Chapter 5 Qian Xuantong: Professor of Character, Guru of Doubting the Ancients

Qian Xuantong (1887-1939), formerly known as Qian Xia, courtesy name Deqian, nickname Yigu, Han nationality, was born in Wuxing, Zhejiang (now Huzhou City, Zhejiang).Language reform activist, character phonologist, one of the advocates of China's "May 4th" New Culture Movement, and a famous thinker.He once advocated the abolition of Chinese characters. Among the pioneers of the "May 4th" Literary Revolution, Qian Xuantong can be said to be a hero and a vanguard.Although he was not the perpetrator, he was the first to give strong support to the perpetrator. At the beginning of 1917, after Hu Shi published "Suggestions on Literary Improvement" in Volume 2, No. 5 of "New Youth", Qian Xuantong immediately published "Correspondence" in Volume 2, No. 6 of the magazine as a support. Mr. Hu Shizhi's "Literature Discussion" of "Youth" is very admirable. He denounces the unreasonable sentences in parallel prose and advocates that vernacular literature is the most incisive...With this insight, the result of improving literature and art will undoubtedly be good. Only choose to learn from evildoers , Tongcheng fallacies, see this and don’t know how to curse.” Later, Qian Xuantong published important articles such as “On the Urgent Improvement of Practical Essays”, and proposed that punctuation marks should be added to articles, numbers can be changed to Arabic numbers, and all records of the year Try to use the world's common AD chronology, and the writing method "change the right-hand straight down to the left-hand horizontal movement" and other propositions.Qian Xuantong's help encouraged Chen Duxiu and Hu Shi in their loneliness.Chen Duxiu expressed his "inexplicable admiration" for Qian Xuantong's "advocating great ideas".In his reply letter to Qian Xuantong, he said: "Using the voice and rhyme of the master to learn from everyone and promote popular new literature, why worry about the country's downturn." Hu Shi said that Qian Xuantong's appreciation of him made him "flattered", "I have become more confident"; he added, "Professor Qian is a master of ancient prose. He has such a sympathetic response to us, which really boosts our momentum." What is especially important is that Qian Xuantong will "Tongcheng Myth" Species" and "Xuan Xue Yao Xie" were identified as the objects of the literary revolution, hitting the key point of the old-school literati who imitated the ancient proses of the Tongcheng School or the parallel prose selected in "Wen Xuan".Qian Xuantong believes: "The parallel prose of the Six Dynasties is full of words and phrases, without real emotion, and even replaces facts with allusions, cuts out other people's names, and accommodates his articles as counterparts. Indiscriminate articles can be seen everywhere. Until now, there is still a kind of nonsense saying that articles should be done in this way. The articles in "Wenxuan" are authentic through the ages. This is the first literary demon that spoils vernacular." It can be seen that Qian Xuantong It is from the perspective of updating literary concepts and promoting the development of articles to keep pace with the development of the times to oppose "choosing monsters and Tongcheng fallacies".

At the beginning of the establishment of the banner of the literary revolution, the old literati adopted an attitude of indifference and disdain, and for a while no one came out to start a debate.Therefore, people of new culture must take countermeasures to lead the snake out of its hole.As Lu Xun said: "They were publishing "New Youth", but at that time it seemed that no one agreed with it, and no one opposed it. I think they may feel lonely." Ever since, after discussion, Qian Xuan played "Huang Gai" and Liu Bannong played "Zhou Yu".In "New Youth" Volume 4, No. 3, Qian Xuantong's alias "Wang Jingxuan", standing on the standpoint of the old literati, as if making a policy theory, weaves many accusations about the new literature, and in a sharp and clamorous style, he speaks out loudly. The new literati learned a lesson.But Liu Bannong immediately wrote back a long letter, refusing Wang Wenzhong's point of view with a fresh and concise style of writing, and said that the old literati were like "the rotten widow who wanted to steal the man, but also asked the imperial decree, and erected the memorial arch". There is neither boldness nor ambition, but it is always concealed, so that new literati are not allowed to show their edge.Their vision is like "the old mother in the country hugged a red cloth cotton padded jacket when she was married, saying it was the most beautiful dress in the world, but she never saw the beautiful face of silk and silk", portraying the ugly appearance of the old literati in a three-point way. , vividly.It can be said that laughing and cursing are all articles.This kind of article, with its aggressive wording and fine-grained discussion, can be said to be a trick to poke the sore spots of old literati, let them read it, and it would be strange not to make their noses crooked!

