On December 20, 2011, Lilia Nikolaevna Borokh, a veteran of the Chinese Department of the Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Historical Sciences, died. She was a prominent Russian sinologist, one of the largest researchers of the revolutionary movements and social thought of China at the fateful turning point of the late XIX-early XX centuries, the author of solid monographs and profound scientific articles.

Lilia Nikolaevna was born on August 21, 1933 in Arkhangelsk in the family of a serviceman. In 1957, after graduating from the Institute of Oriental Languages at the Lomonosov Moscow State University, she began her research work first at the Institute of Chinese Studies, and from 1961 at the China Department of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the USSR Academy of Sciences/RAS, where until 2009 she held the position of a leading researcher, and from 1992 to 2004 - head. the ideology and culture sector.

L. N. Borokh has always been distinguished by a scrupulous approach to primary sources and historiography. Over the 50 years of her scientific activity, she has made an invaluable contribution to the study of socio-political and philosophical thought in China. Starting with the study of the origins of the Chinese revolution and Sun Yat-sen's early political activities, she later paid considerable attention to the fundamental problems of the development and transformation of Chinese spiritual culture. A real breakthrough in the study of China was her study of the process of revision of traditional Confucianism by Chinese thinkers and public and political figures under the influence of Western ideas at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries.

L. N. Borokh was one of the organizers and scientific editors of a series of innovative publications of the Department of China on topical issues of Chinese socio-political and philosophical thought that resisted officialdom and had a significant public response: "China: traditions and modernity" (Moscow, 1976; here was published the disgraced G. S. Pomerantsev under the title of "The Russian poet").

under the pseudonym Solomin); "China: search for ways of social development "(Moscow, 1979); "Confucianism in China: Problems of Theory and practice" (Moscow, 1982); "Social Sciences in China" (Moscow, 1986); "Chinese Social Utopias" (Moscow, 1987); " Socio-political Thought in China (the end

XIX-early XX century)" (Moscow, 1988);" Personality in traditional China "(Moscow, 1992);" From magical power to the moral imperative: the category of de in Chinese culture " (Moscow, 1998). From its foundation in 1970 until recently, she actively participated in the annual scientific conference "Society and the State in China", publishing 16 reports in its collections, and until recently she worked on a monograph, which unfortunately remained unfinished.

Speaking about the scientific heritage of L. N. Borokhov, it is easy to see that it is devoted mainly to two outstanding, although completely different personalities-Sun Yat-sen and Liang Qichao. Moreover, all her work can be divided into two halves with a completely clear border.

In 1970. she defended her thesis for the degree of Candidate of Historical Sciences on the topic " The Chinese Renaissance Union: creation and activity (1894-1899)". Based on the materials of her dissertation, the following year her first monograph "The Union of the Revival of China" was published (Moscow, 1971). Already this relatively small volume (204 pages) book became a new word in Russian sinology and served as the basis for writing the corresponding section (Part 3, Chapter 3) in the fundamental "New History of China" (Moscow, 1972). Before that, the teachings and political experience of the leader of the Chinese revolution were studied by sinologists all over the world for half a century. L. N. Borokh, referring to the short period of early political biography of Sun Yat-sen, in a certain sense went against the academic tradition: by that time, all the authors ' works were occupied with the problems of Western influence. She also stated that this approach is one-sided, and an analysis of the decade of Sun Yat-sen's life that preceded the creation of the Renaissance Union revealed the origins of revolutionary ideology in China. The ideological complex turned out to be extremely complex, and it is not by chance that fundamentally new works on this topic were published after L. A. Abramovich. No one in Russian Sinology dared to write N. Borokh.

Throughout the 1970s, she consistently studied the traditional sources of Sun Yat-sen's program, which naturally led her to consider the process of "searching for truth in the West", i.e., the reception of Western intellectual achievements by representatives of the Chinese revolutionary and democratic movement. The result was a series of articles and a monograph "Chinese Social Thought and Socialism (early XX century)" (Moscow, 1984), on the basis of which in 1985 L. N. Borokh defended her dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Historical Sciences " Chinese social thought and socialism: the problem of perception of Western theories (early XX century)".

The main character of the monograph was no longer Sun Yat-sen, although many pages are devoted to his legacy. Liang Qichao, a disciple and political opponent of the most famous Chinese reformer, Kang Yuwei, was at the center of this work, and indeed of the entire work of L. N. Boroch up to the 2000s. According to Liliya Nikolaevna's memoirs, her interest in Liang Qichao's personality began when she was working at the Institute of Chinese Studies of the USSR Academy of Sciences, when she was communicating with M. I. Kazanin (1899-1972), who met Liang Qichao in Beijing, when in 1920-1921 he worked there as the first secretary of the diplomatic mission of the Far Eastern Republic.

