Comments on: Darwin the Confucian http://www.froginawell.net/china/2008/02/darwin-the-confucian/ The China History Group Blog Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:35:30 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: mondain http://www.froginawell.net/china/2008/02/darwin-the-confucian/comment-page-1/#comment-89381 mondain Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:14:32 +0000 http://www.froginawell.net/china/2008/02/darwin-the-confucian/#comment-89381 I've just found that ``nearly every household has a copy" appeared in Yan Fu's own revision for his collection of works. I’ve just found that “nearly every household has a copy” appeared in Yan Fu’s own revision for his collection of works.

]]> By: mondain http://www.froginawell.net/china/2008/02/darwin-the-confucian/comment-page-1/#comment-89378 mondain Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:50:38 +0000 http://www.froginawell.net/china/2008/02/darwin-the-confucian/#comment-89378 The exaggeration of Darwin's sales seems to be the translator's. I've just check the text in which Yan Fu simply said that ``nearly everyone has read it in Europe and America". Still, that's overestimated a bit. The exaggeration of Darwin’s sales seems to be the translator’s. I’ve just check the text in which Yan Fu simply said that “nearly everyone has read it in Europe and America”. Still, that’s overestimated a bit.

]]> By: Jonathan Dresner http://www.froginawell.net/china/2008/02/darwin-the-confucian/comment-page-1/#comment-89046 Jonathan Dresner Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:42:07 +0000 http://www.froginawell.net/china/2008/02/darwin-the-confucian/#comment-89046 I've always been struck by the way in which Spencer's ideas gave great hope to reformers in China and Japan. It's quite a challenge, explaining <a href="http://acephalous.typepad.com/acephalous/2008/02/this-is-how-ver.html" rel="nofollow">how important he was</a> to students who have no idea what an influential intellectual looks like. I know, Darwin isn't Spencer, and vice versa, but as you point out, Yan Fu doesn't completely distinguish them.... It's also interesting to see how admiring he was of Western society, but without being willing to abandon traditions entirely. I’ve always been struck by the way in which Spencer’s ideas gave great hope to reformers in China and Japan. It’s quite a challenge, explaining how important he was to students who have no idea what an influential intellectual looks like.

I know, Darwin isn’t Spencer, and vice versa, but as you point out, Yan Fu doesn’t completely distinguish them….

It’s also interesting to see how admiring he was of Western society, but without being willing to abandon traditions entirely.

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