Chapter 49 Memories of Mr. Chen Yinke

Others are surprised, and I am also surprised: I have written so many articles recalling teachers and friends, but only Mr. Chen Yinke was left out.Why?For me, there is a reason for this, and there is evidence for the investigation.I still often read Mr. Chen's articles to this day, and I have assisted the publishing house in publishing his complete works.Of course I always think of Mr. Yinke.I am a person who likes to write a pen and ink. I want to write a memoir, which is naturally my favorite.However, my memory of Mr. I think is extremely precious, more than ordinary sacred.I hope that my article will not tarnish this sanctity, so I dare not write for a long time.Today, Peking University Publishing House is going to publish my "Nostalgia Collection", and it has come to the time when I have to write.

To talk about my relationship with Mr. Yin Ke, it should be counted from Tsinghua University 65 years ago.I was admitted to National Tsing Hua University in 1930, and entered the Department of Western Literature (I don’t know when it was renamed the Department of Foreign Languages).The Department of Western Literature has a complete teaching plan, and the required courses are well-organized and complete.But the time left for elective courses is very rich.In addition to elective courses, you can also sit in or eavesdrop.The teacher doesn't think it is disobedient, and the students enjoy themselves.I have attended the classes of Mr. Zhu Ziqing, Yu Pingbo, Zheng Zhenduo, etc., all of which were safe and sound, and thus established a lifelong friendship with Mr. Zheng Zhenduo.But not everything is smooth sailing.I went with a group of students to attend Mr. Bing Xin's class.She was very young and famous all over the world.We went there just because of the name.Mr. Bing Xin had a solemn face and no smile on his face. Seeing so many students in the class, he knew that there was a "cheat" in it, so he issued an "exit order" as if he was in awe: "Anyone who does not take this class is not allowed to come again in the next class!" We She listened in horror, retreated in anticipation, and never dared to enter the classroom where she lectured again.More than forty years later, I met Bing Xin again. She has become a kind and kind old man, from the angry-eyed Vajra to the Merciful-Browed Bodhisattva.I talked to her about her "chasing away" back then, but she had completely forgotten about it. We looked at each other and smiled, understanding each other.

At this time, I listened to Mr. Yin Ke's "Buddhist Scripture Translation Literature".The reference book is "Six Patriarch Altar Sutra", which I bought in a big temple in the city.Teacher Yin Ke lectures, just like he writes articles, first writes the necessary materials on the blackboard, and then explains, researches, analyzes and synthesizes according to the materials, paying special attention to place names and personal names.His analysis is as detailed as peeling a banana leaf. The more you peel it, the thinner it gets and the deeper it gets. However, he is in the spirit of seeking truth from facts, without being arbitrary, exaggerating, or distorting, and constantly taking meaning out of context.He seems to lead us to walk on the mountain path, twists and turns, the mountains are heavy and the rivers are repeated, the willows are dark and the flowers are bright, and finally it suddenly becomes clear, leading us to the Yangguan Avenue.Reading his articles and listening to his lectures is simply a kind of enjoyment, an incomparable enjoyment.Among many Chinese and foreign scholars, only Heinrich Luders abroad can give me this kind of enjoyment, and Chen Shi is the only one in China.He is recognized as a master of textual research by scholars at home and abroad, and he should be.This style of study is incomparably different from the style of study of "replacing history with theory" that later became poisonous.However, in the vast scholarly society, it is rare to understand people. Some so-called "scholars" who play their tongues to confuse scholars are arrogant and domineering, which makes people sigh.Teacher Yin Ke's style of study has influenced my whole life.Later, when I went to Germany, I read the books of Professor Lüders and was taught and influenced by his direct disciple, Professor Waldschmidt. , Although it can't be said that there is nothing to gain, but it is like a trickle compared to the sea, with an empty heart of looking up and stopping, it will only increase the effect of hatred.It's only my fault, no one else's.

