Chapter 165 10. Hu Shi

In 1917, at the age of 27, Hu Shi went to teach at Peking University and has become a well-known advocate of the literary revolution throughout the country.Lin Yutang greeted him as a Tsinghua teacher.When the two met, Lin was "like an electric shock".Dr. Hu quoted Erasmus, a humanist in the 15th century, who said when he returned from Italy to his motherland, the Netherlands: We are back, and everything will be different! In 1919, Peking University decided to abolish the deans of liberal arts and sciences, and set up a provost to take charge of the three subjects of liberal arts, science, and law.At that time, Peking University had strong professors in arts and sciences, and both sides were determined to win this position. Hu Shi, who was in the arts, even recommended himself, but was strongly opposed by the sciences.In the end, after discussion, it was decided that each department would put forward one candidate first, and then choose one of the three candidates.Yu Tongkui was selected for science, Chen Daqi was selected for liberal arts, and Ma Yinchu was selected for law.As a result, Cai Yuanpei voted for Ma Yinchu in order to avoid disputes over literature and science, and Ma Yinchu was elected.

Hu Shi couldn't stand loneliness. He claimed that he attached great importance to academics and wanted to "not talk about politics for 20 years." Within a few years, he founded and published the weekly "Efforts".Friends may not approve of him running a newspaper, worrying that he will be a "continuation of Liang Rengong". Hu Shi himself said: "They all said that I should concentrate on writing books. I am very grateful for what friends in class mean, but I really can't help it." There are seven editorial board members of "New Youth": Chen Duxiu, Lu Xun, Zhou Zuoren, Qian Xuantong, Hu Shi, Liu Bannong, and Shen Yinmo. The seven members of the editorial board rotate.At that time, Qian Xuantong and Liu Bannong wrote an article under the pseudonym of "New Youth" to refute Lin Qinnan's fallacies of retro. Youth", which he edited by himself.Shen Yinmo said to him, "Don't do this, or we all don't edit it, or let Duxiu edit it." The two brothers Lu Xun also opposed him. They said, "You edit it, and we don't contribute." Hu Shi just give up.

There are several famous professors in the Philosophy Department of Peking University, who have a tradition of fighting "philosophy against Taiwan".Hu Shi and Liang Shuming had a "philosophical confrontation" in the Red Building of Peking University.The two lectured in two classrooms upstairs and downstairs at the same time. Hu Shi advocated replacing Eastern culture with Western culture; Liang Shuming believed that only the revival of Chinese culture is the way out for mankind.The two held their own opinions, and the students were curious and inevitably asked the teacher questions.Therefore, Hu Shi commented on Liang Shuming, saying: "He hasn't even been in a movie theater, how can he talk about Eastern and Western cultures, Indian philosophy? Isn't it the same as the joke story of 'holding the tube' and 'touching the candle'?" Liang Shuming answered students' questions , then said: "Mr. Hu doesn't know what philosophy is at all, and he is committing the old sage's fault of 'learning without thinking will lead to nothing, and thinking without learning will lead to peril'." But the people who listened to the lecture admired their superb knowledge and their own specialties. , and there are also special works, so this opposite opera has been sung for a full year, and its popularity has not declined slightly.

Liang Shiqiu, Luo Longji and others peeked at Hu Shi's diary, and Hu Shi said with a smile on his face, "How can you peek at my diary?" Then he said seriously: "I died in my life, and this diary will be left to me. The only legacy of my sons, of course, will not be published until some years after my death." In 1943, Hu Shi commented on Feng Youlan: "Although Feng Youlan has been abroad, he has seen nothing.... His views are mostly reactionary, with a clear trend of conservatism, and his attitude of maintaining centralization is also quite obvious." In 1947, Feng Youlan visited New York When I heard that the title of Mrs. Yang Shaozhen’s master’s thesis was "Hu Shi’s Influence on the Chinese Cultural Circle Before 1927", I couldn’t help but smile and said: "This... this... this topic is very...very... good, because it’s too late. ...After 1927, he has no...no...no influence!" In 1950, Hu Shi saw Feng Youlan's English version and said disdainfully: "It's really too bad. I should quickly write the history of Chinese thought. Finished." In 1955, Hu Shi commented on Feng Youlan's "History of Chinese Philosophy": "I want to say a few good words, but I really don't see any benefit!"

Hu Shi believes that Chen Yinke is the person who "has the most profound knowledge, the most knowledgeable knowledge, and the best use of materials" in contemporary history.In fact, Chen Yinke wrote in classical Chinese all his life, and never necessarily followed the new style of punctuation. Hu Shi was quite conceited about the historical status of the first volume of his "Outline of the History of Chinese Philosophy". He said: "I am confident that I am the one who pioneered the history of Chinese philosophy. This is a great blessing for China. This The function of this book can change the color of the history of Chinese philosophy. In the future, people who study this subject at home and abroad will not be able to escape the influence of this book. Anyone who cannot use this method and attitude, I can assert that they will never stand up .”

In 1921, Hu Shi published "A Dream of Red Mansions" Textual Research, contrary to the views of the "old Red School" such as the Suoyin School and the Fuhui School, and created the "New Red School" characterized by self-legendary.Because of this, Hu Shi became the patriarch of the "New Red School".Hu Shi was very proud of this, saying, "The research I have done is unprecedented." Qian Mu and Hu Shi had a dispute while studying Laozi.The discussion focuses on the chronology of Laozi. Hu Shi believes that Laozi is slightly earlier than Confucius, while Qian Mu believes that Laozi is after Confucius.When the two met at a meeting, Qian Mu said to Hu Shi: "Mr. Hu, Laozi was written late, and the evidence is convincing. Don't insist on your mistakes!" Hu Shi replied, "Mr. The evidence is still not convincing me, if I can, I don’t even want my own father.” Qian Mu was introduced to Peking University by Hu Shi, which shows his scientific academic criticism spirit regardless of personal grievances, and Hu Shi is also very tolerant. When a classmate asked who was right when Mr. Qian spoke differently from him, he said: "In college, professors introduce various theories to everyone, and students should choose by themselves to see which one is the truth."

Hu Shi’s work of “throwing bricks” in the field of textual research on novels has attracted countless “beautiful jades”. He once said proudly: “I got Gu Jiegang and Yu Pingbo in the test; Dong Zuobin in the test; Li Xuanbo in the test; Sun Jiaxun." On February 24, 1962, the day Hu Shi passed away, when Hu Shi presided over the fifth academician meeting of the "Academia Sinica" in Taiwan, he said happily: "I often tell people that I am a person who knows nothing about physics. But I have two students who are physicists, one is Rao Yutai, the director of the Department of Physics of Peking University, and the other is Ms. Wu Jianxiong, who once cooperated with Li Zhengdao and Yang Zhenning to test the "unreliability of the rule of reciprocity", and Wu Dayou is Rao Yutai's Students, Yang Zhenning and Li Zhengdao are students of Wu Dayou. In terms of ranking, Rao Yutai and Wu Jianxiong are the second generation, Wu Dayou is the third generation, Yang Zhenning and Li Zhengdao are the fourth generation. I think this is the most proud of my life , and the most proud." This was Hu Shi's last speech before his death.