Reflections in the Crowd of People: Selected Academic Essays by Lin Fei

Author: Yuan Liangjun Que Guoqiu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-04-01
Features: Preface I sincerely thank Mr. Yuan Liangjun for including my works in the "Academic Essays Self-Selected Series" he edited; I also sincerely thank Mr. Huang Xu, the deputy editor-in-chief of Fujian Education Press, for his diligent and creative contributions in planning, reviewing, and managing the series. When it comes to writing academic essays, I am filled with endless reflections. This is because life is often filled with countless coincidences, and I never expected that I would spend years immersed in books, day and night pondering them. In my youth, I was a very active and playful person, often dreaming of traveling the world like Xu Xiake, seeing the rugged and majestic mountains and the surging rivers. Although I also loved reading, I never wanted to spend my entire life on such arduous and dry academic research. If I were to pick up a pen to write, I would much rather express vivid and lively thoughts. However, after starting academic research in the 1950s, I gradually developed a strong interest and initially longed for the couplet collected by the Qing Dynasty scholar Yan Ruojun from the ancient scholars Tao Hongjing and Huangfu Mi: "If you know nothing, feel deep shame; if you meet someone and ask, you have little time." I spent much time browsing through classics like the "Thirteen Classics" and the "Twenty-Four Histories," painstakingly copying and memorizing ancient anecdotes. Later, I realized that simply accumulating scattered knowledge was like the fragmented "Seven Treasure Pagodas" described by Wu Wenying in his "Source of Ci," which "dazzles the eyes but cannot form a complete picture." One must stand firmly on the plains of knowledge, derive conclusions through broad and in-depth analysis, and engage in profound and systematic thinking rather than just touching the fragments of knowledge. As Pascal said, "All human dignity lies in thought," and "Thought forms human greatness" ( Pensées). How inspiring and motivating these words are! People should strive to break through all obstacles and bonds, pursuing the expression of their unique insights to push forward the progress of society. It is truly exhilarating that after the devastation of the Cultural Revolution, the oppressive atmosphere that long shrouded the nation has been constantly challenged and is gradually dissolving, academic freedom is slowly expanding, making it possible to publish more of my systematic thoughts. In the past two decades of academic research, I have published over ten works such as "Lu Xun and Chinese Culture," "Reflections on Scholarship," and "Essays on Prose," expressing my views on many issues related to the human spirit. For example, I have reflected on the nature of human goodness and evil, as well as its relationship with national and class characteristics; the emergence and evolution of social systems; the contemplation of authoritarian rule and democratic order; the social and spiritual problems caused by Confucian thought and its rational essence; the spread of servility in Chinese history; the similarities and differences between Chinese and Western cultures, and their profound historical and geographical reasons, as well as how they collide, complement, and integrate; reflections on how to improve the quality of the people; how to establish a sense of equality and modern concepts; how to write prose, essays, and travelogues; and reflections on the current standards of literary research. I have elaborated on these theoretical issues in some of my academic works. Because I prefer writing lively and vivid texts, I have devoted considerable effort to prose writing over the past 20 years. Perhaps because academic research and prose writing often overlap, I have produced several essays that might be considered academic essays, though I did not intend to do so. Such unintended achievements are always something to be grateful for. Currently, many scholars are publishing collections of their academic essays, which are reportedly very popular with readers. This is perhaps because among many people's innate talents, there is always a surge of enthusiasm for lively and dynamic emotions. Sitting upright and writing thick volumes of scholarly treatises can be too rigid and exhausting, and it is necessary to take a break occasionally. I have long advocated that scholars should also observe the working methods of writers and try to write some lively and vivid texts, which would also benefit a broad readership by making it easier for them to understand your academic views. This is truly a worthwhile endeavor. In my understanding, the scope of academic essays is quite broad, allowing discussions on the history and figures of ancient and modern times, the books and knowledge of various disciplines, and the evolving academic trends and thoughts. It can encompass everything from the primordial chaos to the entire world today. In terms of writing methods, one must avoid dense logical reasoning while reducing complex imagery, firmly grasping the perspective of knowledge, and using lively and flowing language to express one's academic insights. Academic essays engage readers in dialogue through the nurturing of knowledge, the inspiration of thought, and the joy of aesthetics. My views on this genre of academic essays can only be considered a rough personal perspective. I present it here for the esteemed scholars in academia to refine and discuss. I sincerely hope that through continuous in-depth exploration and exchange, a more accurate and rich consensus can be formed. When compiling the chapters for this book as requested, I have divided them into four sections: "World of Yesterday and Today," "Chronicles of Reading," "Various Aspects of Scholarship," and "On Prose." Each section is arranged in chronological order of writing for easy reference and reading. I have published over ten collections of prose and travelogues but have never collected and published academic essays. This manuscript marks the beginning of my conscious attempt at writing academic essays. Compiling these chapters to satisfy readers who appreciate my writing may be meaningful, but my greater wish is to receive detailed feedback from many friends at home and abroad to encourage me to make further progress. At the time of publication, I sincerely thank the editors who have published some of the chapters in this book; I also extend my heartfelt gratitude to the passionate and sincere friends from domestic and foreign newspapers and prose anthologies that have included some of my works. Here, I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the critics at home and abroad who have analyzed and guided my academic research and prose writing, as well as the journalists and writers who have portrayed and introduced my related activities. Although I am now in my twilight years, I still write and think with great enthusiasm. As long as I have the breath of life, I will continue to work hard, as a way to repay many sincere friends who have encouraged me to press forward.
