明治日本的汉字观与日本人的自我认识

汉字最初传到日本之时作为象征神圣与权威的事物被日本人民所崇拜。然而到了近代特别是明治时期以来众多的知识分子却提出了以废除汉字为主的汉字观,并开展了盛极一时的汉字废除运动。明治知识分子的这种汉字观是受国学者及水户学者的影响而发展起来的自国优越思想。明治时期的汉字认识过程实际上就是自我身份构建的过程,既自我认识的过程。

On Chinese Characters in Meiji Japanese and Japanese Self-recognition

The Chinese character was considered as holy and authoritative thing worshipped by Japanese people when it was originally introduced into Japan. However, since modern times, especially Meiji Time, numerous Japanese intellectuals put forward a viewpoint on Chinese characters which focused on abolishing Chinese characters in Japanese and developed Chinese abolishment movement which prevailed for a long time. Influenced by Kokugaku scholars and Mito scholars, the intellectuals developed the viewpoint from the thoughts that Japan was superior to other countries. The process of Chinese recognition in Meiji Time was actually the process of identity construction, namely, the process of self-recognition.