Sure enough, not long after, Lin Qinnan, a general in the old literati circle, couldn't sit still. He wrote a classical Chinese novel "Jing Sheng" in Shanghai's "Xin Shen Bao", gnashing his teeth and insinuating and attacking several people in "New Youth". main character.Of course, Qian Xuantong, who is "a friend in form but an enemy in reality", is indispensable.In the novel, Lin Qinnan portrays Jin Xinyi, a Zhejiang literati, gold versus money, heart versus Xuan, and difference versus sameness, which actually alludes to Qian Xuantong.In Lin's writing, Jin Xinyi loves money like his life, often "speaks hurtful words", and is short-sighted and timid, and is suppressed by the so-called "great husband" General Jing Sheng.It can be said that the novel is full of personal attacks and moral fallacies, revealing Lin's almost hysterical hatred of the new culture.This also just shows that the stubborn feudal forces are theoretically and morally powerless to fight back, and can only resort to abuse and insinuation attacks. The last desperate struggle is nothing but the wailing of a trapped animal.

That is to say, since then, the people of the New Culture School have clearly been in an overwhelming advantage both in terms of momentum and academic theory, and the efforts of Qian Xuantong and Liu Bannong are indisputable. As a supporter and shouter of the literary revolution, Qian Xuantong did not write at the same time, and he never wrote a new-style poem in his life.However, Qian Xuantong has profound literary attainments.As early as when he was studying abroad in the late Qing Dynasty, he co-organized "Education Jinyu Magazine" with Mr. Zhang Taiyan, writing papers in vernacular.Most of the articles in the popular book "Zhang Taiyan's Vernacular Essays" were written by Qian Xuantong.After returning to China, he ran the "Popular Vernacular Newspaper" in Zhejiang.The first book on learning that is close to the vernacular is the correspondence between Qian Xuantong and Chen Duxiu published in Volume 3, No. 6 of "New Youth". "New Youth" magazine began to publish vernacular articles on the 1st of the 4th volume, and the use of punctuation marks was also the result of Qian Xuantong's propaganda, agitation, and struggle.Since then, Qian Xuantong wrote a large number of essays in vernacular, and waged an uncompromising struggle against conservative literati and feudal elders.His writing style is generous and unrestrained, like a long wind piercing through valleys, rushing torrents hitting rocks, and he has made great achievements in both thought and art.

In the movement to abandon classical Chinese and adopt vernacular, Qian Xuantong was a well-deserved pioneer and the most powerful promoter.As a well-known philologist in China, Qian Xuantong made great contributions to reforming Chinese characters. In 1917, he published "Response to Literary Discussions" in "New Youth", strongly opposing the "use of allusions" in composition. Going further, he said: "Anyone who uses allusions, no matter how clumsy they are, is a flaw in writing." If you use allusions indiscriminately and use representational language to replace facts, it is especially bad." He also advocated reforming the writing format, advocating the use of punctuation marks, and using the same writing method from left to horizontal as in the West writing habits, this proposition was first applied in the "New Youth" magazine.Li Jinxi, a famous linguist, said in the article "The Biography of Mr. Qian Xuantong": ""New Youth" uses new punctuation marks, starting from No. 1 of Volume 4 in the seventh year of the Republic of China (1918). When the first book was printed with punctuation marks, when it was published, many people burst into laughter..." Cai Yuanpei once fairly commented on this achievement, saying that this result came from "Xuantong's efforts to promote vernacular writing".

