Chapter 171 new knowledge

In a letter to Chen Duxiu in October 1916, Hu Shi listed eight principles of new literature: One said not to use allusions; The second is not to use stereotypes; The third is not to talk about confrontation; The fourth is not to avoid common words and sayings; Fifth, we must pay attention to the structure of grammar; this is a revolution in form; The sixth is not to moan without illness; The seventh is not to imitate the ancients; every language must have a self; Eighth, there is something that needs to be said; these are all spiritual revolutions. In 1917, when Hu Shi was still a graduate student at Columbia University in the United States, he published "Suggestions on Literary Improvement" in "New Youth", advocating the use of vernacular writing, which was groundbreaking and caused great repercussions.Later, Mr. Tang Degang revealed in "Hu Shi's Miscellaneous Memories" that Hu Shishi's article was originally used in the "International Student Quarterly" edited in the United States, but he copied a copy for "New Youth" hosted by Chen Duxiu.Unexpectedly, it resulted in the New Literature Movement in China.

In 1917, Hu Shi returned from studying in the United States. When he saw the news of Zhang Xun’s restoration when he was on the ferry in Yokohama, he said with emotion that the fundamental problem in China was not a system problem, but a problem of human quality and cultural concepts.He was determined not to talk about politics for twenty years after returning to China, but to use literature and art to reshape the souls of the people. In 1917, Hu Shi, who had studied abroad for seven years, returned to China from the United States. To his surprise, there was not a single Chinese book on philosophy published within seven years.In the end, after searching for a whole day in Shanghai, I found a "History of Chinese Philosophy".Hu said: "(in the past seven years) not only have there been no books on higher learning, but even if I was looking for a book for recreation on ships and trains, I couldn't find it! I saw this strange situation, and I could really cry !"

Hu Shi's "The Source of Leaders" discusses: Leaders must have sufficient modern knowledge, must have sufficient modern training, and must have a personality that can arouse the belief of most people. In today's society, apart from schools , there is no other way. Hu Shi wrote such a passage when he went to his mother's funeral: "The 'small self' will perish, and the 'big self' will never die. The 'small self' is mortal, and the 'big self' will never die. Immortal. Although the "small self" will die, all the actions of each "small self", all merits and sins, all words and deeds, no matter good or evil, will remain in that "big self" forever. That' "Big self" is the memorial monument of all "small self" in the past and present, Zhangshan Temple, and the verdict of guilt."

Hu Shizai and Zhou Zuoren argued tit-for-tat on the question of who came first to transform society and people: Individuals are created by countless forces in society.The first way to transform society is to improve the various forces that create society—systems, habits, ideas, etc., and to transform society is to transform individuals. Hu Shili said: Confucians are the priests of the Yin nation, their clothes are Yin clothes, and they practice Yin rites. Their outlook on life is the soft and humble outlook on life of the survivors of the subjugated nation. master.With the great spirit of Wu Cong Zhou, I mentioned the great mission of "taking benevolence as one's own responsibility"-this is the new Confucianism of Confucius, this is "the theory of subjugation of slaves". Seeing meekness, the Jews have been subjugated for the longest time and have not seen meekness.

Many of Hu Shi’s theories are still valid today: practice is the only criterion for testing truth; bold assumptions, careful verification; more research on issues, less talk about doctrines; tolerance is more important than freedom; China needs to cure poverty, ignorance, corruption, and disease , Disturbance, not revolution; constitutionalism is the best training for constitutionalism.etc.