China Studies in Russia

Alexander Lukin
The Diplomatic Academy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

Russia has a long tradition of China Studies, which dates back to the 17th century when first contacts between the two empires began. Chinese culture significantly influenced Russian politics, society and art in the 18th and 19th century. At the same time China studies developed. An important role was played by the Russian Orthodox Mission to China which operated from 1715 to 1956.

In 1917 the normal development of Russian China studies was interrupted. However, later during the Soviet period China studies reached a new level. China was studied in a number of academic institutions, including the Institute of Oriental Studies, Institute Far Eastern Studies and the Institute of History, and Archeology and Ethnography of the Far East of the Soviet Academy of Science. The Chinese language was taught at several major Universities.

First decade after the collapse of the Soviet Union the funding of academic research, including China studies, significantly decreased.  However, recently the situation has normalized. Meanwhile, interest to China and the Chinese language have been growing significantly. The reason was the growth of Sino-Russian trade and cooperation in all spheres. In the recent years the Chinese language became the most popular foreign language among students, second only to English. In Moscow alone three Confucius Institutes operate and the demand for more is high. China studies centers and Chinese language courses have been started by hundreds of Russian universities. 

 

俄罗斯汉学研究

亚历山大·卢金
俄罗斯外交部外交学院

俄罗斯汉学研究由来已久，最早可追溯至17世纪两国开始交往之时，到18、19世纪时中国文化便深刻地影响了俄罗斯政治、社会和艺术。与此同时，俄罗斯汉学研究也大大发展起来， 其中1715-1956年赴中的俄罗斯正教会起了尤为重要的作用。

1917年俄罗斯汉学研究停滞，后来又达到了新水平。其众多学术机构都在从事汉学研究，包括东方研究所、远东研究所和苏联科学院远东历史、考古及人类研究所。

苏联解体后，学术研究经费包括汉学研究的经费大大削减，不过最近一切又恢复正常。在中俄贸易和其他方 面的合作扩大的基础上，俄罗斯对中国及对汉语的兴趣也大大增强。近年来汉语成为俄罗斯学生除英语外最受欢迎的外语，只在莫斯科就有三所孔子学院，需求还在 增长中。上百所俄罗斯学校都成立了中国研究中心，并开设了汉语课。