At that time, many scholars were fiercely paranoid, but such extremes as Qian Xuantong were really rare.He calls himself "Suspecting Ancient Xuantong", and often holds a firm negative attitude towards past masters.As a disciple of Zhang Taiyan, a master of the ancient text school, Qian Xuantong was influenced by his teacher and had a very high attainment in ancient texts and classics. However, he later also worshiped Cui Shi, a master of modern classics, as his teacher, and claimed to be "Naishi Specialized in Jinwen".To be honest, Qian Xuantong is a rebel who deviates from his master's school when it comes to both ancient and modern prose. In the early 1920s, Qian Xuantong and Gu Jiegang, who had just graduated from university, discussed modern and ancient Chinese prose. The above story is an example to illustrate the attitude that scholars of their generation should have in their studies.Scholar Sang Sheng took in two women successively. These two restless women always attacked each other. One said that the other was a ghost, and the other said that the other was a fox. At first, Sang Sheng thought they were just jealous. After the test of time, it was found that they were indeed ghosts and foxes, and the facts proved that both women were right.This story can be used to face the dispute between modern and ancient prose. Modern writers are right when they say that ancient prose was forged by Liu Xin;Therefore, what modern scholars have to do today is to criticize modern writers from the point of view of ancient writers, criticize ancient writers from the perspective of modern writers, and expose their false faces through mutual accusations.

Qian Xuantong's old learning is very good, a disciple like him, even a teacher can't hate him.He advocated the abolition of ancient Chinese and even Chinese characters, not because he was not good enough, but because he wanted to make it easier for future generations to learn, and he was purely for the sake of future generations.Qian Xuantong could write beautiful official script and seal characters, and used Xiaozhuan to copy Zhang Taiyan's "Primary School Questions and Answers" for engraving and publishing. Lu Xun criticized this matter, thinking that a fierce person like him should not be so retro.

Qian Xuantong not only called for the promotion of vernacular Chinese and the simplification of Chinese characters, he also advocated Esperanto. Because of his proposal, Peking University once actually set up a research institute for the study of Esperanto.Although the future of Esperanto is still unclear, it is an indisputable fact that the world is increasingly showing the need for a universal language.From this perspective, we can say that Qian Xuantong is definitely a great scholar with an advanced world vision. Qian Xuantong once said: "The China I love is a Europeanized China!" This can easily make Qian Xuantong mistaken for a guy who worships foreigners, but this is obviously not true. anti-Japanese behavior.In fact, Qian Xuantong was not an ordinary "total Westernization" advocate at that time. He had his own unique interpretation of "Europeanization": "The so-called Europeanization is the modernization of the whole world, which is not owned by Europeans, but Europeans have heard of it." It was earlier, a few steps ahead of us. If we are not willing to "generate from the outside", we must desperately catch up with this big brother, and hope to catch up in a short time." He believes that as long as we don't half-heartedly look around, we will surely If we can catch up with this big brother, then we will be able to "walk along with them, laughing and walking slowly".From this we can see that Qian Xuantong's fierce anti-traditional behavior was actually a normal reaction to his anger at the backwardness and chaos of the motherland at that time, and his deep love for him.

The whole story While Qian Xuantong was writing articles for "New Youth", he was also looking for suitable and excellent writers for the magazine.Naturally, he will not forget Zhou Shuren (Lu Xun) and Zhou Zuoren, his classmates and friends in Tokyo. He thinks that they are rare literary talents in China.Qian Xuantong often went to the Bushu Bookstore in the Shaoxing Guild Hall in the southern half of the hutong outside Xuanwumen to persuade the Zhou brothers to write for "New Youth".Zhou Zuoren had manuscripts handed in soon, but his brother Lu Xun did not do it for a long time.Qian Xuantong would never stop doing things until he achieved his goal. In order to get an appointment with the Zhou brothers for manuscripts, he took the trouble to visit them often.He and Lu Xun were both very talkative, and they often started chatting at four or five o'clock in the afternoon and continued until eleven or twelve o'clock at night, and their conversation was never interrupted by dinner in between.

One day, Qian Xuantong came to the Shaoxing Guild Hall wearing a long gown and carrying a black leather bag. When he saw Lu Xun buried in copying ancient monuments in the room, he asked in puzzlement: "What's the use of copying these monuments?" "It's useless." "Then what's the point of copying it?" "Nothing interesting." "I think, you can do something..." Under Qian Xuantong's repeated urging, Lu Xun finally let go. "So I finally agreed to him to write an article, and this is the first one. Since then, it has been unacceptable..." ("Scream Preface"), Zhou Zuoren wrote in "Reminiscences of Zhitang" It is also confirmed in the book: "... Lu Xun himself, who used to be so silent, now started to write novels. He clearly said that it was because of Jin Xinyi's persuasion, and this was also a matter after the restoration." "This article is not only an article. The vernacular, and it was the first shot to attack cannibalism, this is the ideological revolution that Lu Xun and Qian Xuantong cared about, and its importance surpassed the literary revolution.”

