Retrogression III

Author: Liu Ruilin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Senior publisher Shen Changwen of the Three recounts his apprenticeship history; Tang Degang analyzes the "Second Revolution" and the "Song Jiaoren Case"; Shen Rong shares his remarkable years in the film industry during the surrender of Nanjing in 1945.
Shen Changwen: I really hope there could be a team dedicated to examining these matters. Just now on the way, I was talking with him (Lei Yi) about issues like the widespread demolition of buildings. This is a "new" phenomenon, and from this "new" we can discover much "old," as such things have been done abroad. Britain and Germany have many good stories.
Lei Yi: I think "Wengu" (Looking Back) is indeed very meaningful, because my field is history, and in essence, it involves "looking back" and preserving historical memory. From my historical research, I find that the meaning of history is actually quite difficult. Many things make us realize that it is very necessary to rescue historical memory.
Xu Zongmao: The purpose is to create a pluralistic understanding of the past, not necessarily claiming absolute truth or facts, but at least this pluralistic cultural perspective is tolerated, as it is an educational process needed for the Chinese people to mature intellectually. "Wengu" is a serialized cultural and historical publication. It reflects on and examines the past from today's perspective, providing a reference for current survival and future development. The saying goes, "By looking back, one learns anew." The content of "Wengu" generally includes the following three aspects:
(1) Nostalgia for past human living conditions;
(2) Reflection and reexamination of history;
(3) Rediscovery of historical and cultural relics and remaining texts.