"Chinese Social Thought and Socialism" can be called a kind of epic canvas. Even a cursory glance at the bibliography and table of contents of the book is enough to understand the thematic diversity, which allows us to create a complete picture of one of the most dynamic periods in the development of Chinese thought. Three of its six chapters focus on Liang Qichao's legacy. Of particular interest, in our opinion, is the third chapter, which examines the theory of Great Unity (Datong) in the interpretation of Liang Qichao and its role in shaping interest in Western socialism in educated circles of Chinese society. These conclusions are not trivial, in particular, the fact that the interest of Chinese intellectuals in socialism that emerged at the beginning of the XX century was not due to the urgent needs of the opposition movement, nor to the internal logic of its development. A prominent place in the justification of this thesis is occupied by the theory of Datong Kang Yuwei, shown in the interpretation of Liang Qichao. When examining the theories of Sun Yat-sen, Liang Qichao, and Kang Yuwei, it was also found that their interest in socialism was fueled by nationalism, and this also allows us to understand the reasons that led Liang Qichao to oppose socialism and nationalism.

The most important methodological principles of L. N. Borokhov were clearly expressed in the" Public Thought of China and Socialism "- the desire to overcome Eurocentric ideas, a deeper" mutual recognition " of East and West, complete immersion in primary sources, combined with constant attention to historiography and the latest research, including even the youngest colleagues. When discussing the works of colleagues, she was primarily interested in their historiographic base as an indicator of the quality of research and wrote historiographical works herself, in particular: "Chinese historians on the principles of historical research" in the collection " Historical Science in the PRC "(Moscow, 1971) and "New Trends in the study of the history of the spread of socialist Ideas" in the collection "Social Sciences in China".

After the publication of "Public Thought of China and Socialism", Liang Qichao gradually occupied an increasing place in the scientific work of L. N. Borokhov. This did not mean a radical break with the previous theme - in 1987, two of her articles were published: "Traditional utopias in the perception of Sun Yat-sen" and "Sun Yat-sen's interpretation of the Confucian ideal of Datong". However, after 1988, almost all published works were devoted to Liang Qichao.

Their logical conclusion was the third major monograph by L. N. Borokh " Confucianism and European Thought at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. Liang Qichao: theory of the renewal of the people "(Moscow, 2001). This book has received decent reviews. S. L. Tikhvinsky's extensive review entitled "The Experience of Inter-civilizational Synthesis at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries" was published first in the journal " New and Modern History "(2003, N 1, pp. 192-199), and then in his " Selected Works "(book 1, Moscow, 2006, p. 561-572). A review in the journal "Inviolable Reserve" (Moscow, 2002, N 4) was also published, where the following emphatic conclusion was made: "Telling about very difficult things and considering little-studied material, filled with many minute facts and provided with an impressive bibliography list, and finally written clearly and entertainingly, Boroch's book can truly become a kind of scientific bestseller." In the same review posted on the Internet, the main "plot" of the book is very well noticed - the story of Liang Qichao and his disillusionment with his own theory. At the same time, the analysis of the theory of renewal of the Liang Qichao people is carried out in the context of considering a grandiose cultural phenomenon - the introduction of representatives of Chinese thought to the spiritual values of Western civilization. Accordingly, the choice of Liang Qichao as the main object of research was dictated not only by the author's personal preferences: he was one of the few Chinese theorists of that time who tried to correlate "their own" and "others '" in the sphere of state structure and social organization, life guidelines and behavioral norms. It is also important that his ideas became widely known in China at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and such spiritual and political leaders as Hu Shi, Chen Duxiu, and even Mao Zedong emphasized that he opened up a new world for their generation. In general, L. N. Borokhov managed to reconstruct the most important moments of the general process of cultural interaction between China and the West, almost for the first time in Russian sinology.

