Spirit of Chinese Intellectuals -- Series of Chinese Spirit

Author: Xu Fuguang (Author), Chen Kejian (Editor)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: This book selects sixty-one articles by Mr. Xu, more than half of which are about remembering people, recalling the past, and mourning the deceased. The subjects of his remembrance are mostly his teachers and friends, and even those he had not personally interacted with, Mr. Xu portrayed their impressions and expressed his feelings from a personal perspective. Therefore, these articles are deeply touching and vivid, as if one can touch the concrete reality. Alternatively, this collection can be seen as a portfolio of portraits of intellectuals, through which the spirit of Chinese intellectuals is revealed. The sixty-one articles are divided into seven groups, each with a title added by the editor.
Group "Historical Observations," which includes two articles about painting portraits of Song Dynasty scholar Zhu Shan.
The second group, "Old Learning Amidst the Rising Tide of New Trends," features the first three articles recalling three teachers Xu studied under in Wuhan during his early years: Liu Fengzhang, Wang Jiduo, and Huang Jijiang. At that time, the May Fourth Movement was in full swing, and the tide of new learning was surging. The scholarly dedication and practice of these old learning masters were vividly portrayed by Mr. Xu. Another article, "A Corner of the May Fourth Movement," recalls the influence of the May Fourth Movement on Xu in Wuhan, exploring the relationship between the May Fourth Movement and the New Culture Movement. Beijing and Shanghai were the cradles of the New Culture Movement, preceding the May Fourth Movement, while Wuhan was described as "where the May Fourth Movement enabled the New Culture Movement to become a powerful social force." Such recollections pull readers from their abstract understanding of "Mr. Democracy" and "Mr. Science" back to the historical scene.
The third group, "Sharing the Cultural Life," consists of articles about Mr. Xu's remembrances of his fellow scholars such as Xiong Shili, Ma Yifu, and Tang Junyi. The last article, "The Final Words of (Democracy Review)," recounts the origins and hardships of founding the magazine Democracy Review.
The fourth group, "Typical Figures," includes five articles about five scholars: Wu Jihui, Lu Xun, Zhang Shidao, Yu Jiaxi, and Yin Haiguang, each representing a different archetype of intellectuals. Among them, apart from Yu Jiaxi, the other four were not only renowned scholars and writers but also prominent public figures. However, Mr. Xu held the most respect for Yu Jiaxi, who "dedicated himself to serious scholarship without seeking fame," calling him "a great intellectual."
The fifth group, "Remembrances and Passings," contains eleven articles about people who may be unfamiliar to readers on the mainland, offering insights into Mr. Xu's friendships after his migration.
The sixth group, "East and West," includes articles about Japanese scholars and figures, discussions on Japanese intellectuals, and reflections on Western intellectuals such as Einstein, Toynbee, and Picasso.
The seventh group, "Youth and Education," reflects that Mr. Xu, as a Confucian scholar, always carried the younger generation in his heart. From the big question of "Where will the youth go?" to the small matter of junior high school Chinese exam questions, he expressed his views sincerely and openly.