Chapter 37 The Evolution of Chinese Cultural Tradition-5

Fives Now let’s say that the Han and Tang dynasties established an equal society and unified politics on a large scale. The social politics at that time were very progressive compared with the pre-Qin period.The politics is clear, the society is fair, the country is prosperous and strong, and life is happy.Under such circumstances, what will ordinary people think?Religious pursuits beyond this world cannot penetrate their hearts.At this time, the Chinese people put their highest ideal in life on the issue of how to develop their own individuality.Chinese society has learned to take care of the general situation from the beginning, paying the most attention to the lives of large groups.But taking care of the general situation and focusing on the life of the large group does not necessarily mean sacrificing the individual.The so-called personal happiness, in the hearts of the Chinese people, mainly lies in the development of each individual personality.As mentioned above, Chinese culture has been spread out under a large range from the beginning. After this large-scale arrangement is properly arranged, I want to go further. In terms of development, the Chinese are not addicted to force, nor are they greedy for wealth.Because the Chinese also understand that force and wealth are all superficial, and do not mean the real content of life and true happiness.Therefore, when China's political society reaches a certain stage, it will go further to seek the development of each person's inner personality.The real expression of personality development, generally speaking, is most important in literature and art.In fact, literature is also one end of art.At that time, the world was peaceful, and the human spirit was used to enjoy and appreciate life.This is the task of literature and art.

During the Han Dynasty, China experienced four hundred years of long-term peace and stability. At that time, it gradually began to pay attention to literature and art.But later, the fortunes of the country declined, and the chaos of the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties caused the situation to be unstable, so the road that people at that time wanted to take was temporarily interrupted.Once in the Tang Dynasty, society gradually stabilized again, so literature and art developed again.Therefore, the most brilliant period of academic thought was before the Qin Dynasty.The most ideal and stable period of political society is Han and Tang.The general development of literature and art occurred after the founding of the Tang Dynasty.These are the three major processes of the evolution of Chinese cultural history, and they are worthy of our solemn proposal for proof and elaboration.

Generally speaking, literature before the Tang Dynasty can be divided into two categories, one can be said to be aristocratic, and the other can be said to be religious.The same is true for art. At that time, there were only two categories: aristocratic art and religious art.Just to give an example, before the Tang Dynasty, pictures were probably mostly used in royal palaces or temples.The same is true of buildings, and large buildings are only palaces or temples.This can only be regarded as aristocratic and religious.Another example is the literature of the Han Dynasty, such as Sima Xiangru's "Shanglin Fu" and "Zixu Fu", which are good examples of what I call aristocratic literature.Qu Yuan's "Nine Songs" and the like are good examples of religious literature.After the founding of the Tang Dynasty, Chinese literature and art were gradually transformed from the general religious emancipation of the aristocrats to that of ordinary commoners.Taking the entire history of Chinese literature as an example, the era of civilian literature has been since Tang Xing.Taking the entire history of Chinese art as a whole, it was only in the early Tang Dynasty that civilian art began to grow.I think the realm of literature and art in the Tang Dynasty, such as Du Gongbu's poems, Han Changli's prose, Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy, and Wu Daozi's paintings, all reached the same level as the academic thoughts of pre-Qin, Confucius, and Mencius. A state of supreme supremacy.If it is said that after the Qin and Han Dynasties, China no longer has Confucius, Mencius, Lao, and Zhuang, it is considered that Chinese history has not progressed. Then ask Du, Han, Yan, and Wu, how have their poems, words, and paintings ever existed before?Shouldn't this mean that Chinese history is still progressing?You should know that the special greatness of Chinese culture does not lie in overthrowing the old and creating a new one.But after a new one, another new one is added.The old and the new not only do not need to be overthrown, but they cannot be overthrown either.And there may be another new rise in the future.And the other new ones in the future are still valuable and impossible to overthrow, and only then can we see the true greatness of Chinese culture.

Now I have to ask, why did Chinese literature and art not generally develop until after the Tang Dynasty?This is because in the Han and Tang dynasties, although there were remarkable achievements in politics and society, there were still nobles in disguise at that time. After the Song Dynasty, there were no nobles in disguise at all.When it comes to family status, there were only two surnames Han and Lu in the Song Dynasty, but it is hard to say that they were nobles.Other famous figures are all born from civilian society.During the Song and Ming dynasties, there were no nobles or special classes in Chinese society.There were only tribal regimes in the Yuan and Qing dynasties. We might as well say that the Mongols and Manchurians at that time were special classes in Chinese society.But this is not what the evolution of Chinese traditional culture hopes to achieve.In other words, it is a kind of external force oppression and force.

