West Tide and East Tide: A Memoir of Tsai Meng-lin

Author: Jiang Menglin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: This book includes "The Westward Tide" and "The New Tide," along with an "Appendix." "The Westward Tide" records China's hundred-year history from 1842 to 1941, with the first half being the author's "personal eyewitness account" and the second half his "personal experience." During the war, while taking cover from air raids, the author wrote this "autobiography" in a vacant room without light or furniture, using a pencil and a hardcover notebook. The author considered this book "somewhat like an autobiography, somewhat like memoirs, and somewhat like modern history." Renowned scholar Luo Jialun wrote a preface for the Chinese edition, saying, "After seventy years, it is the time when his wisdom crystallizes. At this stage, he writes a memoir rich in philosophical depth and life's humor. What it reflects is not just his life but the era he lived through." This "autobiography" titled "The Westward Tide" discusses the impact of foreign culture on China. He also planned to write "The New Tide," which would explore the changes in Chinese culture under the influence of foreign culture. In Jiang's plan, "The New Tide" was considered more important than "The Westward Tide." Unfortunately, he passed away shortly after starting it. The few completed chapters cannot be considered the final draft. The unfinished manuscripts still contain many incomplete pieces of paper with notes on life experiences and wisdom, records of inspiration during the writing process. Regrettably, no one has organized or continued these writings. The introduction to "The New Tide" states the book's purpose: "This book aims to discuss the experience of an individual, a nation, and an era. Experience is precious, but precious experience comes at a great cost." "The Westward Tide" was first published in English in the United States and was highly regarded by the academic community, being designated as one of the key reference books by the Harvard University Center for Far Eastern Studies. Twelve years later, he translated it into Chinese and published it in Taiwan, where almost every young person owned a copy. As a Ph.D. in philosophy and education from Columbia University, the author served as acting president of Peking University and as president for 17 years. He also held the position of Minister of Education in the National Government and served as the Secretary-General of the Executive Yuan. In the later stages of the war, he took on the role of President of the Red Cross Society.