In short, during my four years in Tsinghua University, I completed all the required courses in the Department of Western Literature and obtained a bachelor's title.Looking back now, let me put it bluntly: I didn't get much out of these courses.Famous European writers, such as Shakespeare, Goethe, Cervantes, Molière, Dante, etc. have all been read.I've even read the novels and so on that are suddenly fashionable now, but most of them are superficial and not in-depth.Instead, the courses that left a deep impression on me were an audited course and an elective course.The former is the "Buddhist scripture translation literature" mentioned above by Master Yin Ke; the latter is Mr. Zhu Guangqian's "literary psychology", that is, aesthetics.Regarding the latter, I have already discussed it elsewhere, so I won't repeat it here.

When I was in Tsinghua, apart from attending classes, I didn't have much contact with Master Chen.I haven't been to his house once.Sometimes, on the boulevard in the school, among the bustling student stream, I sometimes see Master Chen going to class.Dressed in a robe, plain and unpretentious, with a cloth bag under his elbow, which is full of books and materials used in lectures.People who don't know him probably think that he is the owner of a certain bookstore in Liulichang who came to Tsinghua University to deliver books. They will never know that he is a famous university student at home and abroad.He was very different from most of the professors in suits and leather shoes who came back from studying abroad at Tsinghua University and were shining.In this respect, too, he left an unforgettable impression on me and benefited me immensely.

After leaving Shuimu Tsinghua University, I have a long-term parting with Mr. Ke Yin.After teaching Chinese in Jinan for a year, I went to the University of Göttingen in Germany.When I got here, I started to learn Sanskrit, Pali and Tocharian.This is an extremely important turning point in my lifelong academic career.From then on, I bid farewell to Goethe and Shakespeare, and dealt with Sakyamuni and Maitreya Buddha.Needless to say, this change came from the influence of Mr. Yinke.It is no coincidence that my German teacher, Professor Waldschmidt, and Mr. Yin Ke were classmates at the University of Berlin, and both were students of Professor Lüders.In this way, my Chinese and German teachers came from the same teacher.Some people say: "Famous teachers produce high-level apprentices." My teacher and grand masters are not "famous", but my apprentice is not "high".It is shameful to line up the gate and wall.But in any case, this is finally a good story in the Chinese and German academic circles.

I was in Göttingen for 10 years, during the "World War II". It was the most painful but academically rewarding 10 years in my life.The country was invaded by foreign invaders, and there was no news from the family for several years. There were planes bombing, and there was no food to eat.However, reading without any interference.Many professors and students were conscripted into the army.The two huge research institutes: the Institute of Indology and the Institute of Sinology, are under the control of me alone.There are tens of thousands of precious books on the shelves, and I can read them at will.In the deep courtyard of the Institute of Sinology, in the tall and gloomy stacks; in the ancient research room of the Institute of Buddhist Studies, there is no one there.The hum of the planes in the sky echoed the rumbling of hunger in my stomach.If you close your eyes, you will be imagining, traveling thousands of miles, and you will see my country and your home; if you open your eyes, the Buddhist scriptures are in front of you, and there are many difficult questions that need to be answered by me.At this time, I seem to be alone in the world, bitter?Happy?I can't answer it myself.

After the bombing hell, and then the starvation, in 1945, 10 years after I came to Göttingen, I finally hoped for the light, the fall of East and West fascism.The American soldiers captured Göttingen first, and then the British took over.At this time, I learned that Mr. Yin Ke was treating eye diseases in England.I hurriedly wrote a long letter, reporting to him my 10 years of study, and sending some papers I had published in the journals of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and other journals.Quickly beyond my expectation, I got a reply letter from my husband, which was also a long letter, telling me about his recent situation and saying that he would return to China soon. At that time, Tang Yongtong, dean of literature, and several gentlemen introduced me to teach at Peking University.I was really overjoyed, who would not be proud to hear that he could teach in the highest institution of learning?So I wrote back immediately, expressing my agreement and thanks.In the late autumn of this year, I finally bid farewell to Göttingen, where I had lived for 10 years, and arrived in Switzerland step by step with the feeling of "returning the tree to my hometown".I lived in this world park with beautiful mountains and rivers for several months. In the spring of 1946, I passed through France, Saigon in Vietnam, and Hong Kong before returning to Shanghai.I lived on the tatami of Ke's house for a while.From Shanghai to Nanjing, I slept on Changzhi's desk.At this time, Mr. Yinke had also returned to Nanjing from England.I once had an audience with Mr. Yu Dawei in the official residence.After talking about the details of the ten-year absence, my husband was very happy, and told me to go to the Academia Sinica under the Jiming Temple to meet Mr. Fu Sinian, the acting president of Peking University. He especially asked me to bring my thesis written in German. The depth of love and the fineness of heart.

