신해혁명 온양기 廣東 개혁파 지식인의 신중국 상상 ― 歐榘甲의 『新廣東』을 중심으로

Abstract

This article has a purpose to check an aspect of the concept on New China among Guangdong area’s pro-reform intellectuals in early 1900s, when the atmosphere for the Xinhai Revolution was ripening, based on analysis and study of New Canton(新廣東) by Ou Ju-jia(歐榘甲), a pro-reform intellectual from Guangdong, and to sound out the necessity and possibility of setting a research theme of ‘local study’ based on recognition of particularity of Guangdong. New Canton(新廣東), published in 1902 with a subtitle ‘Canton by Cantonese’, was pioneering and influential material that clearly demanded local autonomy before the Xinhai Revolution, and a text that vividly contains perspective and critical mind of the intellectuals of Canton (Guangdong), which was the actual birthplace of revolutionary forces toward the Xinhai Revolution, on China and Guangdong ‘area’. Ou Ju-jia explains the reason that Guangdong must be autonomous, and it can be autonomous, and goes on to point out the specific plan for autonomy and factors that obstruct it. His perspective and prospect, revealed through the book, is differentiated from not only that of conventional Chinese intellectuals, but also that of revolutionary intellectuals after the Xinhai Revolution. If China’s modern history is shed new light with Canton centered, based on the view of Ou Ju-jia, we will embody the critical mind on the limit of writing modern history of China by focusing on Beijing, Shanghai and Chinese Communist Party’s revolutionary activity. Moreover, we will gain an advanced perspective on the necessity of deeper research and investigation on ‘region’ to find internal energies that penetrate the entire history of China in the 20th century.