One of the last articles by L. N. Boroch, " The Influence of Buddhist Philosophy on the Utopia of Kang Yuwei "(Moscow, 2004), on the one hand, continued the theme of the monograph of 1984, in which the Biography of Teacher Kang, written by Liang Qichao in 1901, was first introduced as a historical source. The most recent publications " Chinese emigration in Japan at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries (the problem of perception of Buddhism) "(Moscow, 2006) and "Reflections of Liang Qichao on the political role of Buddhism" (Moscow, 2009) indicate a transition to a new stage of research. In particular, it raises the problem of revising the main value orientations of Chinese civilization at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries with the help of Buddhist philosophy rather than Western ideas, at least at an early stage of this process. Unfortunately, the results of further research on this issue are not destined to be received from L. N. Borokh. But there is hope to see her unpublished work published, which is devoted with tragic symbolism to the category of death in Liang Qichao.

Lilia Nikolaevna has always enjoyed great respect and authority among her colleagues, creating a special warm atmosphere around her with a gentle and attentive manner of communication. She passed on her high professionalism to her daughter, O. N. Borokh, who also became a sinologist.

Lilia Nikolaevna has left her mark in Russian Sinology as a deep expert on the history of Chinese thought, the problems of interaction between the intellectual traditions of China and the West. In her study of China, she was characterized by determination and loyalty to her chosen topic. L. N. Borokh will be remembered for his exactingness and thoroughness in the preparation of scientific materials, benevolence and openness to communication.

MAIN SCIENTIFIC WORKS OF L. N. BOROKH

Iz istorii organizatsii "Soyuza vozrozhdeniya Kitai" [From the history of the organization of the "Union for the Revival of China"]. Xinhai Revolution in China, Moscow, 1962, pp. 121-143.

The failed uprising in Guangzhou in 1895 / / Short reports of the Institute of Peoples of Asia [USSR Academy of Sciences], Moscow, 1963, issue 66, pp. 82-93.

Anti-Manchu ideas of the first Chinese bourgeois Revolutionaries: on the "Testimony of Lu Hao-tung" / / Manchu Rule in China, Moscow, 1966, pp. 333-349 (translated into English in 1983).

From the history of Sun Yat-sen's political activities: "Soyuz vozrozhdeniya Kitai" i reformatory v 1894 - 1899 gg. ["The Union of Chinese Renaissance" and Reformers in 1894-1899]. Sun Yat-sen, 1866 - 1966: k 100-letiyu so deya rozhdeniya [Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1966: to the 100th anniversary of his birth], Moscow, 1966, pp. 37-60.

The first Chinese Revolutionaries and secret societies // Secret Societies in Old China, Moscow, 1970, pp. 108-122.

Les debuts du mouvement republicain de Sun Yat-sen et les societis secretes // Mouvements populaires et societes secretes en Chine aux XIXe et XXe siecles / [sous la direc. de] J. Chesneaux etal. Paris, 1970. P. 344 - 359.

Soyuz vozrozhdeniya Kitay [Union of Chinese Revival]. Institute of Oriental Studies, Moscow: Nauka Publ., 1971, 203 p.

Chinese historians on the principles of historical research / / Historical Science in China, Moscow, 1971. pp. 180-191; 2nd ed. Moscow, 1981. pp. 257-270.

The birth of the bourgeois-revolutionary movement. Nachalo politicheskoi deyatel'nosti Sun Yat-sen (1894-1900 gg.) [The beginning of Sun Yat - sen's political activity (1894-1900)].

Notes on the Early Role of Secret Societies in Sun Yat-sen's Republican Movement // Popular Movements and Secret Societies in China, 1840 - 1950. Stanford (Calif), 1972. P. 135 - 144.

When did the "min sheng" principle appear in Sun Yat-sen's program? // Society and the State in China, Moscow, 1973. 2. pp. 192-193.

Formation of the principle of "min sheng" ("people's welfare") Sun Yat-sen's program//Peoples of Asia and Africa. 1975. N 1. pp. 84-95.

Sun Yat-sen o dvukh puti razvitiya obshchestva [On two ways of developing society]. Obshchestvo i gosudarstvo v Kitae [Society and the State in China], Moscow, 1975, part 2, pp. 268-269.

Sun Yat-sen on the problem of China's accelerated development // Peoples of Asia and Africa. 1976. N 5. pp. 54-65.

Traditional Sources of Sun Yat-sen's Socio-economic Program / / China: Gosudarstvo i obshchestvo [state and Society], Moscow, 1977, pp. 153-175.

Perception of Western sociological ideas in China (early XX century) / / Peoples of Asia and Africa. 1979. N 6. p. 36-47 (translated into English in 1985).

Theories of Progress in Chinese Thought at the beginning of the XX century (Liang Chi-chao-Sun Yat-sen) / / China: search for ways of social development. Iz istorii obshchestvenno-politicheskoi mysli XX v. [From the history of social and political thought of the XX century].

