Chapter 36 People with ideals have a bright future

In May 2009, at the invitation of a friend, I took a short trip in Taiwan, and I was deeply touched by what I saw and heard along the way.The vast sea and sky on the east coast of Taiwan, the signs for the sale of land can be seen everywhere, the "witty society" presented by political looseness, the political advertisements played by candidates from all over the country with confidence, the vigorous development of civil society, and the fact that they have not been artificially manipulated by fanatical revolutionaries. The fragmented cultural traditions and so on have left a deep impression on me.It is especially worth mentioning that during my visit to Taiwan, I made a special trip to Taipei Hu Shih Memorial Hall and Hu Shih Park, which fulfilled a long-cherished wish in my life.

When I got home, there was a thick pile of manuscripts just sent by the publishing house on the table, waiting for my proofreading and polishing.These are some long articles I wrote during the few years when I returned to China. After several months of reorganization, the embryonic form of this book gradually took shape.Perhaps due to my own laziness or other reasons, it took nearly two years from finishing the first draft to finding a suitable publishing house for publication.This is bound to be a little frustrating.Fortunately, the owner of the manuscript does not see this as a setback.Manuscripts are like many things in the world. It is not necessarily a bad thing to let go and sink.The important thing is that you can continue your own thinking while the plan is on hold, and the period of waiting for publication is also an opportunity and process for you to continue to enrich yourself.

A few years ago, when I was writing the article "China, Rediscovering Society", I tried to write a book along my own train of thought.Looking back on the ups and downs of the new China in the sixty years and the ups and downs in the two thirty years, the success or failure of the new China all depends on the relationship between the state and society.The English title of the original supporting book was intended to be "Chinese Society since 1978" (Chinese Society since 1978).After thinking over and over again, I finally decided to use "China's New Revolution".In my opinion, "China's New Revolution" seems to be more closely related to the current changes and developments in China.Based on the universal belief in rights, the society regains its own territory bit by bit, and re-establishes the boundaries between the country and society, as well as between society and individuals, which is also the most real and most hopeful revolution in China at the moment.The accumulation of civilization, the addition of history, the evolution and expansion of order... It is precisely this "new revolution" that bids farewell to the "permanent revolution theory" of the past, and makes the new China, which is almost in a desperate situation, begin to be reborn in the growth of social freedom and self. A "new new China" full of vitality came into being.

When it comes to "revolution", many people immediately think of and can only think of the act of overthrowing the original regime by force.This impression or concept is somewhat narrow.There has long been a saying in ancient times that "Tang and Wu revolutions follow the sky and respond to people".It shows that the ancient Chinese seem to have focused more on the "change of dynasty" from the perspective of the change of destiny, rather than the use of violent means.The word "revolution" in the business version of "Modern Chinese Dictionary" does not only have the first meaning of the oppressed class seizing power by violence, it also has the third meaning of "fundamental reform", such as "ideological revolution" and "technical revolution". "etc.In "The Oxford English Dictionary: A New English Dictionary of History Principles", there are no less than ten explanations for "revolution", the first meaning of which is the movement of celestial bodies; The second meaning refers to a major change in people's minds or reactions to a certain consideration; as for "to overthrow the original government by force" is the seventh meaning, and historically, it also happened after the seventeenth century.

"Bleeding in the 20th century, sweating in the 21st century", this is my judgment on this era.In fact, at the beginning of the last century, the Chinese were striving for a "sweaty century".This aspect is especially reflected in the rural construction movement of "reviving the countryside" and saving farmers in various places in the 1920s and 1930s.A group of scholars who have returned from overseas studies and some people of insight in China are aware of the decline of the countryside. Participate in this "foresight" movement.For example, Yan Xishan’s idea of ​​“using people’s politics” (enlightening people’s morality, growing people’s wisdom, and establishing people’s wealth) and reforming the village system: Yan Yangchu used the “fifth freedom” (freedom from ignorance) as his banner to promote education for the people; Liang Shuming's reconstruction of the Confucian ideal of "enhancement in life, ethical friendship" and rural construction focusing on "China has the power of class struggle but no goal of class struggle", etc., are all "sweaty revolutions."Liang Shuming also admitted frankly: "Rural construction is not really about building villages, but the construction of the entire Chinese society, which may be called a kind of nation-building movement" and "really is a movement to rebuild a new organizational structure of our ethnic society."It's a pity that good luck tricks people, all these prosperous scenes were mercilessly interrupted by the blood flow brought by the Japanese invasion, and the village school built by Liang Shuming in Zouping was also burned to ashes by the local mob.Everything returned to the way it was before, as if nothing had happened.