In the late autumn of this year, I returned to Shanghai from Nanjing, took a ship to Qinhuangdao, and then took a train from Qinhuangdao to Beijing (called Beiping at that time) after a 12-year absence.Due to the war, the Jinpu Road has long been impassable, and the only way to return to Beijing is by sea. The railway from there to Beijing is guarded by young American soldiers, so it can still be opened to traffic.After arriving in Beijing, there was a desolate scene of "falling leaves all over Chang'an".I temporarily lived in the Red House on the beach, and then met with Mr. Tang Yongtong.According to the regulations of Peking University at that time, those who have obtained a doctorate from overseas and returned to China can only serve as associate professors. In Tsinghua University, they are called full-time lecturers. After several years, they can be converted to full-time professors.Of course I can't make an exception, and I am sincerely convinced, without any extravagant thoughts.However, after about a week, Mr. Tang told me that I had been hired as a full professor and head of the Department of Oriental Languages ​​and Literatures.This is really earth-shattering, greatly beyond my expectations.My record of being an associate professor for a week may also enter the Guinness Book of World Records.To say that you are unhappy is a lie and hypocrisy.It can also be seen that the older generation of scholars support and care for the younger generation.

I don't remember when Master Yin Ke also came to Beijing and still lives in Tsinghua Garden.I immediately went to Tsinghua University to meet him.At that time, it took some setbacks to get from Beijing to Tsinghua University, just like a short trip.Dozens of miles along the road are all farmland.When the green gauze tents are set up in autumn, there are indeed people from the green forest blocking the road and robbing.It's hard for young people today to imagine.However, with Mr. Yinke here, I will never be afraid of such a trip.In three years, I have been to Tsinghua University many times.I know that my husband is old and weak, and I like the Zarilan red wine made by the father of a Catholic foreign priest who lived in Beijing.I went to the basement of the priests' retreat where the Municipal Party School is today to buy several times the fence red wine, and then traveled long distances to Tsinghua Garden, and delivered it to my husband. I felt quite comforted.A few bottles of wine are nothing these days.However, at a time when inflation had reached the point where adding a zero to banknotes every day could not keep up with the rapid increase in prices, a few bottles of wine were no small matter.

