocates of the New Culture Movement in modern times,Lin Shu is the typical representative of Chinese traditional literati under the movement of introducing knowledge from West to East.The process of ideological transformation of Lin Shu reflects the contradiction and complexity of the thought of traditional literati under the impact of Western culture.