Gu Hongming stood in front of the mirror to tidy up his appearance. He wore a brand new silk shirt, straightened his braids, and then put on the hat sewn by his late wife.
Gu Hongming was very particular about etiquette, because he respected the Tao of Confucius and Mencius, and "etiquette" was the core element.
But this kind of "courtesy" is only shown to people he respects. For example, Zhang Zhidong, Cai Yuanpei, and today he reluctantly added Zhou Hexuan.
It's been a long time since I read a book that made Gu Hongming lose sleep and forget to eat. He is a person who is familiar with all the countries in the world, but "The Rise of Great Powers" still made him see different things. Some of the doubts that have been in his heart for many years can also be found in this book.
Find the answer here.
The rickshaw stopped at the gate of Peking University, and Gu Hongming walked tremblingly on crutches. He had been in poor health in recent years, and it was precisely because he felt that he could not live long that he resigned from Japan and returned to China. He wanted to die in his ideal hometown.
"Mr. Gu? Why are you here!" Peking University professor Ma Heng looked at him in surprise.
Gu Hongming nodded and said in a commanding tone: "Where is Zhou Hexuan? Take me to see him."
Ma Heng had worked with Gu Hongming and knew his temper. He supported him and said, "You walk slowly."
After a while, the two came outside Zhou Hexuan's residence.
Ma Heng was about to knock on the door, but Gu Hongming stopped him. He knocked on the door and shouted: "Principal Zhou, Gu Hongming is here to pay a special visit!"
Zhou Hexuan opened the door and was about to speak when Gu Hongming suddenly folded his arms and bowed.
This is an ancient ritual that the Chinese people have always used. In daily use, it is equivalent to a Western handshake. However, it is also often used in solemn occasions, such as meetings between officials and friends. It was still often used in the late Qing Dynasty. However, it is too cumbersome.
When bowing, bend deeply, just like the Japanese bow at ninety degrees.
Zhou Hexuan was stunned for a moment, then bowed immediately in return, then smiled and said to Gu Hongming and Ma Heng: "Mr. Gu, Professor Ma, please come in."
Ma Heng found it very interesting and did not leave. He sat next to him and wanted to listen to the two chatting.
Zhou Hexuan took out the tea and pastries and said with a smile: "Mr. Gu, for your needs, I specially brought the best Longjing. The pastries are also made by the chef."
"I have the intention," Gu Hongming was completely different from yesterday. He took out a book and said with great grace and etiquette. "Yesterday I read President Zhou's masterpiece and I was quite touched. This is my humble work "Spring and Autumn Days", please review it."
"
"Spring and Autumn Days", also known as "The Spirit of the Chinese", has caused a sensation in the West. It has been translated into many languages and republished, and even set off a decades-long Gu Hongming craze in Germany.
Gu Hongming is also a writer. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature together with Rabindranath Tagore.
Zhou Hexuan took the book and said with a smile: "I have read this book a long time ago."
"Just read it," Gu Hongming said straight to the point. "To avoid any conflict of words, today we will agree on three chapters. First, we will not talk about women's liberation; second, we will not talk about vernacular writing; third, we will not talk about constitutional democracy."
These are all things that Gu Hongming strongly opposed. He opposed women's liberation, opposed vernacular writing, and opposed constitutional government.
"Okay." Zhou Hexuan nodded.
Ku Hongming said: "When I read "The Rise of the Great Powers", I highly praised the great powers. Does Principal Zhou think that Chinese people are inferior to Westerners?"
Zhou Hexuan shook his head and said: "I think everyone is equal, and no one is superior to anyone else."
Gu Hongming smiled and said: "There is always a difference. Can black people in Africa be equal to yellow and white people? In my opinion, the Chinese are the best ethnic group in the world, what do you think?"
"I don't agree with this view," Zhou Hexuan said, "not to mention black people, even those cannibals in the South Pacific who eat hair and drink blood, as long as they are human beings, I think they are equal."
"What do you call fraternity, a believer in Mohism?" Gu Hongming was noncommittal.
Zhou Hexuan said: "It has nothing to do with Mohism. It means that all human beings are naturally equal."
Gu Hongming asked: "If there is equality, then why are there such big differences among the various ethnic groups in the world? This difference is not only reflected in cultural customs, but also in many aspects such as intelligence, morality and personality."
"This question is very complicated," Zhou Hexuan said. "Let's first talk about the American Indians and South Pacific savages. Why are they primitive and backward? Because they are isolated overseas and lack communication with the outside world. China and Europe have always been inseparable from each other.
Influence and promotion, this kind of exchange has greatly accelerated the cultural and scientific development of mankind."
Gu Hongming said with a smile: "The four great inventions of the Chinese have indeed promoted the development of European science. As for China, before modern times, it had always made progress alone."
"It can be said that, but China still received some influence," Zhou Hexuan said, "For example, the erhu and pipa, these instruments come from Central Asia and West Asia. The Western constellation theory was also introduced to China early, and Su Dongpo was a loyal constellation
Fan, he often laughs at himself that Capricorns are all unlucky ones."
"Oh, Su Dongpo still believes in the theory of constellations?" Gu Hongming said in surprise.
