"middle school is the body, western learning is the use", that is, "Chinese body and western learning are used" The guiding ideology of Westernization School in the late Qing Dynasty. China's theory of ethics, classics and history is original, while the technology of western science and technology is application. It was first put forward by Feng Guifen, and then systematically expounded by Zhang Zhidong in "Persuading to Learn".
"Zhong" refers to the three cardinal principles and eight aims, namely, Ming De, Xin Min and Supreme Good; Confucianism with discipline, knowledge, honesty, honesty, self-cultivation, keeping the family in order, governing the country and leveling the world as its core. "Western learning" refers to social sciences such as natural science, business science, education, foreign trade and public law of nations introduced into China in modern times.
On the basis of maintaining the feudal rule of the Qing Dynasty, he advocated adopting specific methods of natural science, technology, culture and education, such as gun-making, railway construction, mining and wire laying, to save the ruling crisis.
Academic achievements:
Feng Guifen's thought of linking Lin and Wei and enlightening Kang and Liang not only comes down in one continuous line with "Western learning and reform", but also takes the lead in proposing a method to solve the contradiction between China and the West and between ancient and modern times in the process of modernization, that is, "only learn from it". Feng Guifen's thought of "being obedient to goodness" is rooted in the intellectual tradition of China culture, and it is a valuable thought that grows out of China culture and can lead China culture to keep pace with the times, and it is also a vivid embodiment of the strong vitality of China culture.
During the Second Opium War, Feng Guifen discussed the problem of learning from the West in a more comprehensive way. He inherited the tradition of Lin Zexu and Wei Yuan, affirmed the slogan of "learning from foreigners to control foreigners" and advocated learning from western military industry. However, military industry is only one aspect of his study.
Feng Guifen pointed out that "in addition, such as arithmetic, emphasis on learning, visual science, optics, chemistry, must be reasonable. The books on the land are for mountains and rivers, and the products of Ethiopia are beyond the reach of many people. " I saw that "all kinds of work need farm tools and weaving tools, and wheels are much used." Get twice the result with half the effort and can be used to make a living. " The idea of using machines in industrial and agricultural production is clearly put forward. What skills do foreigners have? Feng Guifen's understanding has made great progress than Wei Yuan's. He concluded that China is not as easy as it is in five aspects.
In addition to realizing that strong guns are not as good as Man Zi, we also realize that "people are not as good as Man Zi, the land is not as good as Man Zi, and the name is not as good as Man Zi." Feng Guifen put forward the problem of "no distinction between monarch and people" here, which is very valuable. Feng Guifen put forward the idea of "self-strengthening and resisting foreigners", which he summarized as "teaching ethics in the name of China as the original, supplemented by the skills of enriching Qiang Bing."
Feng Guifen attaches great importance to China's own mastery of new technologies. He used a wonderful sentence: "Or, how about buying a boat and hiring someone?" Oh, no. Being able to build, repair and use is my sharp weapon. If it can't be built, repaired or used, it is still people's weapon. A sharp weapon in the hand can turn the bottom and make me hungry one day;
To transport salt, and one day I can eat it all; In order to get involved in the rivers and seas, and to make me drown again one day, it is temporary and very important to hire a boat by borrowing soldiers. At present, there is no gap between solids. There will be no gap in the future and it will not be permanent. Finally, there is no harm in self-creation, self-study and personal use. "This contains the idea that developing countries must master their own economic lifeline to ensure their independence when learning from developed countries. This idea has reference significance for the third world countries to deal with their relations with developed countries today.
Feng Guifen was dissatisfied with the corrupt rule of Qing Dynasty and suggested reforming the current politics. He attached great importance to western practical knowledge and advocated adopting western learning and manufacturing foreign tools. He became rich and strong on the basis of China's ethics, supplemented by foreign new skills. His thoughts and theories had a great influence on the Westernization School, and were also regarded as pioneers by the bourgeois reformists.
After Feng Guifen's death, his theory of governing the country, such as reducing redundant staff, refining rules, stopping donating money, changing the imperial examination, recruiting talents, abolishing martial arts, adopting western learning and making foreign instruments, was recognized and adopted by the court, and most of them were implemented. Even during the Guangxu period, it was necessary to reform and failed to deviate from his rule.