Excerpt from Jing Shuyuan, Beijing: Life and Words
Words and Life When life is threatened by the sword, how can one remain completely fearless and still worry about the words on the page, determined to finish writing? What a brave and great spirit! I often think of the ancient Greek mathematician and physicist Archimedes. He once helped defend his city by creating devices to throw massive stones, resisting and blocking the Roman army's invasion. When the great city of Syracuse finally fell, his situation was indeed perilous, but since escape was impossible, he placed life and death aside. Amidst the barbaric shouts and frenzied killings of the invaders, the shocked cries and desperate weeping of the residents, he calmly sat at his desk, calculating an unsolved mathematical problem. Finally, a few bloodthirsty Roman soldiers broke into his home to loot and murder. He knew that the sword was already swinging over his head, and death was imminent. In his last moments, he bravely commanded the killers, "Don't move yet. Let me finish this problem!" Even as the shadow of death enveloped his entire body, he fought to complete the words he had thought of. Why do these words matter more than life? Because they record and give birth to certain scientific principles, guiding and directing humanity toward an unparalleled civilization. Archimedes' last words were so sacred and beautiful, forever inspiring future generations not to be lazy and to cherish their lives, seizing every opportunity to write meaningful words before death inevitably comes. I also often think of the British historian Gibbon. On the night he finally completed his masterpiece, "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," under the moonlight, he could not conceal his joy and excitement, but then became melancholic, deeply feeling that "regardless of the fate of this work, the life of a historian must be short and unpredictable." If one does not firmly grasp the fleeting and unpredictable life, it will quietly fade away. What should one do? Only by seizing every opportunity to write and contribute to humanity can life be filled with meaning. If scholars like Archimedes, who are involved in natural sciences, focus on building the temples of material civilization for humanity; then scholars or writers in the field of humanities focus on creating the landscapes of spiritual civilization, using words to depict the traces of people's struggles and progress, and explaining the noble meaning of human existence. With such great responsibilities, one must not neglect their duty. As for those who willingly sink to the depths, indulging in writing about pornography and violence, that is a desecration and a crime. For those who wield and master words, it is indeed an unshirkable responsibility to hold words more precious than life, always striving to let them shine with beauty and moral light.
March 1997 Postscript: Postscript I sincerely thank Mr. Yuan Liangjun for including my essays in the "Wind and Rain Collection" he edited. I began my arduous life journey with academic research and then devoted considerable effort to writing prose, perhaps because these two activities often overlap. As a result, I have produced several essays that might be considered academic essays, though I did not intend to do so. For this compilation, I have divided the chapters into four sections: "World of Yesterday and Today," "Chronicles of Reading," "Various Aspects of Scholarship," and "On Prose," each arranged in chronological order for easy reference and reading. I have published over ten collections of prose but have never collected and published academic essays. Compiling these chapters to satisfy readers who appreciate my writing may be meaningful, but my greater wish is to receive detailed feedback. At the time of publication, I sincerely thank the editors who have reviewed all the chapters in this book; some of my works have also been included in newspapers and prose anthologies, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to these passionate and sincere friends. Here, I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the many critics who have analyzed and guided my prose, as well as the journalists and writers who have portrayed and introduced my related activities. As long as I have the breath of life, I will continue to think and write, as a way to repay many sincere friends who have encouraged me to press forward. May 1, 1998, in Jing Shuyuan, Beijing