Selected Prose of Lu Xun - A Classic Reading in National Culture

Author: Deng Guowei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: In recent years, there has been a growing advocacy for the study of "National Studies" (Guoxue). The term "National Studies" refers to the excellent traditional culture at the academic level. In the last century, we experienced many upheavals, especially during the Cultural Revolution, which severely damaged traditional culture. Today, reflecting on these past struggles, promoting the study of Guoxue plays a positive role in enhancing the moral and cultural qualities of the entire nation and in building socialist spiritual civilization. Our country is an ancient civilization with a history of five thousand years, and our ancestors created a splendid and magnificent culture. Through generations of effort, the cultural tradition has been passed down, refined, and accumulated into a profound heritage. At the academic level, this cultural tradition permeates various works in philosophy, literature, history, and other humanities, forming the lifeblood that shapes the ideological consciousness of the entire nation. Of course, there are both essence and dross in traditional culture. The essence of traditional culture is the nourishment we must absorb. Only by inheriting and embracing the excellent traditional Chinese culture can we continuously grow and develop. Looking back over the past century, the winds of Europe and America have swept across China, which has had a positive impact on promoting our country's modernization. Especially in the era of globalization, we cannot be complacent or cling to tradition. We should adopt all the outstanding and advanced cultural assets of the world for our own use. However, while embracing the world with an open attitude, we must also inherit and carry forward the excellent cultural heritage of the Chinese nation. The more globalized we become, the more we must emphasize our national identity. Only by inheriting the fine national culture and absorbing foreign cultural nutrients can we stand tall among the nations of the world and lead the way in a globalized and modernized society. Making the younger generation inherit the excellent traditional culture and study Guoxue is an issue that the entire society, especially the education sector, should pay attention to. For many years, the saying "Mastering mathematics and physics will take you everywhere" has caused many troubles for the development of the younger generation and hindered the healthy growth of social talent. Look around, and you will see many people who have knowledge but lack culture. In fact, those who have not been nurtured by the fine cultural tradition, even if they have some scientific knowledge, cannot truly achieve great things. The mediocre and unremarkable may struggle to even make ends meet, let alone "go everywhere"! Even for young people who aspire to pursue careers in science and technology, mastering professional knowledge and inheriting the excellent national cultural tradition and studying Guoxue are not contradictory but rather complementary. On the contrary, accepting the dialectical perspectives and methods inspired by Guoxue can strengthen critical thinking, improve expressive abilities, enhance humanistic spirit and moral cultivation, and ultimately promote a deeper understanding of scientific knowledge and theory, fostering innovation capabilities. Look at many famous scientists in our country, such as Su Buqing and Li Zhengdao. Their outstanding achievements are all linked to the nurturing they received from Guoxue from a young age. A deep cultural foundation has been a powerful driving force for them to climb the heights of science. This is something our outstanding scientists often take pride in when summarizing their learning experiences. For the younger generation of students, the insights of their predecessors are worth serious reflection. Even in daily life, studying a bit of Guoxue is equally important for understanding society, grasping the national context, handling interpersonal relationships, and improving one's moral cultivation. For example, the concepts of etiquette, righteousness, integrity, shame, loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and love proposed in Guoxue can be reinterpreted and applied to modern life to serve the construction of socialist spiritual civilization. As for the dialectical thinking, philosophical insights, beautiful verses, and elegant manners presented in the excellent cultural heritage, they can all provide us with valuable references. I believe that whether one studies Guoxue or not, there is a difference in cultural refinement, knowledge depth, speed, and elegance. Therefore, to quickly and effectively improve the quality of the entire nation and adapt to the needs of globalization and modernization, as well as to face increasingly fierce competition, advocating the study of Guoxue and inheriting and promoting the fine cultural tradition of the Chinese nation is indeed necessary. The best way to study Guoxue is to start with children, allowing them to be exposed to our excellent traditional culture from a young age. Early education is extremely important for a person's growth. Of course, some concepts and languages in traditional classics may be unfamiliar to young people, and they might grasp them superficially, but that is not a problem. As they grow older and gain more experience, they will gradually understand the true meaning. Meanwhile, the excellent cultural nutrients will permeate their bodies and blood, becoming part of their lives, helping them to grow healthily. This series of books is compiled to help young people study Guoxue. We are happy to introduce the thought-provoking philosophies, famous poems, and prose from Confucius and Laozi to the readers, along with concise explanations and annotations. We hope that through this series, young people can receive the benefits of our nation's fine cultural tradition and become useful talents for building a socialist motherland. In late spring, when peach blossoms bloom and flowers are scattered on trees, let this land deeply nourished by Lingnan culture bloom even more beautifully.