근대 중국의 서구 탐색을 ‘보다’— 薛福成의 『出使英法義比四國日記』 디지털문화지도 구축 방안

Abstract

Recently, there has been increasing interest in Cultural Informatics and Digital Humanities as methodologies for humanities research and education. These approaches integrate digital technology with traditional humanities research methods, enabling new interpretations and discoveries. This study aims to apply these methodologies to the research of late Qing Dynasty travel writings about the West, to uncover new knowledge and conduct more precise analyses. This research focuses on creating a digital cultural map based on Xue Fucheng’s “Diary of My Diplomatic Mission to England, France, Italy, and Belgium,” written during his diplomatic missions to these countries in the late Qing period. The goal is to provide a historical and cultural context that reflects the interactions and perceptions between China and the West in the 19th century. The primary objective is to preserve and visualize Xue Fucheng’s travel routes digitally, thus offering a modern interpretation of historical data. The research includes a biographical study of Xue Fucheng, analysis of the diary contents, design and construction of a related database, and the creation of a digital map using QGIS. Xue Fucheng’s “Diary of My Diplomatic Mission to England, France, Italy, and Belgium” vividly illustrates the clash and fusion between Western civilization and traditional Chinese concepts, and his records are considered important materials for exploring China’s modernization and reforms. Unlike traditional literature research methods, the digital humanities approach enables richer analyses and interpretations through the visual representation and interactivity of texts. In this study, I have created a digital map to visually comprehend Xue Fucheng’s travel routes and observations. Additionally, by visually arranging the key observations and records from each location, it allows for a clearer understanding of the political, economic, and military elements that Xue Fucheng focused on.