Chapter 34 The Evolution of Chinese Cultural Tradition-2

two When it comes to Chinese culture, if we want to compare it with another culture of any nation in the world, it may be superficial and simple, but after comparing each other, it is easier to understand the truth of each other.I think it's better to compare it with European culture.Because Babylon, Egypt, etc. have all disappeared now, and their lives seem to have no power, so they do not have a long history. They only flourished in a certain period of time, but soon disappeared, just like a flash in the pan. Not for long.As for those who can struggle and advance for a long time, at present, there are only two cultures, one is China and the other is Europe.If we compare the two sides with each other, we can see many differences.

European history started from Greece, followed by Rome, and then the northern barbarians were immersed, and changed until today.They seem to be singing a play, the play is one book to the end, but the leading role on the stage is constantly changing, and it is not played by a troupe from beginning to end.And what about China?Since ancient times, Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen, Wu, Zhou, Kong, and even Taiwan singers were all Chinese. Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang dynasties were also Chinese. Song, Yuan, Ming In the Qing and Qing dynasties, it was Chinese who sang on stage, and they are still Chinese now.This layer is obviously different from the two sides.To use another analogy, the comparison between Chinese culture and European culture is like two races.China is running alone for a long time.Europe is like a relay race, a flag is passed from one person to another in turn, and it is constantly replaced.That flag, first passed on by the Greeks to Rome, and then by the Romans on the northern barbarians, is now in the hands of the Latin Teutonic nation.But some people said that maybe the flag will be taken by the Slavic nation again.Moreover, their flag was not their own, but was taken over by the Egyptians.

So there are two differences between Chinese culture and European culture.First, in terms of time extension, in China, one person runs long distances all the time, while in Europe, people run relays.Second, in terms of space, European culture originated from Greece and Athens, and spread out from this cultural center to all directions.Later, Greece declined and Rome took over, and the cultural center moved from Greece to Rome, and then spread out from Rome.Therefore, their cultural centers in the historical evolution also moved from one place to another, one by one.When the modern powers stood side by side, the cultural centers were scattered in Paris, London, Berlin and other places, and then spread out from these centers.Therefore, Western culture often has a form that spreads from one center to all directions.Moreover, these cultural centers are often spread from one place to another.In this situation, there will be a phenomenon associated with it, that is, there is often a phenomenon of cultural interruption, where a paragraph is ended, and then it is repeated elsewhere.It is difficult to say that Chinese culture is passed from one place to another. It is difficult to say that Chinese culture is passed from Shandong to Henan, then from Henan to Shaanxi, from Shaanxi to Jiangxi, from Jiangxi to Jiangsu, and so on. passed on.Once Chinese culture is laid out on a large ground, that is the so-called China, that is, the so-called Chinese body.On this point, in ancient history, it seems difficult to elaborate.But by the time of the Spring and Autumn Period, Chinese culture had obviously been placed flat on the land of China.It is useful to have a body.Just look at the time when the Qi, Jin, Qin, and Chu countries were scattered in all directions, and the general cultural standards were very high, and it can be said that they were generally of the same color.It can be seen that the level of Chinese culture had already been laid flat on a large ground at that time.We can’t say that Chang’an, the capital of the Han Dynasty, and the culture of the Han Dynasty centered on Chang’an, and then spread out in all directions.At that time, Chang'an was just the seat of the central government of the Han Dynasty, and the characters were relatively concentrated, but it didn't mean that the culture was centered there, and then spread to the surroundings.Therefore, Chinese culture is a whole, and as soon as it emerges, it will fill the earth and enrich its surroundings.European culture, on the other hand, spread from one center to another, like Greece to Rome, and then to Eastern Rome.Therefore, Western culture can have several centers, but it is extremely difficult for Chinese culture to say that it has a center. It is difficult for us to say that a certain place is the center of Chinese culture.Therefore, Western culture can be said to have regional characteristics, while Chinese culture has absolutely no regional characteristics.Many places have never been political centers at all in history, but they have always had an extremely high status within the general culture.This kind of comparison is viewed from the outside of the two sides. It is a very simple and superficial comparison, which is roughly said in this way.Why do we compare Western culture with Chinese culture?Because of this comparison, we can see clearly what our own cultural development looks like.