During the "May 4th Movement", Lu Xun and Qian Xuantong had a close relationship. They not only often ate, drank and chatted together, but also wrote back and forth.According to Shen Yinmo's recollection, when Lu and Qian talked loudly together, they often occupied the center of the conversation. Others could only listen carefully and had no room to interrupt.When Lu Xun was in Japan, he nicknamed Qian Xuantong "crawling around", or "crawler" for short, and Qian Xuantong also nicknamed Lu Xun "Owl", which shows that the relationship between the two is extraordinary. However, it was such a pair of friends who gradually became estranged due to various reasons. The ideological divide is the main reason for their estrangement from each other. After the "May 4th Movement", Qian Xuantong got into the pile of old papers that he opposed back then, and was satisfied with being a philologist and phonologist, concentrating on learning, and the fighting passion of the year gradually disappeared. "Yusi" was founded in 1924. Although Qian Xuantong, Lu Xun, Zhou Zuoren, Lin Yutang and others were all founders, Lu Xun rarely participated in fan gatherings.Lu Xun's dissatisfaction with Qian Xuantong was mainly because "they have forgotten the spirit of the "New Youth" era and have become scholars."By the time Lu Xun went south to Xiamen in 1926, the relationship between the two had become very distant. On September 12, 1927, Qian Xuantong's 40th birthday, several of his friends Hu Shi, Zhou Zuoren, Liu Bannong and others planned to compile a "Mr. The literati celebrated his birthday in a unique way, which almost made the fake come true.This obviously belongs to the elegant play of literati.Lu Xun thought this kind of celebrity style was very boring and disgusting, and thought it was very inappropriate under the circumstances at the time, so he wrote a poem "Professor's Miscellaneous Songs" to satirize it: "If you don't do it yourself, you can pass forty leisurely; why don't you bet on a fat head? Resist dialectics." Because Qian Xuantong was obese, he once made the strange theory that "a person who is over forty should be shot".Lu Xun's dissatisfaction with Qian Xuantong was already on paper. Li Jinxi, an old friend of Qian Xuantong, said that Qian Xuantong had indeed signed "Suspect Gu Xuantong" and printed such a business card, but Qian Xuantong did not admit it later.Regarding the encounter between Qian and Lu at Kongde School, Li Jinxi has a very interesting passage: "Mr. Qian is not happy, and there is a guest coming. He is Mr. Qian's best friend and Mr. Lu Xun's least favorite, so the two are even more stunned." Soon Lu Xun left in a hurry, and the two of them would have no chance to talk." (Li Jinxi's "Biography of Mr. Qian Xuantong") This somewhat reveals some information about the estrangement between the two. Qian Xuantong was born in an old official family in the late Qing Dynasty, and he received a lot of feudal ethics.Therefore, he hated the old ethics such as the Three Cardinal Principles and the Five Constant Principles the most, and was the most resolute in his opposition. He made a lot of fierce remarks, and he was a vanguard general who dared to declare war on the old ethics.However, he himself is a very law-abiding person. When Qian Xuantong was born, his father was 62 years old and his elder brother was 34 years old. His father and elder brother disciplined him very strictly.Both of his parents died when he was young, and he has been living with his brother and sister-in-law, and he must obey his elder brother in everything.He respects his brother and sister-in-law very much, and every lunar year, he will bring his wife and son to his brother's house to worship his ancestors.In his later years, Qian Xuantong's 80-year-old sister-in-law compiled poems and essays about ladies in the Qing Dynasty. He personally copied and proofread the book, and compiled an index of names in "Guangyun" for this book.He is also very friendly to his nephews who are not nearly the same age as himself. Qian Xuantong opposed arranged marriages and advocated free love.But he has a very harmonious relationship with his wife Xu Guanzhen, who is arranged by his brother.His wife is in poor health, but he is caring and caring.Prostitution and taking concubines were commonplace for literati in the old society. Qian Xuantong never went to prostitution, saying, "It would be disrespectful to the students."Someone advised him to take a concubine on the grounds that his wife was in poor health, but he sternly refused, saying: "New Youth advocates monogamy, so there is no reason to slap yourself in the mouth." He also said: "Sangang is like three hemp