Zhou Hexuan said: "There is a record in "Dongpo Zhilin". The poem of retreat says: On the day of my birth, the moon and the constellation were fighting. I know that the Mo Scorpion (Capricorn) of the retreat is the palace of the body, and the servant takes the Mo Scorpion as his life.
I have received many slanders and reputations in my life, and I am probably suffering from the same disease."
The general content of this passage is that Su Dongpo complained that he and Han Yu had the same fate, and they were both related to Capricorns (one was Capricorn in the life sign, and the other was Capricorn in the body sign). They had bad fortunes and were often slandered and attacked. (Lao Wang said:
I feel like this is the worst time Capricorns have been hacked.)
Gu Hongming laughed after hearing this: "Haha, I didn't expect that Han Yu is also a Capricorn. It seems that I will have to study more zodiac signs in the future."
Zhou Hexuan also said: "The characteristics of a nation are related to its original place of origin. Agricultural civilization developed in areas suitable for farming, while nomadic civilization developed in places with shallow soil. Take China as an example, why did it originate in the north?
?Because with primitive agricultural technology, the hot and rainy climate in the south is not suitable for farming."
"It's interesting, please continue." Gu Hongming studied Chinese people from the perspective of cultural ethics, and Zhou Hexuan's views were refreshing to him.
Zhou Hexuan continued: "Chinese civilization is a typical agricultural civilization. To develop agriculture in ancient times, order and stability were needed, so the Chinese advocate collectivism. Confucian etiquette and morality are nothing more than arguments for collectivism. Then they gradually evolved
When it comes down, it becomes something like the Three Cardinal Principles and the Five Constant Principles.”
Gu Hongming wanted to refute, but after thinking about it carefully, it seemed to make sense.
"And what about the West?" Zhou Hexuan added, "The prosperous countries in Europe today were still barbarians in ancient Greece and Rome. But barbarism conquered civilization, ushering in the darkness of the Middle Ages, and it was not until the Renaissance that light came again.
Because they are close to the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, a marine civilization that is different from farming and nomadic life was finally born. Marine civilization is a commercial civilization, and when exposed, it is the pursuit of profit. The industrial revolution is for profit, and colonial massacres are for profit. What happened in Europe ten years ago
The war is also for profit."
"This is a very good point of view, very much in line with my opinion." Gu Hongming also believes that Western civilization is a civilization of interests, but he also emphasizes that Chinese civilization is a moral civilization.
Zhou Hexuan said: "I have read Mr. Gu's "Spring and Autumn Days", and I agree with your analysis of ethnic groups in various countries. I believe that this kind of ethnic difference is not innate, but is caused by long-term historical influence."
Gu Hongming asked: "Then do you agree with the views in my book?"
Zhou Hexuan smiled and said: "I agree very much with what Mr. Gu said, the Chinese nation is indeed a great nation, and the Chinese people also possess the virtues of profoundness, broadness, simplicity and spirituality. As Mr. Gu said, China is a country that never ages.
The nation has the secret of eternal youth. I dare to predict that in less than a hundred years, China will once again stand at the top of the world's nations."
"Haha, you are one of the same people." Gu Hongming said happily.
Zhou Hexuan's tone changed: "But I don't agree with Mr. Gu's idea of moral rejuvenation."
Gu Hongming was a little unhappy and asked: "Do you think the Western profit-seeking way of governing the country can be effective in the long term? I don't think so. Western countries have been controlled by businessmen and consortiums. One day, these countries will be controlled by unscrupulous businessmen.
It broke down."
So Gu Hongming is familiar with the West, and he has a very accurate vision. From the 20th century to the 21st century, European countries were indeed bound by the interests of consortiums and were gradually declining. His views also have some truth. He is also in "The Spirit of the Chinese"
” book, predicting the destruction of German militarism.
It's a pity that after identifying the problem correctly, the prescription prescribed was wrong. Our Mr. Gu said that only love and morality can save the world.
How naive is this!
Zhou Hexuan smiled helplessly and said: "Mr. Gu said in his works that he wanted to be Confucius in the Republic of China. But the troubled times before the Qin Dynasty finally ended with the unification of the world by the Qin State. The Qin State relied on the pursuit of profit. You talk to those warlords
Look at morality. I heard that Zhang Zongchang invited you to be the president of Shandong University. You can talk to him about morality and see if he listens."
Gu Hongming was speechless for a moment, and then retorted: "Although the Qin State unified Liuhe, it fell in two generations. Chasing profit can only lead to collapse, and morality can last long."
"But profit can unite people's hearts. As long as it is profitable for most people, China can be unified," Zhou Hexuan said. "But I also agree with Mr. Gu's point of view. Morality can make the country long-term. My opinion is that profit should be used to pursue the country."
, rule the country with virtue.”
"Consult the country with profit and govern the country with virtue," Gu Hongming muttered these words and suddenly burst into laughter. "These eight words are very good. If you had become a warlord a few years ago, I would definitely be your counselor."
The two continued to chat, and the atmosphere was generally harmonious. However, they occasionally had different opinions, and no one could convince the other. Gu Hongming felt panicked.
Gu Hongming did not stay for lunch. He returned home happily and wrote a subtitle for the servant to send to Zhou Hexuan. The old man was interviewed by a German reporter at the end of the year. He said boldly: "There are only two people in China now."
People who understand, one is Zhou Hexuan, and the other is me."