One spring, the vines in Zhongshan Park were full of purple flowers, drooping in abundance and filled with purple air, attracting many tourists and bees.A group of our disciples, remember Zhou Yiliang, Wang Yongxing, Wang, etc., know that Mr. loves flowers.Although he is suffering from eye disease and is almost blind, according to the husband himself, he can still see some shadows indistinctly.You may still be able to see the purple light of large wisteria flowers.Moreover, in such a situation where wars are in chaos, prices are soaring, human life is meager, and day and night are precarious, we would like to ask Mr. to take a break and ask for his opinion, and he readily agreed.We were really overjoyed. We found a tea table in the depths of the vines in Laijin Yuxuan, and Mr. Shi watched the wisteria.Sir was clearly in high spirits.We talked and laughed happily, and we broke up happily.I think this may be the happiest moment for Mr. in those years. There is one more thing that left me with a memory that I will never forget.On the eve of liberation, the government's economy had completely collapsed.From French currency to silver dollar coupons, and from silver dollar coupons to gold round coupons, the changes became more and more chaotic. Later, when I went to the grain store to buy a few catties of grain, the weight of this coin and that coupon sometimes exceeded the grain itself.Mr. Chen Yinke, a leading figure in academia, highly respected, and called "professor's professor" by the famous historian Zheng Tianting, is no exception.In winter, he didn't even have the money to buy coal for heating. I told the situation to Mr. Hu Shizhi, the president of Peking University who had already returned to China.Mr. Hu respects and cherishes the most accomplished intellectuals.Back then, he introduced Mr. Wang Jingan to Tsinghua Academy of Chinese Studies to teach, and it became a good story for a while.Mr. Yin Ke wrote a few poems in "Mr. Wang Guantang's Elegy": "Lu Lian Huang Yao Ji Xi Hu, alone is China's great Confucianist. The college is rumored to be extinct, and the garden is poor and suitable for living in seclusion." This is what he talked about. thing.Now it is Mr. Shizhi's turn to "cherish the Great Confucianism for China alone", and this "Great Confucianism" is none other than Mr. Yinke himself.Mr. Shizhi wanted to give Mr. Yinke a large sum of dollars.However, Mr. Yinke refused to accept it.In the end, Mr. Yinke decided to sell his collection of books to obtain Mr. Shizhi's dollars.So Mr. Shizhi sent his own car—by the way, Beijing cars were extremely rare at that time, and there was only one owned by the president of Peking University—and asked me to go to Mr. Chen’s house in Tsinghua University to install a car full of Western languages ​​about Buddhism and ancient languages ​​​​of Central Asia. Very precious book.Mr. Chen only charged 2,000 US dollars.Although this number was not small at the time, it was still insignificant compared with the book.Among this group of books, the market price of only one "St. Petersburg Vanderbilt Dictionary" far exceeds this amount.This batch of books is actually in the nature of a donation.And Master Yin Ke's unyielding character of money can also be seen from this. In the past three years, my colleague Ke Ke has had frequent exchanges with teachers.I wrote a paper: "Buddha and Buddha", read it to him first, and wanted to hear his criticism.Unexpectedly, he got his appreciation.He introduced this article to the "Journal of the Institute of History and Philology of the Academia Sinica" for publication.This publication was the most authoritative publication at that time, and it was a bit of a prestige of "once you climb the dragon's gate, the price will be ten times higher".I was naturally flattered.Unfortunately, my conclusion was not nonsense. Several decades later, I wrote an article "Re-discussing "Buddha" and "Buddha"", using a lot of new materials to reiterate the previous statement, which was quite praised by colleagues in the academic circle. . During the years that I have been with Mr., we have of course discussed many topics.They talk about scholarship most of the time, and politics is not uncommon, but very little.Mr. Yin Ke is by no means a nerd who "only reads sage books behind closed doors".He inherited the fine tradition of Chinese "scholars": Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world.It can also be seen from his writings that he was very concerned about politics.His research on the history of the Sui and Tang Dynasties seems to be full of textual research on the surface, but in his heart he talks about the political issues of success or failure, which is a pity that it is rare to understand.When we talk about contemporary scholarship, of course he will have his own views on every scholar.However, he never said disparaging words to anyone except one Ming history expert.For young scholars, they only talk about their merits, and their enthusiasm for caring for young scholars is really awe-inspiring.Even the scholar who specifically attacked him because of a misunderstanding, and even said some ugly words, Master Chen never said a word of praise or criticism.This shows Mr. Shengde.Mr. Lu Xun never attacked young people, which is comparable. Time is like lightning, the world is full of vicissitudes, and it is the