A Common Talk About a Bundle: Selected Academic Essays and Musings by Wu Xiaoru

Author: Wu Xiaoru
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-04-01
Features: This book contains warm recollections of renowned figures like Yu Pingbo, Zhou Ruchang, and Xiao Qian, critiques of works such as Retreat from the Forbidden City and Notes by the Bridge, and unique insights into the Peking Opera performances that the author once cherished. Get to know Wu Xiaoru in his later years with this book. It is a collection of academic essays and personal reflections by the author, featuring multiple pieces discussing ancient and modern topics. It also includes some recent theater reviews, offering a glimpse into the style of the author's later writings.
Excerpt: Recollections of Mr. Yan JiDao
With the launch of the centennial celebration activities of Peking University, Yan Fu (styled Youling, also known as Jidao), who once served as the university's president, was once again brought to the agenda. A bronze statue of this pioneer who embraced Western influences was erected on the campus. During the celebration, Peking University held a symposium on President Cai Yuanpei; recently, a symposium commemorating the 150th anniversary of Huang Zunxian was also held on campus. Thus, I would like to talk about Yan Fu. To be honest, Yan's translation of classic works is more difficult to understand than Lin's translations of novels. His early essays, such as Diping Han, which criticized the Confucian tradition, are also not easy to read. I had no prior knowledge of Yan Fu, but after 1945, I had a fortunate yet opportunity that sparked a greater interest in this pioneer. In the fall of 1945, I was admitted to the College of Arts at Yanjing University and met Mr. Yan Qun (styled Mengqun) of the Philosophy Department. For more than a year, I lived in Mr. Mengqun's residence and became his disciple. Mr. Mengqun was the nephew of Jidao, which allowed me to read many of his manuscripts and learn some anecdotes about Jidao from conversations with Mr. Mengqun. In 1985, Mr. Mengqun passed away in Hangzhou, but his second son, Mr. Yan Cheng, has maintained correspondence with me over the years due to his work in Beijing. Mr. Yan Cheng's older brother, Mr. Yan Ming, has long resided in Shanghai and recently settled in the United States; his younger brother, Mr. Yan Yang, works in Hangzhou. They each preserve some of Jidao's handwriting. For example, the Newly Discovered Unfinished Manuscript of Yan Fu published in the combined December 1997 issue of Chinese Culture was provided by Mr. Yan Yang. According to Mr. Yan Cheng, his brother Mr. Yan Ming holds two unpublished manuscripts of Yan Fu, which he has repeatedly suggested be made public, but this has not been realized. These two manuscripts are highly relevant to verifying Yan Fu's relationships and later life. Previous researchers held conflicting views on whether Yan Fu and Japanese Prime Minister Itō Hirobumi were classmates, with some claiming they were not and others asserting they were. However, a handwritten letter by Yan Fu in Mr. Yan Ming's possession explicitly states that he and Itō were classmates and shared a deep bond. Another manuscript by Yan Fu proves his relationship with Yuan Shikai and his clear opposition to Yuan's attempt to declare himself emperor. Regarding whether Yan Fu supported Yuan Shikai's restoration and whether he participated in the "Alliance for the Restoration," recent studies on Yan Fu (such as Wang Ting's Biography of Yan Fu and Wang Quchang's Chronology of Mr. Jidao) generally portray him in a favorable light, while Benjamin Schwartz's In Search of Wealth and Power—Yan Fu and the West (Harvard University Press, 1995) provides a more detailed analysis (see the Chinese translation published by Jiangsu People's Publishing House in February 1995, translated by Ye Fengmei). However, if we rely on Yan Fu's own handwriting as evidence, the revelation of the truth will be even more compelling. According to Lin Jing's Letter to Mr. Jidao, "You gracefully refused a thousand gold pieces and did not sign the memorial urging his enthronement"; "Your righteous indignation could not withstand the chorus of the multitude," comparing Yan Fu to Liu Zixu, who died in sorrow and injustice. It seems this assessment is accurate. After a century of fame, the verdict on his merits and flaws should be rendered. I can only wait and see. Mr. Yan Cheng also mentioned that Jidao was extremely self-assured. In Jidao's study, a pair of calligraphy scrolls hung on the walls, reading: "When a sage arises, he must come to take lessons from me; even if a sage appears, he cannot change my words." I think we cannot take these words at face value, assuming that the terms "sage" and "king" are mere symbols of support for monarchy and reactionary movements, but rather recognize the pride and confidence of this scholar in his study. To understand a person and their times—how difficult it is!
In 1992–1993, I taught a semester-long course at the Department of Chinese Studies at the University of Heidelberg titled "Studies on Modern Writers and Their Works." I chose two influential yet controversial modern writers to lecture on: Huang Zunxian and Lin Shu. Based on my research and reflections, I found that over the past half-century, our evaluations of many thinkers, writers, and politicians during the modern period have been overly harsh, biased, and narrow, emphasizing their limitations while ignoring their contributions. This narrow-minded perspective has long lingered in the minds of researchers. The label of "reformist" has nearly destroyed the achievements of countless righteous individuals. Even for Yan Fu, a pioneer in promoting Western learning in China, we have been quick to seize on minor flaws and follow others without thorough study. I believe it is time to seriously examine and correct this blind adherence and superficial scholarship.