Gu Hongming: a crazy Confucian in the Republic of China, 13 doctors, outstanding and outstanding.

During the Republic of China, there were many personalities, and I'm afraid Gu Hongming was the most "weird" one. People who like him call him a "geek", while those who don't like him call him a "monster".

Gu Hongming was born in Malaysia. His father is from China, his mother is from Portugal, his adoptive father is from England, and his servants are Malaysians and Filipinos. Therefore, Gu Hongming has been influenced by different cultures since he was a child, and he has a strong understanding of various cultures.

At the age of ten, Mr. Brown, his adoptive father, wanted to go back to England, so he wanted to take him with him to receive modern western education. Before leaving, Gu Hongming's father, Gu Ziyun, took him to the ancestral tablet and made him kneel down, saying, "No matter where you go, whether you are English, German or French, don't forget that you are from China."

After arriving in England, Gu Hongming showed amazing learning ability. He is proficient in nine foreign languages, such as English, French, German, Latin and Greek, and has successively obtained 13 doctoral degrees, which shocked the whole western academic community.

When Gu Hongming was studying in Europe and passing through Singapore, he met Ma Jianzhong, a language master. Ma Jianzhong showed him the profoundness of China traditional culture, and Gu Hongming was immediately attracted. From then on, he decided to return to Chinese mainland and devote himself to studying the traditional culture of China.

Because of his mastery of eastern and western cultures, Gu Hongming quickly became a celebrity in the world cultural circle in that special era.

1909, the English version of China Oxford Movement by Gu Hongming was published in Europe, which had a great impact immediately. Many universities list this book as required reading. 19 15, the spirit of China was published in Europe. This book not only introduces the traditional culture of China, but also deeply analyzes the inferiority of westerners, so it is a sensation in the west. At that time, there was a saying in western cultural circles: "You can go to China without seeing the Forbidden City, but you must see Gu Hongming."

In the eyes of Germans, there are two people who represent oriental culture, one is Tagore and the other is Gu Hongming. Guy Salvatore Alitto, a doctor at Harvard University in the United States, also said: "At that time, Gu Hongming was very popular. His books are required reading for philosophy courses in European universities and have been translated into many European languages. Many western philosophers cite his books as an important authority; Western guests are competing to visit and listen to the teachings. "

Not only is it widely respected in academic circles, but in the eyes of great writers, Gu Hongming is also a god-like existence. For example, Tolstoy, a great Russian writer, wrote to him to ask questions; There is also the great British writer Mao Mu, who is also called "the greatest authority of China's Confucius theory"; When Tagore, a great Indian poet, visited China, he made a special trip to ask him for advice. However, Gu Hongming thought that Tagore did not understand the Book of Changes, so stop claiming to represent oriental culture and go back to writing your poems.

At that time, Gu Hongming lived in a quadrangle in Chunshu Hutong, Beijing, and international celebrities visited him every day. At that time, the electric light had been introduced to China, but Gu Hongming never used it. Instead, he lit a small kerosene lamp. Besides, the lighting at home is not good, and it is very dark. Some international celebrities advised him to turn on the light, but Gu Hongming said, "We in China pay attention to clear thinking and self-justification, unlike you Westerners who only pay attention to superficial kung fu. Since I have come to China, I should learn the philosophy of China people. " Although international celebrities don't know much about it and no one dares to object, they can only listen quietly.

Wang Chonghui, a famous diplomat in the Republic of China, said with emotion after visiting western countries: "He brought honor to our country and won an international reputation. He has made great contributions to cultural exchanges between China and the West! "

Although Gu Hongming was respected in the west, he was deeply saddened by China's humiliation in the west at that time, so he mocked the westerners.

On one occasion, Mao Mu, a great British writer, came to China and wrote a letter to Gu Hongming, asking him to discuss this issue. But after the letter was sent out for several days, Gu Hongming didn't come, so Mao Mu had to find out where Gu Hongming lived. When he got home, Gu Hongming rolled his eyes at him and said, "You Westerners think that we in China are inferior. If you write a letter, you must go to see you and tell you that you are wrong. If you want to see me, you have to come to my house. " Mao Mu quickly apologized that he didn't know the way, and it took him a long time to get rid of Gu Hongming's anger.

