| dc.description.abstract | This paper focuses on Nianci Xu, presents interaction processes among new-school intellectuals in Changshu, and examines how transformed literati moved from a provincial town to the commercially prosperous Shanghai and initiated the enlightenment of mass culture through new educational groups and publishers. By performing a text analysis on Xu’s translation works, science fiction works, and encyclopedic undertakings, this study elucidated Xu’s perspectives on science, rationality, and enlightenment, which prompted Xu to embark on the construction of a knowledge structure upon which his personal educational philosophy was applied in pursuit of global enlightenment.
In this paper, the introduction section presents the research motivation and chapter arrangement, reviews the strengths and weaknesses of related studies, and identifies methods and direction for subsequent studies. Chapter 2 focuses on the environmental and historical backdrop and the processes through which Changshu’s literati headed by Xu developed a new-school society and publishing businesses. Furthermore, Chapter 2 describes frustrations and difficulties encountered by the literati who promoted the cause of enlightenment. Chapter 3 depicts how literati in Changshu moved to Shanghai and how their Xiao Shuo Lin company struck a balance between business and ideals to advocate their enlightenment ideas. Furthermore, Chapter 3 analyzes how the literati broke through the traditional geographical friend-making network and collaborated for western learning undertakings. Also in Chapter 3, the cultural engineering of the Terminological Dictionary of Natural is used to examine how the western learning literati of Changshu applied their ideals and what they had learned to enlighten people, in an effort to save the country and promote a profound modern vision. In Chapter 4, Xu’s translation works “Hai Wai Tian” and “Xin Wu Tai” are analyzed to understand his thoughts regarding enlightenment, science and technology, and patriotism. In Chapter 5, Xu’s translation work “Hei Xing Xing” and his science fiction work “ Xin Fa Luo Xian Sheng Tan” are used to describe the mutual influence of Xu’s personal enlightenment ideas and scientific fantasies, and to explore how Xu adjusted his thoughts regarding the end of science and technology, the end of the world, and the relationship between science and morality. Finally, in the conclusion section, the contributions and influences of Xu’s cultural enlightenment undertakings are discussed to complete this research. | en_US |