殖民地时期及建国初期美国人对中国的认识

殖民地时期及建国初期，美国人中国观形成的基础是传入美国的中国商品和来自欧洲的关于中国的文字叙述。前者将一个想象中的精致、优美、光亮的中国形象直观地呈现于美国人面前，成为美国人了解中国的重要媒介之一。后者则使美国启蒙学者承袭了欧洲思想巨擘们的中国观，从观念和理论上为美国人提供了一个古老、文明、智慧、富庶的中国形象。早期美国人在继承欧洲人所塑造的乌托邦式的中国形象的同时，也曾利用这一形象构筑美国精神，建设自己的新家园。

Early Americans' Notion of China in the Colonial Period and the Initial Stage after the Founding of the USA

In the colonial period and the initial stage after the founding of the USA, early Americans＇ notions of China were based on Chinese goods and Europeans＇ recounting of China. The former presented an exquisite and brilliant image of China to the eyes of early Americans, thus becoming a mirror through which an imaginary China was reflected. The Europeans＇ views of China were inherited by American enlighteners who made use of this image to cultivate typically American spirit and establish their own new homeland.