Chapter 29 Chapter 29: A Great Sinologist

So, is there no truth in Jin Pulin's famous saying "East is East, West is West"?Of course it makes sense.When you touch 2+2=4, it can be said that there is basically no difference.It's only when you're faced with something like a+b=c that there's a big gap between East and West.But to really solve the a+b=c problem between East and West, one must have a foundation in advanced mathematics.The misfortune of the world today is that the solution to the a+b=c equation in the Far East is in the hands of John Smith, who not only rules the British Empire, but is also allied with Japan, but he doesn't even know basic algebra.The answer to the a+b=c equation between the East and the West has many unknowns, so it is a very complicated and difficult problem.In the East, there are differences in understanding between Confucius, Mr. Kang Youwei, and Governor Duanfang. Even in the West, there are differences in understanding between Shakespeare, Goethe, and John Smith.In fact, when you solve the a+b=c equation, you will find that there is actually very little difference between Confucius in the East and Shakespeare and Goethe in the West; big difference.To illustrate this point, look at the specific examples I list below.

Pastor Arthur Smith, when talking about Chinese history, said: "China has a long history, not only in their attempt to go back to a time when they had no clothes on as a starting point, but also in their endless stagnation and chaos. In their hearts, there is not only the A very monotonous life, and also includes such passing things as wood, hay, and straw. No other nation can form such a history except China; and only the memory of the Chinese can Such memories are stored in their generous bellies." (z-57) Next, let us listen to Dr. Leger's discussion on this issue.When talking about the history of the 23 orthodox dynasties in China, Dr. Leger said:

"No other people's history is so complete and coherent, and as a whole, it is trustworthy." Speaking of another great anthology of Chinese literature, Dr. Leger said: "I thought this work would never be published. But in fact it was edited in the ninth year of Qianlong's last reign (47) It was published under the supervision and funding of Ruan Yuan, governor of Guangdong and Guangxi (as well as funding from other officials). Such a large-scale publication fully shows that Chinese senior officials at that time had a spirit of public welfare and the pursuit of literature. This Something for a thoughtful foreigner to learn."

Above I expressed the following meaning.Not only are there many differences between the East and the West, but also between Dr. Leger in the West, the scholar who can see that Chinese officials are enthusiastic about literature, and the Reverend Arthur Smith in the West, who is loved by John Smith in China. There are also many differences. a great sinologist "You are a Confucian gentleman, and you are a Confucian who is a villain!" (48) I recently read "Zhai Shan Notes" (49) by Dr. Gilles.In the process of reading this book, I couldn’t help thinking of another sentence, which was said by Mr. Hopkins (50), the British consul in China: “When foreigners living in China talk about such-and-such sinologists, Always treat them like fools."

Dr. Gilles has long enjoyed the reputation of a great Sinologist.If only judging from the number of his published works, he is not in vain.However, I feel the time has come for a real assessment of the quality and value of his work, not just its quantity. On the one hand, Dr. Gilles has the unique advantage over all other sinologists, that is, he has a literary talent and can write very fluent English.Dr. Gilles, on the other hand, lacks philosophical insight and sometimes even common sense.He can translate Chinese words and sentences, but he cannot explain and understand Chinese thoughts.In this respect, Dr. Gilles has the same characteristics as Chinese literati.Confucius once said: "Wen wins quality and history".

For a Chinese literati, secretaries and literary works are nothing more than the materials he uses to write books.They live and walk in the world of books, and have no connection with the world in which real people live.For literati, writing and expressing words is not the only means to achieve their goals.For true scholars, writing and literary study are only means by which they interpret, criticize, understand and understand human life. Matthew Arold once said: "The power of literature can only be revealed by understanding the whole of literature-the overall history of the human spirit, or when a great literary work is understood as an organic whole." But There is not a single sentence in Dr. Gillis's writings that indicates that he ever or attempted to understand Chinese literature as a whole.

It is this lack of philosophical insight that makes Dr. Galis so helpless in organizing the material in his book.Let's take a look at his big dictionary, which is not like a dictionary at all, but just a hodgepodge of Chinese words and phrases.His translations in the book do not have any criteria for selection and organization, as well as order and method.As a dictionary written for scholars, his dictionary is definitely not as good as the old dictionary compiled by Dr. Wei Sanwei (51).