论“中学为体西学为用”之实质及其影响

张之洞之所谓中学者,于政治乃君主专制,于人伦乃三纲五常;其所谓西学者,唯西艺、西政(技法)而已。“先以中学固其根底,然后择西学可补吾缺者用之,西政之可启吾疾者取之。”盖张氏之“中体西用者”,于学术人心固“独尊儒术”之变种也。张氏喋喋焉倡“保国、保教、保种”之巧言,终本不外保清廷、保专制、保独裁,达忠君之志者。“中体西用”之说,蓄数代陋儒曲士之旨趣,钩沉两千余年之痼疾,故其流播悠远,渍染深邃,暗流潜溪,墨浸环宇,固民治不进之厉阶,必去之而后民权民主能自安者也。

On the Substance of "Chinese Learning as the Fundamental Structure, Western Learning for Practical Use" and its Influences

Zhang zhidong held that Chinese learning (a late Qing Dynasty term for Chinese traditional learning) meant carrying out autocratic monarchy in politics and the three cardinal guides in human relations, and Western learning was merely skills for practical use. He put forward the thought that Chinese learning should be the foundation, and the western learning could be replenishments for the insufficient parts of the Chinese learning. The substance of Zhang zhidong's thought of "Chinese learning as the fundamental structure, western learning for practical use"was to preserve the feudal dictatorship rule of the Qing government. His thought reflected the influences of the culture of Confucianism on many scholars for more than 2000 years. This spreading ideology blocked in the way of democratic politics building and must be deserted in order to realize civil rights and democracy.