The rope is wrapped around our heads, the grandfather is wrapped around the father, the father is wrapped around the son, the son is wrapped around the grandchildren, and it has been wrapped around for two thousand years. The New Culture Movement started and called for liberation, freeing the three hemp ropes wrapped around our heads. We will absolutely never wrap these three hemp ropes around the children’s heads in the future! But we must not untie the hemp ropes on our own heads, at least not by the New Culture Movement, and at least I myself will never untie them.” Zhang Taiyan was recognized as a master of Chinese studies during the "May 4th Movement" period, with far-reaching influence and great success in the world.There are three types of disciples, disciples and students.According to Zhou Zuoren, when Zhang Taiyan traveled north in 1932, disciples of Zhangmen printed the "Sequel to Zhang's Series of Books". It was Qian Xuantong. "Of course, Huang Jigang is the first among the disciples, and Taiyan also values ​​him very much, but when it comes to respecting and loving the teacher, Qian Xuantong must be the most important, even though Taiyan once dubbed him King Yi because he 'rebelled ', that is, to oppose ancient Chinese and Chinese characters." (Zhou Zuoren, "Recalling Qian Xuantong") Qian Xuantong met Zhang Taiyan when he was studying in Japan.Qian Xuantong went to Japan to study in 1906. At that time, Zhang Taiyan was in exile in Japan and founded the official newspaper of the Tongmenghui in Tokyo. Qian Xuantong met Zhang Taiyan at the "Min Bao" office. Because he had read Zhang Taiyan's articles before, he admired Zhang Taiyan very much, so he admired Zhang Taiyan. disciple ceremony.According to Zhou Zuoren's recollection: "Qian Xuantong listened to Mr. Taiyan's lectures, first at the Chinese Studies Institute of Tokyo Taisei Middle School, and later at the "Minbao" office to listen to "Shuowen", sometimes he stayed and stayed with Taiyan. 'Sleep on feet', talking about writing problems all night, and finally forced the husband to admit that writing must be done in seal characters." It can be seen that the relationship between Zhang and Qian's teachers and students is very close. In the second year, Zhang Taiyan introduced Qian Xuantong to join the Tongmenghui. Qing, named himself Xia, which means "a man of Zhongkuang". When one's ability is great, it is inevitable to be proud of one's talent. Zhang Taiyan is often arrogant. To be honest, several of his disciples have tempers, and they will bump into each other when they are together.First, the big disciple Huang Kan fought against several juniors who started the literary revolution. In the early 1930s, Zhang Taiyan took Huang Kan to Beijing to give lectures. Qian Xuantong was respectful and cautious to the teacher, but he didn't buy it at all for his seniors.One day, at Zhang Taiyan’s residence, Huang Kan jokingly said to Qian Xuantong: “Er Maniac, I’ll sue you before you come! Poor you! The husband is here too, why don’t you read the book on phonology carefully recently? What do you want to get phonetic alphabets, what vernacular Chinese?" Qian Xuantong suddenly turned his face, slapped the table and said sharply: "I just want to get phonetic letters, I want to get vernacular Chinese, idiot!" Zhang Taiyan rushed over when he heard the sound, laughed, and explained Don't argue about phonetic and vernacular Chinese anymore, just read the Japanese alphabet for me.The meaning of the chapter is very obvious. Thinking about the friendship of fellow students who studied together in Japan back then, what is there to be noisy about. Although Qian Xuantong and Huang Kan came out of the same school, they have different interests.After returning to China, Qian Xuantong participated in the New Culture Movement, advocated vernacular writing, and parted ways with Huang Kan.Once, Huang Kan wrote a poem "Beihai Nostalgia" in a magazine, which read: "The old country is decaying, the palace is full of grass, and the autumn swallows are like guests, who will rely on it? Swallowing the strict city, leaking the high pavilion, what year will it be?" The return of the emerald chariot?" My colleagues think that this poem has a taste of "the old" and "the young", revealing the meaning of restoration.Qian Xuantong had a different view on this, and wrote a memoir for this: "I know that Mr. X was really sincere when he became a revolutionary party; but he has not betrayed him now. But his vision is very high. Generally, those who created the Republic of China are not satisfied and often ridicule them.” The article did not mention Huang Kan’s name, and also meant to explain Huang