When Ito Bowen visited China, he met Gu Hongming and made fun of him, saying, "You are proficient in western culture and naturally know the general trend of the world today. Why should we study the traditional culture of China? Do you think Confucius' educational thought still applies today? "

Gu Hongming said: "Confucius' educational thought is like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in mathematics. Two thousand years ago, it was three to three to get nine, and today it is still three to three to get nine, and it will never become three to three to get eight. You don't even understand this truth, and you are still talking about the general trend of the world here! " Ito Bowen was speechless.

Gu Hongming once made a classic comparison between Americans, Britons, Germans and China people, thinking that Americans are broad and simple, but not deep; The British are deep and simple, but not broad; Germans are profound, but not simple; Only China people fully possess these three excellent spiritual qualities. In his view, China people live a "childlike life, a spiritual life", with both "innocent childlike innocence" and "adult wisdom".

Born in troubled times, few people are as cynical as Gu Hongming, overthrowing a world-famous hero and cursing the world. He likes to praise and criticize people by nature, and his words are sharp and mean. "Do you think wearing a suit is fashionable enough? I tell you, Confucius and Mencius are still sages even if they are covered with monkey skin; Even if a monkey is dressed in python skin, it is still an animal. It doesn't matter that the heart hasn't changed and the appearance has changed. " Gu Hongming was also critical of ZTE figures in the late Qing Dynasty, such as Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang. He thinks he is a minister, Li is a meritorious minister, Zeng's illness is humble, and Li's illness is solid. He also compared Zhang Zhidong with Totek's prescription and concluded: "Zhang Wenxiang is proud of his illness because he has more knowledge and less intelligence;" Dragon Boat Festival Bridge is smarter than learning, so it is ill. Wen Xiang is proud, so most of his aides are hypocrites; Noon Bridge is floating, so most of its assistants are real villains. "

When it comes to critics, Yuan Shikai is the one Gu Hongming despises most, scolds the most times and can't stand it most. 1907, Zhang Zhidong and Yuan Shikai joined the military aircraft, and Gu Hongming became the foreign minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On one occasion, Yuan Shikai said to the German ambassador in Beijing: "Zhang (Zhang Zhidong) is a scholar, but I don't talk about learning. I work. " The implication is that he doesn't need to study to help him complete his official duties. Hearing this, Gu laughed at Yuan Shikai's ignorance in a playful tone. He said, "Of course, it depends on what's going on. If the old lady emptied the toilet. Naturally, there is no need to learn; I don't know what an uneducated person can do except empty the toilet. "

Gu Hongming hated the profiteering of officialdom all his life. At a banquet in Beijing, there were some celebrities and politicians. A foreign reporter seized this opportunity to interview Gu Hongming. His question is very thorny: "China's domestic political situation is so chaotic, what can be done to remedy it?" Without thinking about it, Gu immediately prescribed a strong medicine: "Yes, the method is very simple. Pull out these politicians and bureaucrats present and shoot them, and the political situation in China will be more stable! "

Although everyone agrees that Gu Hongming is cynical about many things, when it comes to imperial power, people don't agree with him so much, and even think that he is sophistry and criticized.

Just four years after the death of Empress Dowager Cixi, Gu Hongming wrote an article entitled "Empress Dowager Cixi's Personality, Interests and Hobbies", praising Empress Dowager Cixi as "broad-minded, magnanimous and noble" and "an elegant and impeccable person". But this does not mean that he has no complaints about Cixi. On the Longevity Day, the Governor's Office of Huguang held a grand banquet, set off firecrackers and sang new patriotic songs. Gu Hongming told his colleague Liang Xinghai that if there are patriotic songs, how can there be no love for folk songs? Liang Xinghai encouraged him to try to write a song. Gu Hongming's wit is extraordinary. After a little hesitation, he got four sentences, which made the room full of uproar. "The emperor in ten thousand, the people spend money; Life is endless and the people suffer. " Gu Hongming advocated imperial power all his life, but he didn't kowtow when he met the memorial tablet. Even such an old conservative has backbone. "For example, let's talk about the law. When it comes to the law, no one is afraid. Everyone will be afraid to say' Wang Fa' (speak loudly and strike the table). Without the word' Wang', it will definitely not work. " "Many people laugh at my infatuation with Qing Dynasty, but my loyalty to Qing Dynasty is not only my loyalty to the royal family, but also my loyalty to China's politics and religion, that is, to China's civilization."