end of 1948 in a blink of an eye.The People's Liberation Army surrounded the city of Beijing.President Hu Shi sent a special plane from Nanjing to take some professors to Nanjing, and there was a list.Most of the people on the list did not leave, but Mr. Chen Yinke left.This has become a topic for some people to discuss and study: Does Mr. Chen have any views on the Communist Party?Does he have nostalgia for the Kuomintang?According to the diary of Mr. Pu Jiangqing published later, Mr. Yinke did not oppose communism, but only the communism of the Soviet Union.At the time, this may have been a strange idea, or even an outrageous idea.However, today, the truth has been revealed to the world, shouldn't we express our admiration for the wisdom of Mr.As for his attitude towards the Kuomintang, it is most obviously manifested in his attitude towards Chiang Kai-shek. In 1940, he wrote in the poem "Return to the Chongqing Night Banquet in Gengchen and Late Spring": "If you eat clams, you will know the world's affairs, but you will see the flowers and worry about the tallest building." Mr. Wu Mi commented on this poem: "Yin Ke went to Yu, attended the meeting of the Academia Sinica and lived in Yu Dawei’s sister-in-law’s house. Jiang Gong invited the Academia Sinica to meet Mr. Zhu. Yinke met Jiang Gong for the first time in the meeting, and felt that he was not good enough and had a duty, so There is the sixth line of this poem." According to it, it is the line "Looking at Huachou near the tallest building".Master Yin Ke could not express his attitude towards Chiang Kai-shek, or the Kuomintang, more clearly.However, a few years ago, a Taiwanese scholar picked up a few words and said that Mr. Yin Ke had long intended to go to Taiwan.This is one of the strangest things in the world. After arriving in Nanjing, Mr. Yinke moved to Guangzhou, where he has remained unchanged ever since.He has many relatives and friends in Taiwan, and I am afraid that there are many people who mobilized him to go to Taiwan, but he remained unmoved.I don't know the details.Many leaders of our country, including Zhou Enlai, Chen Yi, Tao Zhu, Guo Moruo, etc., paid the utmost respect to Chen Shili.He became close personal friends with Tao Zhu and Du Guoxiang, an old revolutionary and scholar.In his poems in his later years, it cannot be said that there is no joy, but more depression.Looking back now, can his feeling of depression be said to be unfounded?Can it be said that there is no evidence for verification?We, a group of old intellectuals, have become experienced people today.If we speak the truth without ignoring our conscience, compared with Master Chen, we can only say that we are dull and numb, what else can we say? In 1951, I was ordered to visit India and Burma with a Chinese cultural delegation.I stayed in Guangzhou for quite a long time and planned to translate all important speeches into English.Of course I will not let go of this opportunity. I went to visit the home of Mr. Yinke of Lingnan University.We had a great time meeting each other, and Mrs. Chen also entertained them graciously.Although Master Chen's eye disease is getting worse, he can still see the white things in front of him.The relevant leaders, it is said that they are Chen Yi and Tao Zhu, ordered people to pave a white road on the lawn in front of Mr. Building, with green grass on the side of the road, for the Mr. to take a walk.From this little incident, we can also see the sincerity of our country's respect for Master Chen.Master Chen is a person full of emotions, can he be indifferent to this? However, the world is like white clouds and dogs, unpredictable.Not long after liberation, when many old intellectuals were elated and passionate, the canopy luck came to them.Movements followed one another, all targeting intellectuals.After criticizing "Wu Xun Biography", criticizing Yu Pingbo, finishing Yu Pingbo, criticizing Hu Shi, criticizing, criticizing, criticizing, fighting, fighting, fighting all the way, finally to Chen Yinke.At this time, the extremely large-scale, nationwide anti-rightist struggle had not yet begun.Old age reflection, I'm a political dumbass.For this series of criticisms and struggles, I am sincerely convinced, and I don't feel that there is any problem in it.Although I didn't realize it clearly, in the depths of my soul, I really think that the old Chinese intellectuals are the embodiment of "original sin", and criticism is justified.However, once it was approved by Mr. Chen Yinke, I felt uncomfortable in my heart.Although I was repeatedly mobilized, I never participated in this farce-like chorus.I don't want to be thick-skinned and act as Zhuge Liang after the fact. My understanding at the time was also very vague.However, I did not act after all.Now that things have changed, after 40 years, I can barely comfort myself when I think that I have not betrayed my conscience, and I can now be worthy of the spirit of the teacher in heaven. However, since then, until the teacher was tortured and passed away in an unprecedented catastrophe in 1969, I have not been able to see him again for nearly twenty years.Now my age has exceeded his living age by 5 years, and I can be regarded as an octogenarian.Now I often read Mr.'s poems.Every time I read it, I feel that there is something new to gain.I clearly realized that I hadn't