论美国早期汉学研究

美国汉学兴起于19世纪中叶，起步虽晚，但发展迅速。早期美国汉学研究有两个显著的特征：一是以来华传教士为主体。裨治文、卫三畏是其中主要代表。他们精通中文，熟悉中国历史文化，汉学研究水平之高、程度之深、范围之广是前所未有的。二是注重中国现实特别是关注中国近代化问题的研究，从而开启了美国汉学注重现实的先河，使汉学研究摆脱了欧洲汉学古典规范的束缚。但早期美国汉学也存在着缺乏专职性和研究群体单一性的严重不足。

On the Study of Sinology in the Early America

American sinology formed in the middle of 19th century. It was late for beginning but developed rapidly. American sinology studies had two traits; one was the missionaries in China as the main part of sinologiests, such as E. C. Bridgman and S. W. Williams. They understood Chinese language and had an extremely high degree research of Chinese history and culture. The other was the sinology studies paid close attention to the Chinese social problems,particularly the issues of Chinese modernization,which marked the beginning of American Chinese studies. This was also the noticeable difference between American sinology and the European classical model. However,the early American sinology was insufficient in professional groups of studies.