Gu Hongming often talks about Mencius' famous saying: "It's hard to argue if you give up, but you have to." He is eloquent, and his sophistry is like a flash flood. It's unstoppable and hard to stop. Those who are caught will be invincible until the disaster is over. Once, Gu Hongming raved at the banquet: "If only I could kill two people to thank the world!" A guest asked him who they were, and he replied, "It's Yan Fu and Lin Shu." Yan He was present, and Yan Fu was very cultured and turned a deaf ear to Gu Hongming's provocation. Lin Shu, a grumpy man, immediately questioned Gu's statement. Gu Hongming plausibly patted the table and shouted, "Since Yan Fu translated the theory of evolution, China people only know natural selection, but they don't know that there is natural justice, so there have been a series of disasters. Since Lin Shu translated Legacy of La Traviata, many students only know male huan and female huan, but don't know manners and benevolence, so people want to kick down the ladder. Who is Yan and Lin who use theory to corrupt the world? "

But Gu Hongming is obsessed with China traditional culture, and some behaviors are even extreme, such as his lifelong big braid. At that time, under the influence of the Revolution of 1911, most people cut off their braids, especially in universities, but the only exception was Gu Hongming, so that whenever braids were mentioned in universities in Peking University and even in China, everyone could not help but think of Gu Hongming.

But Gu Hongming didn't care at all, and plausibly said, "You only laugh at me because I have braids. My braid is tangible and can be cut off. However, the braid on your classmate's head is not so easy to cut off! "

Not only braids, but also Gu Hongming is very fond of women's feet. "Three-inch golden lotus is graceful when it walks, which will produce coquetry with a thin waist, and that little foot will lift a man's reverie. The wonder of women lies in their feet. " Kang Youwei also gave him a banner of "contentment". Gu Hongming said, "Kang Youwei knows my heart." In 1930s, Peking University English professor Wen wrote a passage in A Thinking layman, which hit the nail on the head. "Before his death, Gu Hongming had become a legend; I'm afraid he will become a mythical figure after his death. In fact, he is not much different from many people you meet every day. He is just a born rebel. "

Similarly, Gu Hongming tried his best to defend the traditional three wives and four concubines. Once, he talked to an American about concubinage and said, "The word' concubine' is a daughter who stands by when a man is tired and gives him support."

Americans always advocate equality between men and women. Naturally, they would not agree with his strange theory, so they retorted, "As you said, when a woman is tired, she can let a man lean on her hand or be polygamous."

Gu Hongming took a slow sip of tea and said, "Look at this tea set. It's all a teapot and four cups. How can there be a teacup with four teapots in the world? " It makes Americans laugh and cry.

Later, the story of "teapot and teacup" spread quickly and became a big joke. When Xu Zhimo and Lu Xiaoman got married, Lu Xiaoman specifically said to Xu Zhimo, "You are not my teapot, but my toothbrush. The teapot can pour water from four teacups, and the toothbrush can only be used by one person. I will only use your toothbrush in the future, and you can't pour water for other cups. " Everyone present burst into laughter and thought it was wonderful.

However, Gu Hongming advocates three wives and four concubines, which seems disrespectful to his wife, but in fact he is very afraid of his wife. At that time, there were many beggars in Beijing, and Gu Hongming often gave them some money. Later, when his wife found out, she scolded him, and Gu Hongming was too scared to scold again. Talking about this with my classmates, I said helplessly, "My wife is not afraid, is there a king's law?" Maybe he has been oppressed by his wife for too long. Gu Hongming appreciates prostitutes in brothels very much. Once, a foreign scholar asked him where he could learn the real China culture. Gu Hongming said mysteriously that you can visit eight hutongs, where you can see the modesty, shyness and elegance of traditional women in China. As a result, the foreign scholar was really happy after he went, and later became an expert on women's issues in China.

Lin Yutang, a great writer, also deeply agrees with this argument: "Gu Hongming is not a big mistake, because those singers, like Japanese geisha, still blush, while modern girls don't."

In fact, Lin Yutang not only agrees with Gu Hongming's argument, but also admires his knowledge. He once said with deep affection, "English writing is superior, which has never been seen in 200 years." Word-building and word-using are excellent. In a word, with Mr. Gu's transcendental thought, he has his unique literary talent. Hongming can also be described as outstanding and a strange person among people. "