晚清現代性開展中首開風氣的先鋒：陳季同（1852-1907）

陳季同（1852-1907），一位受過傳統國學訓練，又有健全的西學素養，曾追隨郭嵩燾、李鳳苞、曾紀澤、薛福成等駐歐使節大臣，縱橫倚闔於法德等國，在中西外交交涉上扮演重要角色的外交官，在中西文化的交流折衝中以及現代性（modernity）的追求中，作出了為一般學界所忽視的重大貢獻。早在一般士人尚未與西方有接觸之前，陳季同已然有機會接觸到西方，爾後並在歐洲生活了16 年，廣泛悠遊於法德社交界、文化界。陳季同不僅以法文寫出重要的介紹中國文化的著作（如《中國人自畫像》，1884），膾炙人口，多次再版，受到西方讀者的歡迎，而且將西方文學觀念介紹入中國，可說是晚清時期對於西方文學發展最瞭若指掌，並將中國文學帶入「世界文學」的第一位文人。在此一現代性開展的過程中，陳季同這樣得風氣之先的知識份子，到底扮演了什麼樣的角色？他的心路歷程為何？在此一中∕西、新∕舊、自我∕他者的矛盾中他扮演了何種角色？而在此錯綜複雜的關係中他又如何自處？如何安身立命？本文希望由思想史，文學史角度來探討這位在中國現代性開展中首開風氣的重要人物。

關鍵字

陳季同；現代性；福州船政學堂；《中國人自畫像》；曾樸

並列摘要

General Tcheng Ki-tong (Chen Jitong, 1852-1907), a well-trained Late Qing Chinese diplomat, served as an attaché to famous envoys such as Guo Songtao, Zeng Jize, had played a vital role in the exchange of the Western and Chinese culture. In addition he was also an eminent proponent in the pursuit of Chinese modernity. Long before most of the Chinese intellectuals had any chance of getting themselves familiar with the West, Chen was already an active one in introducing Western culture and literature into China and translating Chinese literature into French and made it part of world literature. This paper will look into the role he played in the pursuit of Chinese modernity as well as his important position in the development of a new concept of literature in Late Qing period.