《扶桑游记》历来被视为解读王韬1879年访日的最重要材料，已有研究也大多主要依靠《游记》梳理王韬在日期间的活动，发掘其访日于中日文化交流方面的意义。但是向时研究多直接依据《游记》，将重点放在王韬与日本文士的交往上，而对王韬赴日的背景及其影响的考察则或显不足。因此，本文即试图在前人研究的基础上，查漏补缺，尝试按照时间顺序，重新审视王氏此行。通过考察王韬访日的背景及其后续影响，就不难发现，此次出访可能并不仅仅关乎明治初期中日文化交流。首先，《扶桑游记》本身就为王韬对日本文士款待的回馈之作，且首先在日本出版，这就导致《游记》本身所能反映的王韬访日内容是十分有限的，仅根据《游记》来评价王韬此行也就具有明显的局限性。其次，综合考察王韬赴日之际中日关系紧张的大背景及王韬个人赴日之前的政治抱负、对日关注等因素，可以推知王氏访日可能并非如《游记》呈现的那样只关乎诗酒风月，许多内容，如王韬与何如璋使团的交往，在《游记》中隐而未现。最后，从王韬归国之后对日态度的转变来看，其访日也从另一个侧面揭示了当时的中日关系。两国之间虽因琉球问题正生龃龉，但不论是中国还是日本方面均有一部分力量，不愿看到中日之间因琉球争端走向决裂。王韬即在归国之后力主修好日本，联日防俄，共保亚洲太平之局。本文主要分为四个章节：第一章为绪论，主要阐明对王韬扶桑东游进行研究的学术意义及梳理关于王韬此游目前的研究现状。发现关于王韬东游的研究目前主要依据的材料多为《扶桑游记》，对于《循环日报》、王韬与冈千仞等人来往信函等材料的利用并不充分；另外，对王韬日本之行的评价学界也尚未达成一致。第二章是主要从王韬的个人境遇和当时的中日关系两个方面对王韬访日的背景进行介绍。第三章力图说明仅凭借《扶桑游记》来研究、评价王韬日本之行的局限性。第四章考察王韬访日的影响。访日之后，王韬继续保持与何如璋使团的联系，并利用《循环日报》为其对日交涉提供舆论支持。此外，由于清国外交环境的变化以及兴亚会的影响促使归国之后的王韬改变了对日态度，由防日转向联日防俄。

Fusangyouji is considered as the most important historical material to interpret Wang Tao’s visit to Japan in 1879, and the previous studies are mostly only based on Fusangyouji to inspect Wang’s visit and to evaluate its significance of cultural communication between China and Japan. However, the existing researches neglect Wang Tao’s living condition, his observation of Japan and the diplomatic background of the relationship between China and Japan ,before he visited Japan in 1879. This thesis attempts to make up for above-mentioned omissions, and research Wang Tao’s visit in chronological order.Firstly, Fusangyouji itself is simply a work which expressed Wang Tao’s appreciation to the hospitality of Japanese sinologists,and its publication in Japan causes it has obvious limitations in reflect Wang Tao’s activities in Japan, and it is incomplete to appraise Wang Tao’s visit just based on Fusangyouji . Secondly, Wang Tao’s visit to Japan is more complex than Fusangyouji represents, by taking the background of the relations between China and Japan into account,and Wang Tao’s desire to take a part in diplomatic affairs. Thirdly, Wang Tao’s change of attitude to Japan after his visit reflects the relations between China and Japan from another aspect. Although China and Japan were in continuous dispute because of Ryukyu Island’s sovereignty, there were some literary intellectuals who did not want to see two countries become estranged whether in China or in Japan.The thesis consists of four parts. Chapter One illuminates the academic significance of Wang Tao’s visit to Japan, and also states the existing studies about this visit. Through the previous academic history, the current studies about Wang Tao’s visit to Japan are almost based on Fusangyouji, as for other historical materials, like the articles published on Xunhuan Daily and Wang Tao’s letters with Chinese diplomats Huang Zunxian and Japanese sinologists , are scarcely used.In addition, the appraisal about Wang Tao’s visit is not consistent, and two opposing evaluations do exist. Chapter Two attempts to introduce the background of Wang Tao’s visit to Japan. Firstly, inspect Wang Tao’s living condition, his political pursuit and his desire to participate in foreign affairs. Secondly, Wang Tao’s visit to Japan when the relations between China and Japan were strained, represents that there was different attitude to Ryukyu-issues in Japan and the Japanese sinologists who attended to revitalize Asia wanted China and Japan can cooperate. Chapter Three explains the limitation of studies about Wang Tao’s trip to Japan only on the basis of Fusangyouji, through the writing and pulishing process of Fusangyouji. Chapter Four explores Wang Tao’s contact with the Chinese embassy in Japan. Precisely because of his close connection, he had chance to know more about diplomatic problems between China and Japan. In a way , this trip is not only about cultural communication, but also has a direct influence on Wang Tao’s attitude towards relations between China and Japan.