書評──楊慧玲編：《文明互鑒：世界著名漢學家訪談錄》鄭州：大象出版社，2021年9月

Book Review: Yang Huiling (ed.), Civilizational Dialogue: Interviews with World-Renowned Sinologists. Zhengzhou: DaXiang Publishing House, 2021.

漢學家與華人學者的不同在於他們具有「異域之眼」，能夠從異文化的角度，對於方法論與問題意識的重新檢視，再次發掘中國文化的豐富內涵。此外，也能夠試圖貼近研究對象所處的脈絡氛圍，因此觀察漢學家們如何治學，對於華人學界而言自然是很有幫助的。幫助的好處主要可以反映在兩點上：第一，中國文化成為跨文化、跨語言、跨學科的研究領域，而不再僅是限制於自身生長的文化土壤之中，「中國文化」成為一種研究的方法。第二，漢學研究的資源變成無所不在，「中國文化」的闡釋隨著漢學領域的不斷拓廣，使得被研究對象的意涵也正在逐漸增長，甚至達到不同文化之間的對話與交流，豐富彼此的文化生命。透過以上兩點的扼要說明，結合近來楊慧玲編：《文明互鑒：世界著名漢學家訪談錄》，正是扣緊如此意涵，如同書中前言所說「這些站在職業生涯之巔的海外學者，對中西文化交流的問題有著清醒的認識，對文化交流的未來仍有疑慮：如何讓我們的世界因文化交流而更美好」？一般來說，漢學研究是持續不斷更新的狀態，透過「異域之眼」而得以看到不同文化的研究者，對於漢學如何進行分析研究；也值得注意的一點是討論漢學家們的研究歷程與心境轉換，分享他們在思想交流中的文化果實。

The distinction between sinologists and Chinese scholars lies in the former’s“outsider’s perspective,”which enables them to reexamine methodologies and research questions from a cross-cultural standpoint, thereby rediscovering the rich nuances of Chinese culture. Furthermore, they are able to immerse themselves in the contextual atmosphere of their research subjects. Therefore, observing how Sinologists conduct their research is naturally very helpful for the Chinese academic community. The benefits of this assistance are primarily reflected in two aspects: First, Chinese culture has become a field of research that transcends cultures, languages, and disciplines, no longer confined to the cultural background in which it originated;“Chinese culture”has become a research method in itself. Second, resources for Sinological research have become ubiquitous. As the field of Sinology continues to expand, the interpretation of“Chinese culture”has led to a gradual deepening of the subject’s significance, even facilitating dialogue and exchange between different cultures, thereby enriching the cultural lives of all involved. Through this brief explanation of the two points, combined with the recent publication“Civilizational Dialogue: Interviews with World-Renowned Sinologists,”edited by Yang Huiling, we see that the book precisely captures this significance. As stated in the book’s preface,“These overseas scholars, standing at the pinnacle of their careers, possess a clear understanding of the issues surrounding Sino-Western cultural exchange, yet they still harbor doubts about its future:‘How can we make our world a better place through cultural exchange?’”Generally speaking, Sinology is in a state of constant renewal. Through the“Foreign Eyes,”researchers from different cultural backgrounds offer insights into how Sinology is analyzed and studied. It is also worth noting the discussion of Sinologists’research journeys and shifts in perspective, as they share the cultural fruits of their intellectual exchanges.