In terms of social economy, after the Song Dynasty, it continued to develop day by day.Cloth was also used as currency in the Tang Dynasty, while banknotes were used in the Song Dynasty.It can be seen that the social economy was not very lively before the Tang Dynasty, but it became more lively after the Song Dynasty.But here is a problem that deserves our attention. Before the Tang Dynasty, there was a disparity between the rich and the poor in Chinese society, but after the Song Dynasty, the social economy tended to be more equal.A more active economy and more equal wealth, isn't this a matter of great concern and study?Here we can see the general trend of Chinese cultural evolution and its great significance.It is a pity that we cannot discuss this issue in detail at this moment.From a simple point of view, there are many families engaged in agriculture in Chinese society, but for their children, they always hope to study and seek official career.No matter which family, if there is only one son, then he will naturally have to operate the production, nothing to say.But if you have two sons, you can think of a way, the elder brother should do more work, and let the younger brother spend some time to study.If there are three sons, they can even try to make the little brother free up the whole time to study.Because they have received higher education, they can take the government exams and hope to become high-ranking officials in the government, so they can gain fame, show their parents, and brighten their families. This is one of the reasons why Chinese people like to have more sons.As long as there are educated scholars in the family, there is hope of becoming a high-ranking official.But the family of a high-ranking official often falls after three or four generations.This is because after becoming a high-ranking official and getting a high salary, he can not worry about food and clothing, and all his children can study and no longer have to engage in productive labor, which seems to be very ideal.But China's examination system is always open and always allows competition as much as possible.So that family, after several generations, if they are not as good as others in the exam and cannot make progress, there is no way out, only to return to the poor ranks.Therefore, in the society after the Song Dynasty, many high-ranking officials and dignitaries fell into decline after only three or four generations.This phenomenon existed forever until the late Qing Dynasty.For example, in Zeng Guofan's family letters, he still often advises his children to keep in mind farming while studying.Because only in this way is a good strategy to advance or retreat.Therefore, the Chinese after the Song Dynasty have always maintained a farming-based economy, which often makes society equal and there is no longer a class gap.As for scholars, the more they are promoted, the more they are, and the number of them is increasing, and the academic atmosphere is also developing.I wonder if such a society does not advance infinitely in terms of force and wealth, but only in education, literature and art, can it be said that it is a society that is more human and closer to ideals?

In addition, there is another situation, that is, after the Song Dynasty, religious beliefs gradually weakened, so what is the reason?First, China after the Song Dynasty really had education for the common people.However, during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, education was limited to family status and failed to spread to the common people.Therefore, only the children of high-ranking officials and nobles were educated at that time. If ordinary people wanted to study, they often went to monasteries or temples.When they enter the temples and temples, they will naturally accept religious beliefs easily.After the Song Dynasty, education was popularized and academies were very common, and there was no need to go to temples to study, so the magic power of religion naturally decreased.Second, Chinese art and literature, in essence, can replace the function of religion.This layer is extremely subtle and difficult to say, but it is still worth talking about briefly.As mentioned above, literature and art after the Song Dynasty have all become civilians. On the walls of the halls of every commoner’s family, there are always a few calligraphy and paintings with a few poems written on them, or a few bamboos and a few small animals. Birds and the like, elegant and indifferent.When you appreciate in silence, you will naturally feel relaxed and happy in your heart.At this time, all the wealth and fame seem to disappear, and there is no so-called pain and unhappiness in life.Even a teacup or a teapot for daily use in the family always has a few strokes on one side and a few lines of poetry on the other side.Even the pillows you sleep on at night are often embroidered with poems and paintings.What people come into contact with in daily life is all art and literature, and all of them have become civilians.Simple, indifferent, peaceful, and quiet, let you appreciate it in silence, and teach you to be at ease.When it comes to housing construction, as long as the family can afford a little financially, they often leave an open space in the yard, plant a few bamboos, dig a small pond, plant a few lotus plants in the pond, or raise a few goldfish.This kind of setting seems very ordinary, but it allows you to enjoy yourself while you are in it.Here I want to remind everyone that, as I said above, the literature and art of daily family life, after the Song Dynasty, is no longer just the life of the aristocrats, but the life of ordinary civilians, which can generally be improved.This cannot but be said to be another reason for the dilution of religious requirements in Chinese society after the Song Dynasty.

Under the Chinese cultural tradition, moral values ​​have always been valued.It has to shoulder great responsibilities for self-cultivation, family harmony, state governance, and world peace, and it has great principles of loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness, integrity and integrity.This is like a series of moral ropes, which bind everyone tightly, and it seems that they cannot turn around.In the West, there are not so many big ones. They only talk about freedom, equality, and independence, which is so straightforward.The Chinese seem to be bound by various moral concepts.Chinese life can be said to be a moral life.If you become an official, you have the responsibility of being an official, and you are not allowed to do business and make a fortune.Official life, according to theory, is all moral and responsible.Just because Chinese society emphasizes this side, there has to be another side to seek its balance.Chinese poetry, calligraphy and painting, as well as general literature and art, are fulfilling this function, enabling you to temporarily put aside all responsibilities and return to a leisurely mood and natural appreciation.It's like "picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence and seeing Nanshan leisurely." If you can really appreciate the scene, it seems that at that time, you put down all responsibilities and enjoy the nature there leisurely.Chinese art, literature, and Chinese moral life are reconciled to replace the role of religion.

When we look at Western literature and art from this point of view, we feel otherwise.If you feel bored and uncomfortable in life, try watching a foreign movie.Your purpose is to relieve boredom, but the result will only increase your boredom and discomfort.Because Western literature and art are all stimulating, they seem to be urging you to move forward, pointing you to a goal that you should strive for, and criticizing your current life, criticizing you to the point where you are bruised.Because Western literature and art are more stimulating, encouraging, and motivating, it requires you to move forward desperately. When you hit a wall and get stuck, you can only go to church and pray to God, and God will comfort you.This is the difference between the inner character and social mission of literature and art between China and the West, but it is a pity that I cannot go into details here.

In short, after the Song Dynasty in China, most people have embarked on the path of life enjoyment and life experience, seeking a kind of happiness and comfort rich in life philosophy in daily life.But Chinese literature and art, at that time, fulfilled its great responsibility and great contribution.Therefore, before the Tang Dynasty, literature and art were still the religion of the aristocracy, but since the rise of the Tang Dynasty, it has gradually flowed to the common people and become a part of daily life.Therefore, before the Qin Dynasty, Chinese culture created lofty ideals in life.During the Han and Tang Dynasties, a large-scale political society was established first.After the Song Dynasty, people enjoyed and developed on this scale.This is why literature and art were not particularly developed until then.