The “World Situation” Theory in Late Qing and the Driving Force of the 1911 Revolution

The term “world”,originated from Buddhism,began to be used to designate the actual globe around the time of the Sino-Japanese War,and then became an important concept for the Chinese to view the relationship between China and foreign countries.Consequently,the theory of the “world situation”,which was based on the intense international competition caused by the “world policy” of the great powers,became popular in the last decade of the Qing Dynasty.It was spread from Japan to China,focusing first on a macro judgement and later on China,changing its calling for coping with the great powers to domestic reforms.Liang Qichao advocated it first,the students who studied in Japan responded to it,and the domestic scholars championed it later,and eventually it come to involve all aspects of politics,economy,military,culture,and education,resulting in a strong air of change in China based on the “world situation”.The theory of “world situation” marked the change of Chinese literati's understanding of the foreign world from a local,partial perspective to a global and comprehensive one,and at the same time,it also gave the concept of “the world” a focus and a main emphasis.It played a driving role for the 1911 Revolution that marked a big step for China toward the world.Its generalized and prescriptive role shows that,in the era of nation rivalry,the external situation,the literati consciousness,and the people's minds were all significant for the rise of a nation and the survival of a regime.