Kan’s analysis. Huang Kan was still furious after seeing it, and scolded them for not being able to understand the words.Qian and Huang had a good relationship and respected each other in their early years, and their cooperation in phonology was also very successful, but "Huang Kan's temper is quite eccentric, sometimes he speaks casually, and even scolds in class. Although Qian Xuantong has a strong personality, but He is very different from Huang in terms of temperament and thinking, and the two 'go against their own words' (Qian Xuantong's words)". In 1926, because his wife was seriously ill, Qian Xuantong asked for leave of absence for half a year, and invited Huang Kan to be a professor in the Chinese Department of Normal University.At that time, the head of the department was Mr. Wu Chengshi, who was also a disciple of Zhangmen.Wu and Huang did not get along well. Once, Huang Kan talked nonsense in class, and the female students had a lot of opinions. Wu Chengshi euphemistically pointed it out to him, and Huang Kan and Wu Chengshi had conflicts. Huang Kan angrily wrote a poem to satirize , two of which are "Fanghu united with the Shu party, and Zhejiang sent Qian Kuang", Qian Kuang refers to Qian Xuantong.When he was studying in Japan, Huang Kan once jokingly called Qian Xuantong "Qian Er Crazy".When Huang and Wu quarreled, Qian Xuantong actually got involved. This is where Huang Kan's character is eccentric. It is said that after Huang Kan's death, "Li Bao" once published an article "Huang Kan's legacy", above which is "Qian Xuantong's lecture notes are his piss", in the middle there is a passage: "Huang is famous for his studies in China, and also for his Swearing people are famous all over the world, except for Mr. Zhang Taiyan, the world's literati are not in their eyes. The famous professor Mr. Qian Xuantong and Huang's fellow teacher Zhang Shi both teach in the Chinese Department of Peking University, and Huang also looks down on money the most. Said, do you know where a certain volume of Qian’s philology lectures came from? It is because Yu Yu took a piss. When Qian and Yu lived in Tokyo, time passed. Urinated and left the room, but a book of notes disappeared when I returned. I had to take the rest of the material with me. The money I asked for was not approved. Now the handouts are all Chinese characters in the notes. Can I still rely on it? Qian Mou too." This phrase is well known in Peking University's Department of Chinese Literature, and it can be described as extremely cruel. Zhou Zuoren once sent this article to Qian Xuantong, and Qian Xuantong wrote back: "The anecdote of Pi Weng (Note: Huang Kan is in the old school, nicknamed Shaer Gong) is quite interesting, and I don't think it is forged. , although some are inconsistent, there must be a reason. For example, he said that my book was made by stealing his notes while he was urinating. I know he said that I got it by worshiping his door. Fu Baimen and urinating , Gai also said similarly." (Zhou Zuoren "Qian Xuantong's Retrospect and Anti-Ancient") Huang Kan is arrogant and perverse. Especially in the lecture hall, he speaks a lot of nonsense." He "is not only Zhang Taiyan's big disciple, but also our senior brother. His Chinese studies are among the best, but his temper is eccentric, in proportion to his knowledge. He talks about some things. It's really unbelievable." (Zhou Zuoren's "Reminiscences of Zhitang") On October 8, 1935, Huang Kan died in Liangshou Lu, Nanjing, due to excessive drinking. He was 50 years old at the time.After Huang Kan's death, Qian Xuantong was not overwhelmed by the festivities between the two, but still wrote an elegiac couplet full of affection: "Primary school is based on the biography of the teacher, and the origin and flow of the rhyme are explained in detail. Its true meaning. The six generations of the article family have devoted themselves to thinking deeply about Han Zao. How can I lose this talent in my family." It can be said that the affection is sincere, and it also shows Qian Xuantong's lenient mind. Qian Xuantong not only dared to lead the trend in the study of Confucian classics and the New Culture Movement, but he was also unconventional in historical research and teaching and educating people. As we all know, in the 1920s and 1930s, a new faction emerged in the field of Chinese historiography: the Ancient History School.In addition to Gu Jiegang and Hu Shi, the representatives of this school, another important figure is Qian Xuantong.This school put forward the hypothesis of "ancient Chinese history formed layer by layer", overthrowing the old historical theory system of "Pan Gu opened the sky" and "Three