Although the spontaneous growth of Chinese society has suffered repeated setbacks, history will not stand still there.There is no doubt that in terms of the self-evolution of society, China has undergone a fundamental change since the late 1970s.And, on the whole, everyone has benefited from this great transition from closed to open. On the final night of the second "Super Girl" competition in 2005, I wrote editorials for "Southern Metropolis Daily" and "Beijing News" with the title "An open society will have a bright future", which was also based on this consideration.In my opinion, the excitement of "Supergirl" is nothing more than the variety of poses that an open society should have, and overnight singers such as Jane Zhang are just girls next door who finally succeeded through their own efforts.

Thinking back on my growth in recent years, from the countryside to the city, from the city to the West, and finally back to China, walking around, knowing the weather, isn’t it one of the countless boys next door?If a little bit of insignificant results have been achieved, isn't it also due to this transformation?Those born in the 1970s are particularly lucky because they can participate in witnessing the changes of this era.When I started to remember when I was five or six years old, the journey of rediscovering society as "China's New Revolution" had just begun. The journey of discovering society is also a journey of discovering individuals. From Mozi to Hu Shi, from Du Yaquan to Dong Shijin, there are too many beautiful people and things worth recalling in Chinese history, which are innumerable.The so-called "rediscovering society" in this book, in the final analysis, is to discover the value of the individual and the value of creation.

At a summit forum for studying abroad, some media asked me what is the most romantic thing in Paris. I said the most romantic thing is that I live in the 16th arrondissement, only five meters away from the Seine River, and I take the RER from the Eiffel every morning. Pass under the iron tower, rush to the library of Sorbonne University to read, when tired, sit under the statue of Hugo in the courtyard square, feed the pigeons, chat, watch people come and go, and watch the clouds and clouds in the sky... At this time, I feel All the suffering in my life disappeared. It is said that Victor Hugo admired Chateaubriand from a very young age.He once swore with his whole life: "Either become Chateaubriand, or achieve nothing." Several years later, Hugo's achievements are only above Chateaubriand.When the stars of human beings shine, I also have many role models to be proud of, from Hugo, Roland to Hu Shi, from Popper, Zweig to Friedman... However, over the years, especially after I was thirty, With some insight into history and life, the sentence I most want to say to myself is: "Either become Xiong Peiyun, or become nothing." No one's life can be copied, and the most hopeful thing for you is to do your best of myself.I believe that everyone's life is an epic, the only difference is that some people insist on finishing it, and some people give up prematurely.

People with ideals have a bright future.Reading, writing, traveling, thinking and practicing with like-minded friends, doing something within one's ability and thinking that it promotes social progress, such a life is extremely beautiful. When this book is published, Peiyun would like to thank his friend L for his encouragement and appreciation over the years. It is his enthusiastic support that made this book possible to be published; thanks to Brothers Wa Dang and Liang Yi for their meticulous editing of this book Work, keep improving; thanks to teachers, friends and students of Nankai University, especially the Faculty of Liberal Arts, for their selfless help and tolerance; thanks to Southern Newspaper, Beijing News, CCTV, Sunshine Satellite TV and other media friends for their continuous suggestions and support; in addition, as the era Fellow travelers, especially Mao Yushi, Qin Hui, Wang Xuetai, Chen Zhiwu, Ding Xueliang, Li Weiguang, Wu Si, Chen Wanying, Qian Gang, Xiong Juming, Qiu Liben, Cheng Baoyi, Chen Yan, Yu Shuo , Pierre Musso, Gil Delannoi, Xu Yinong, Liang Xiaoyan, Xin Lijian and other outstanding scholars and social leaders.Due to space limitations, it is difficult to list them all.

In addition, I am especially grateful to Mr. Tang Degang who has just passed away. His prophecy about China's crossing the "Three Gorges of History" during the transition period opened my horizons.Thanks to Brother Liang Wendao for the preface of this book, his words have added a lot to this book.Although each gathering is short, in this age when common sense is still lacking, Brother Liang's writing, teaching, and speeches are beyond Pei Yun's reach. "The world's scenery is free, I have the joy of life, and a total harvest from all over the world." This is my mailbox signature.My whole life is destined to be bound with the world, and when I finish another book manuscript on the Chinese countryside, I will start the next long journey.Whether on paper or on the road, Peiyun is always looking forward to reuniting with destined friends again.

November 16, 2009