Journal of Chaohu University ›› 2022, Vol. 24 ›› Issue (6): 123-130.doi: 10.12152/j.issn.1672-2868.2022.06.014

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The Response of Modern Intellectuals to the "Superstition": Centering on Local Chronicles and Records

SONG Lu-lu:School of History and Archives, Yunnan University   

  1. School of History and Archives, Yunnan University, Kunming Yunnan 650091
  • Received:2022-05-13 Online:2022-11-25 Published:2023-03-02

Abstract: The end of Qing dynasty and the beginning of Republic of China is an important period of the conflict between new and old thoughts. In this context, the word Mixin ("Superstition") was introduced from Japan, and then set off a wave of discussion in the literary world. The new intellectuals, with their keen observation, were the first to respond to "superstition". As a result of the rapid rise of new ideas, the voice of traditional Confucian intellectuals was dying out. However, by combing the historical materials about "superstition" in the local chronicles of the Republic of China, it is found that the spreading of "superstition" was not achieved overnight, but showed diversified development paths with the early, middle and late stages. The revelation of this complex construction process needs to fully combine with the old and new intellectuals' viewpoints in order for us to clearly understand the alternative state of "superstition" in the traditional context. Starting from the reference object of "superstition", the fusion and conflict between new and old intellectuals, and the causes of the conflict between "superstition" and "anti-superstition", the paper aims to explore the real response of modern intellectuals to the spread of "superstition" from the traditional perspective.

Key words: superstition, tradition, local chronicles, construction

CLC Number: 

  • K25