Chapter 19 prestige

When the Japanese writer Akutagawa Ryunosuke visited China, an old friend Johns specially told him: "It doesn't matter if you don't go to the Forbidden City, but you must go to see Gu Hongming!" This shows the status of Gu in the hearts of Westerners.After meeting with Gu Hongming, Ryunosuke Akutagawa wrote an article, in which he said with emotion: "Johns is really not a fool." A Western bishop named E Fangzhi disdained Lin Yutang's English, but worshiped Gu Hongming.He said that Gu Hongming's "articles written in English, from the perspective of the British, can be compared with the works of any great writer in any dynasty."

French writer Romain Rolland said: "Gu Hongming is very famous in Europe." In 1916, the German translation of "Spring and Autumn Days" was published, setting off a wave of "Gu Hongming craze" in Germany.Danish literary and social critic Brandes expressed his appreciation for Gu Hongming's criticism of European culture in his long commentary. He called Gu Hongming "the most important writer in modern China". Ma Boyuan recalled that when he was in the United States, he went to the library to read Gu Hongming's works and was quite surprised.The lady in the library said: "Mr. Gu's books are not only abundant in British and American libraries, but also precious."

Si Luan, a German student studying abroad, recalled in "Gu Hongming in Germany" that he was most impressed by one of the things he stayed in Germany for six or seven years: Nelson, a professor of philosophy at the University of Göttingen in Germany, admired Gu Hongming very much. He raised a sum of money, fearing that Gu would not accept it, so he said it was the royalties Gu got for his books in Germany. Later, when Siluan went to Germany again, Zhang Yong, another international student, told him that two professors in the philosophy department admired Gu Hongming so much. One of the professors announced that if students did not understand Gu Hongming, they were not allowed to participate in the discussion.

Nelson once wrote: "I have read Gu Hongming's book more than a dozen times so far. If I read it more, I will gain more. Among my peers, Gu Hongming should be the first person I admire." Mrs. Bai Te, the author of the book "Yangtze River Basin", once praised Gu Hongming's English poems.After Gu Hongming passed away, she sighed: "Gu Hongming is dead, but the European who can write Chinese poetry has not yet been born!" With a sharp mouth, Gu Hongming scolded almost all Westerners.However, because of Gu Hongming's admiration, newspapers and periodicals in European and American countries published Gu Hongming's articles again and again. The New York Times weekly magazine in 1920 published Gu Hongming's essay "The Uncivilization United States" ("America Without Culture"), with Gu Hongming wearing a front clear top and a court dress, and a big braid behind. caricature like.

Luo Jialun said that when he was abroad, he saw an article by Gu Hongming published in an English magazine. ". French scholar Francis Poli said: "In old China, who can be compared with Mr. Gu Hongming? He is the only Chinese who knows both Eastern and Western learning. I admit that I admire him and I admit that I love him." The great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy once wrote a letter to Gu Hongming for advice. He called Gu "the bosom friend of the East" and discussed with him the role of Chinese culture in the real world. British writer Somerset Maugham believes that Gu Hongming is a "prestige philosopher" and "the greatest authority of Confucius theory in China".

Japanese sinologist Shimizu Anzo said: "Gu Hongming's national studies skills lie in his vision to criticize and understand Chinese thought from a far-sighted perspective. He explored its essence, characteristics and great achievements, and pointed out its lack, which is quite sufficient. In He is an indispensable figure in the field of comparing and measuring Western culture and its thoughts. He is not a pure Chinese scholar, but it is enough for him to have the ability to understand, criticize and compare Chinese culture with Western culture. Because other Any other research is superfluous to him."