Liang Qichao - propagandist and interpreter of economic theories of the West / / Society and State in China, Moscow, 1982, part 3, pp. 74-87.

Anti-Manzhou Ideas of the First Chinese Bourgeois Revolutionaries: (Lu Haodong Confession) // Manzhou Rule in China. Moscow, 1983. P. 297 - 311.

Public thought of China and socialism (the beginning of the XX century). Institute of Oriental Studies, Moscow: Nauka Publ., 1984, 296 p.

Western and traditional sources of Liang Qichao's article "Chinese Socialism" / / Society and State in China, Moscow, 1984, part 3, pp. 48-57.

Perception of Western Sociological Ideas // China: State and Society. Moscow, 1985. P. 164 - 187.

New trends in the study of the historiography of the spread of socialist ideas // Social Sciences in China / USSR. Institute of Oriental Studies, Moscow, 1986, pp. 266-287.

Sun Yat-sen's interpretation of the Confucian Ideal of Datong: (the Xinhai Period) / / Sun Yat - sen, 1866-1986: to the 120th anniversary of his birth. Moscow, 1987. pp. 33-56.

Traditional utopias in the perception of Sun Yat-sen / / Chinese social utopias, Moscow: Nauka, 1987, pp. 271-309. sovm. with L. P. Delyusin. 311 p.).

Ideas of Western liberalism in the perception of Liang Qichao / / Socio-political thought in China (late XIX-early XX centuries). Moscow, 1988. pp. 76-100.

Liang Qichao's Views on Freedom: (the problem of translating "liberty") / / Society and the State in China, Moscow, 1988, part 3, pp. 37-45.

Russoist concept of the state in the perception of Liang Qichao / / World History and the East. Collection of articles dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Academician S. L. Tikhvinsky, Moscow, 1989, pp. 124-132.

Liang Qichao's views on the history of mankind (late XIX-early XX centuries) / / Society and State in China, Moscow, 1990, part 3, pp. 72-79.

Kontseptsiya "Molodogo Kitaya" (iz teoreticheskogo naslediia Liang Tsichao) [The concept of "Young China" (from the theoretical heritage of Liang Tsichao)].

Personality and History (based on Liang Qichao's philosophical essay) // Personality in traditional China, Moscow, 1992, pp. 205-246.

European Law and Confucian Ethics / / Society and the State in China, Moscow, 1993, part 2, pp. 33-38.

Li's category and European utilitarianism / / Society and the State in China, Moscow, 1995, pp. 236-242.

The principle of destruction and Confucian ethics / / Society and the state in China, Moscow, 1996. pp. 62-67.

Ideas of Montesquieu in China (the beginning of the XX century) / / Oriental Studies and world culture: to the 80th anniversary of Academician S. L. Tikhvinsky. Moscow, 1998. pp. 87-97.

"Nezavisimost '" (duli) v ponimaniyu Liang Tsichao ["Independence" (duli) in the understanding of Liang Tsichao]. Obshchestvo i gosudarstvo v Kitae [Society and State in China], Moscow, 1998, part 2, pp. 301-310.

Preface. pp. 5-6; Confucian ethics in the era of modernization (the concept of "Gong de"). pp. 237-263 // Ot magicheskoi sila k moralnom imperativu: kategoriya de v kitayskoi kul'tury [From Magic Power to Moral Imperative: the Category of de in Chinese culture]. (Comp. 422 p. together with A. I. Kobzev).

Liang Qichao on the principles of building a party / / Society and the State in China, Moscow, 1999, pp. 189-195.

Confucianism and European Thought at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries: Liang Qichao: theory of renewal of the people, Moscow: East Lit., 2001, 287 p.

Traditional representations of death in the assessment of Liang Qichao / / Society and the State in China. Moscow, 2003. pp. 174-178.

Influence of Buddhist Philosophy on Kang Yuwei's Utopia // Society and the State in China, Moscow, 2004, pp. 153-160.

Chinese emigration in Japan at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries (the problem of perception of Buddhism) / / Society and the state in China: to the 70th anniversary of A. A. Bokshchanin. Moscow, 2006. pp. 210-216.

Ideas of European utilitarianism in the interpretation of Liang Qichao / / Society and State in China, Moscow, 2007. pp. 168-171.

Reflections of Liang Qichao on the political role of Buddhism / / Society and State in China, Moscow, 2009, pp. 340-345.

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