World Spirit of China: A Collection of International Commentaries by Xu Fuguan -- China Spirit Series

Author: Xu Fuguan, edited by Yao Dali
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: This collection of contemporary commentaries is selected from the writings of Mr. Xu Fuguan during his last three decades (1950s to 1970s) that were published in Hong Kong and Taiwan newspapers and magazines. Xu Fuguan, grounded in an idealistic perspective on international politics, transcends the temporal limitations of Neo-Confucianism during the Song and Ming dynasties. Xu Fuguan’s perspective revolves around the successful reconstruction of three important institutional systems in contemporary China: a free-market economy, democratic politics, and socialism, which adjusts the distribution of wealth and other life resources under a free economy through government actions. Drawing on traditional Chinese resources, Xu Fuguan develops the necessary local elements for institutional implementation.
With the principle of conscience as his guide, Xu Fuguan offers critical and even satirical evaluations of the decision-making and implementation of domestic and foreign policies, major events, social and cultural phenomena, and even individual political activists, all from his personal standpoint. Xu Fuguan’s essays on international politics are more accessible to the general public in terms of thought and understanding, yet they guide readers beyond common sense without violating rationality, with their profound yet straightforward wisdom. His keen insight, vivid and fluent writing, and sharp wit allow readers to reflect deeply on his thoughts about his era, even decades after the events have passed. These impromptu and reflective international commentaries have transcended time and space, enabling people today to strongly sense the reflections of a wise man who remained undeterred by disappointment, along with the insights, concerns, and vitality they contain, deeply moving them.
For most Chinese readers, reading Xu Fuguan’s essays on international politics is a unique way of "reviewing the past to gain new understanding." Those who lived through the historical period when Xu Fuguan’s international commentaries first appeared will find much to ponder as they revisit the events through his writings, many of which may seem familiar or even unfamiliar. For example, we have all heard of Cambodia’s "Red Khmer," but few know about their "startling experiment in Cambodia." The Japanese extremist group "United Red Army," which revered violent revolution, was never reported in China. The "United Red Army" incident once again demonstrates how far-leftists, when driven to extremes, can plunge into such a cruel and inhumane state.
Another example is after the death of the "revisionist leader" Khrushchev, only a brief notice titled "Khrushchev is dead" was published in China. The notice, with just a few words, carries a cold, detached tone toward the man’s "body and name fading away." Reading Xu Fuguan’s final assessment of Khrushchev can provoke deep reflection.