Emperors and Five Emperors", and achieved unprecedented achievements.Qian Xuantong is undoubtedly the originator of this school of thought, and this originates from his transcendental thinking on the two schools of ancient Chinese classics and modern classics.Gu Jiegang clearly mentioned that it was Qian Xuantong's inspiration that made him embark on the path of doubting ancient scholarship.He said in the first volume of "Ancient History Bian" "Preface": "In the twelfth year (1923), Mr. Xuantong gave me a long letter, discussing the discrimination of the Ministry of Classics. I have not communicated with him for more than a year. I asked, and suddenly I read this heartily long letter, which gave me a kind of excitement in my spirit. I took the whole day of Sunday and wrote a reply letter..." This reply letter was written by Gu The systematic views on ancient Chinese history that Shi has accumulated in his heart for many years.Later, "Discussion on Ancient History Books with Mr. Qian Xuantong" was published in "Dushu Magazine" hosted by Hu Shi, and formally proposed to the academic circles the theory that "Chinese ancient history has been formed layer by layer".It can be seen that Qian Xuantong contributed a lot to the emergence of this theory.More importantly, when Gu Wen was published, Qian Xuantong also gave strong support, and immediately expressed his opinion in the same publication, saying that the theory was "excellent and perfect", which sparked a big debate on historiography at that time.The consequences of this debate are obvious. At least, it has disintegrated the old historiography system, enabling the study of Chinese classics and history to jump out of preconceived notions as the standard tradition, and only treat classics and historiography as pure academic research. Qian Xuantong paid great attention to eliciting students' thinking in teaching, but did not pay attention to technical issues such as students' examinations.Qian Xuantong once taught at Peking University, Beijing Normal University, Yenching University, etc. Although each school has nothing to do about this "bad habit" of this university student, they have their own countermeasures.For this purpose, Peking University specially engraved a wooden stamp with the word "passing" written on it.After Qian Xuantong received the examination papers, he sent them directly to the Academic Affairs Office, which stamped them with passing stamps, and then recorded them in the credit files according to their names. The tolerant attitude of Peking University made Mr. Qian more and more proud of his own practice, and he even promoted it to other places. When he went to Yenching University as a part-time lecturer, he still followed the same practice.Unexpectedly, he hit a snag this time: the school actually returned the unmarked examination papers he sent.Immediately, Mr. Qian lost his temper, and he returned the exam paper without any compromise.The school was very angry and warned Mr. Qian that if he refused to judge the paper again, he would be punished according to the school discipline and a considerable amount of salary would be withheld.Mr. Qian immediately wrote a letter about this, saying: "I can't obey the judgment, and I will return all the salary now." Some banknotes are attached to the letter. We don't know the outcome of this lawsuit today, but Qian Xuantong's name, which never judged the case, has since spread throughout Beijing. Although Qian Xuantong has a lot of airs in judging papers, when it comes to academic pursuit of knowledge, Mr. Qian is very open-minded, and he is often not ashamed to ask others, which fully reflects the rigorous academic style of a famous scholar. Qian Xuantong taught phonology at Peking University.He is fluent in eloquence, quick in thinking, eloquent and humorous in lectures, and is very popular among students.However, after a class on Cantonese phonology, he actually received a letter from Li Xiyu, a Cantonese student, who raised different opinions on his teaching. Qian Xuantong carefully read Li Xiyu's letter and thought that what Li said was reasonable.In the next class, Mr. Qian read Li's letter in public. He not only praised Li Xiyu, but also frankly admitted that he was not from Cantonese and did not know much about Cantonese phonology.At the same time, he also hopes that the students can think independently, and criticize and correct the inappropriate parts in his lectures.As a well-known figure both at home and abroad, Qian Xuantong was not ashamed to ask his subordinates, and humbly asked his students for advice.His serious and serious academic attitude has deeply won the respect of teachers and students.