made it to his hall yet.Philosophers are withered, and there is nothing left to write.But I am aggressive and have a heart to please no one, so I miss him even more.Although we are not relatives, I feel the sorrow of wind and wood from time to time.This is probably also very natural. I have reached the ninth year of Wang Wangjiu, although it seems that there is still some distance from the time when I draw an end to my life, and I can't make a conclusion now; Not at all possible.I have lived through several dynasties and endured untold hardships.Now I just feel that the road behind me is long and boundless, but the road in front of me is getting shorter and shorter, which is already very limited.I didn't rely on the old to sell the old and live in peace; however, I clearly realized that I became a "tragic" figure.My tragedy is not that I don't want to "do not need to raise my whip", and I don't want to "I am an old man with aspirations for thousands of miles", but that I am "an old man with ambitions for thousands of miles".The work that I am currently undertaking or being forced to undertake is full of clues, varied, complicated, and sometimes full of contradictions, which have already far exceeded my load and exceeded my age.There are external reasons for this, but mainly internal reasons.Qing Ye asked herself: Are you suffering from old age and going crazy?Do you have 100 years of life ahead of you?However, in the daytime, when I get in touch with reality, I want to push away everything, but I can't push away everything. It's like a sentence in a Beijing opera: "It's hard to turn back when a horse is walking in the narrow lane." , only one person can understand, it is not enough for outsiders. Under such circumstances, I sometimes cannot help looking back on my own life.How should I evaluate my life?Although I have encountered disasters large and small, such as the ten-year catastrophe, which is unprecedentedly stupid, barbaric and incomprehensible to the Chinese people, I am also unlucky—or "lucky""—in my prime, Almost took an old life; yet I still consider myself lucky to have caught up with many unexpected opportunities.I just give a small example.Ever since Pangu created the world, a gust of divine wind has blown out from nowhere, and a special race of intellectuals has been blown out.Intellectuals have many characteristics.In terms of economy and material, the word "poor" has existed since ancient times, and it is still strong today.In terms of spirit, there are too many exams.It has been here since ancient times, and it is still strong today.Examples abound, needless to say.I have been taking exams all my life, from elementary school, middle school, university, to studying abroad. There are monthly exams, quarterly exams, and national unified exams.But I myself have never lost my name in hundreds of domestic and foreign exams.Can you say this is not an opportunity? But, as the saying goes: "A fence has three stakes, and a hero has three gangs." A man can accomplish nothing without help.Here, too, I had great luck.There are hundreds of people who have helped me in my life.If I were to name names, I would first name two people abroad. One is my doctoral dissertation supervisor, Professor Waldschmidt, and the other is the teacher who teaches Tocharian, Professor Sik.There are four people in China: one is Mr. Feng Youlan. Without him signing a postgraduate exchange agreement with Tsinghua University in Germany, I would never have been able to go to Germany.One is Mr. Hu Shizhi and the other is Mr. Tang Yongtong. Without their support, I would never have come to Peking University.Last but not least, Mr. Chen Yinke.Without his influence, I would not have embarked on the path of scholarship that I am now on, and I would not have been able to come to Peking University either.As for why he didn’t introduce me to my alma mater, Tsinghua University, but to Peking University, I never asked him, and I’m afraid it will always remain a mystery, so we won’t talk about it. I am not an ungrateful person.I have always believed that gratitude is one of the fundamental principles of being a human being.However, how can I "repay" these four and the many mentors and friends who have helped me?As far as Yin Ke is concerned, I can only study his works hard, publicize his academic achievements, and help the publishing house to publish his complete works.I am deeply grateful to the school leaders and history department leaders of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou. They have repeatedly held Mr. Yin Ke's academic seminars, including foreign scholars.CUHK also specially established the Chen Yinke Memorial Hall.All of this, I, a disciple of Master Yinke, sees it in my eyes, feels it in my heart, and feels great comfort.There are more and more scholars studying Mr. Chen Yinke at home and abroad, and there is no doubt that Mr. Chen's moral articles will be carried forward day by day.This is the greatest pleasure I can have in my twilight years. However, I still have my personal thoughts and feelings.I am now "the one who has seen the future", but "the one who has not seen the past", and I will never see Mr. Yinke again.I felt an infinite emptiness in my heart, and this emptiness could never be filled no matter what.Throwing a pen and sighing, I can't help crying. December 1, 1995