Biographical Review of Wen Yiduo's Academic Thought

Author: Zhang Jucai, Liu Dianxiang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-01-01
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Fragment: The Wen family was a prominent clan in Bahe Town. According to the Wen Clan Genealogy, the Wen family had settled in this area for twenty generations by the time of Wen Yiduo. Legend has it that the Wen family descended from Wen Tianxiang, a patriotic minister of the Southern Song Dynasty. In 1277 (the second year of the Jingyan era of the Song Duanzong), Wen Tianxiang led troops to resist the Yuan forces in Jiangxi but was defeated and captured. He retreated to Wupoling in Guangdong and was taken prisoner, composing "Passing Through Lingdingyang" to express his resolve. He was sent to Dadu but refused to surrender and was executed on January 9, 1283, with dignity. After Wen Tianxiang was captured, some of his family members changed their surname from Wen to Wen, others hid in Jiangxi, or moved to Hubei and settled in Xishui. The "Wen Clan Genealogy" once described the origin of their family: "Our family was originally surnamed Wen and lived in Luling, Jiujiang. In the second year of the Jingyan era of the Song, the Lord of Xinuo's army was defeated in Kongkeng, and our founding ancestor, Liangfu, was captured. On the way, he escaped to Lancheng in Qixi and changed his surname from Wen to Wen, settling there. Lancheng is now the Lanzhi Town, under the jurisdiction of Qixi. Our founding ancestor, Liangfu, was wise and self-preserving, ensuring the continuation of our lineage. He had four sons."① Regarding the legend that the Wen family descended from Wen Tianxiang, Wen Yiduo later conducted some research. In his reading notes "February" written during his studies at Tsinghua University, he wrote: "My ancestor, the Lord of Xinuo Tianxiang, was defeated in Kongkeng and captured. His family members fled to Yongfu Township in Qixi in northern Chu, changing their surname from Wen to Wen. History is also lost, but our family records have long been passed down. Is this similar to the story of changing half of 'Han' to 'Wei'? Or perhaps it is suspected that in the second year of the Jingyan era, the Yuan sent the family members to Yan, where two sons died. The following year, the eldest son also died, and the entire family perished. This is like the poem 'Clouds and Rivers' which says, 'The common people have none left.' As the ancients said, 'It is better not to believe in books than to have no books at all,' and there is wisdom in this."② Although Wen Yiduo was skeptical of this, Wen Tianxiang's patriotic spirit, national integrity, and the heroic lines "Since ancient times, who has not died? Keep your red heart shining through history," were deeply ingrained in Wen Yiduo's heart. The Wen family was an academic family, with ancestors who practiced both farming and studying. Grandfather Liangqi built a study room beside the house and hired renowned teachers to teach his grandchildren. Wen Zigang also inherited his father's wishes and never forgot to urge his children to study. Wen Yiduo wrote in his autobiography: "Our ancestors were scholars, and my grandfather was particularly fond of books. He collected numerous books at great expense, built a study room called 'Mian Gewan,' and ten or so invited famous teachers and his grandchildren inside."③ The couplet "At seventy, follow one's heart's desires; in a hundred years, educate people" was inscribed on both sides of the Wen family's gate. Inside Mian Gewan, there were classics, histories, philosophies, and calligraphy and paintings, filled with the fragrance of books, showing the importance the Wen ancestors placed on education. Wen Yiduo's father, Wen Bangben, styled Guchen, took the argumentative history exam to supplement the local scholars. The Wen family was a large clan with three generations living together, with dozens of family members. Wen Guchen had five sons, and Wen Yiduo was the fourth. His eldest brother, Wen Jiaji, graduated from the Beijing Law and Politics Specialized School. His second brother, Wen Jiacong, graduated from the French Preparatory Course of the Hubei Provincial Language School. His third brother, Wen Jialu, graduated from the Hubei Provincial Secondary Industrial School. His fourth brother, Wen Jiasi, studied French literature in France and later served as a professor in the Foreign Languages Department of Southwest Associated University and the Western Languages Department of Peking University. Wen Yiduo's clan name is Wen Jiaji, styled Yishan, styled Youshan, also styled Yousan, and his original name was Yiduo.