关键词: 赫尔德, 中国故事, 《阿德剌斯忒亚》, “时下典范”, “管仲论社鼠”

Abstract: In 1801, Herder began publishing his final work, Adrastea, a quarterly magazine entirely authored by himself. Herder selected and serialized eighteen Chinese stories under the name “Exempel der Tage” in the seventh, eighth, and eleventh issues, which he referred to as his “confessions”. After a thorough examination, this study discovered that eight of them were indirectly translated from French and Latin texts, while ten were taken from the German translation of Du Halde's Description of China. The prototypes of these stories are derived from more than ten Chinese classics that ranged from the Spring and Autumn Period to the Ming Dynasty. After Herder introduced these stories, they spread further throughout Germany and Europe. “The Rat in the Statue” was even included in many German middle school textbooks. In his later years, Herder displayed his preference to Chinese culture, indicating a shift in his perception of China. This transformation is closely linked to his pursuit of the integration of politics and morality after experiencing various political and social upheavals in the late 18th century, as well as his belief in the progress of humanity through education.

Key words: Johann G. Herder, Chinese stories, Adrastea, Exempel der Tage, The Rat in the Statue