The second volume is full of glory and splendor in the capital, and the spirit is full of vitality in the foggy city. Chapter 199: Here We Come Again (Part 1)
Subtitle of this chapter: The thing that some people hate but some people like is here again.
As a great thinker, educator, and politician who profoundly influenced the 20th and 21st centuries, Yuan Yanshu is the most sought-after subject of research in Chinese and foreign historical circles today. Hence the term "Yuan Studies."
But we should also note that, whether in the West or the East, the so-called "Yuanxue" research has gone astray.
Western historical scholarship has become overly sensationalist, completely losing its serious academic character and degenerating into the mere rhetoric of novelists seeking to entertain the masses. This is particularly true of a recent book about Yuan Shikai, written by a best-selling American novelist. Not only does this book, written in recent years, involve mysticism, portraying Yuan as a "Sage of the Bamboo Grove" possessing supernatural powers, but it also employs conspiracy theories to fabricate the SCP Foundation, founded by Yuan Shikai, as a mysterious organization influencing history behind the scenes.
Such "historical" works naturally have endless harmful effects and have also had a certain impact on Mr. Yuan Yanshu's reputation.
In contrast, the research on "Yuanxue" in the Chinese academic community has become an ideological confrontation due to differences in political ideas among researchers.
The left believes that Yuan and Trotsky have a close rapport and that he has many close anarchist friends, so he is actually a leftist disguised as a liberal. He is also likely a Blanquist with very radical revolutionary methods.
The right naturally dismissed this as nonsense. They believed that Mr. Yuan's neoclassical liberal stance had never wavered and that he deserved the title of "China's Vice President of the Austrian School."
Such debates are merely expressions of the debaters' opinions and are of no benefit to academic research.
In view of this, we decided to establish a special "Yuan Studies" magazine. The manuscripts selected for this magazine are all research articles based on Mr. Yuan Yanshu's first-hand materials. These materials are mainly articles, diaries, letters, interviews and memoirs written by people from all walks of life who were contemporaries of Mr. Yuan and had contact with him.
My colleagues and I hope to set the record straight and restore history and Mr. Yuan Yanshu to their true colors."
——Excerpt from "(Yuan Yanshu Research) Inaugural Speech"
"I saw Mr. Hongjian's essays in the Morning Post Supplement of August 4 (1922), and was surprised that there could be such a pedantic and well-meaning gentleman in the world, so ignorant of the ways of the world, and yet he came to discuss academic theories with the gentlemen of Xueheng.
In my opinion, the so-called "Xue Heng" is nothing more than a fake glimmer cast by a few fake antiques gathered near the "Gate of Treasures." Although it calls itself a "heng," its own scales haven't even been properly fixed, let alone the weights it weighs. Therefore, there's absolutely no need to compare them; just an estimate will tell you.
In short, your attacks on New Culture and the promotion of Old Learning are indeed a valid stance, if not self-contradictory. Unfortunately, you have no understanding of Old Learning, and your advocacy is unworthy. If those who are illiterate can be considered confidants of Chinese culture, then Chinese culture will be even more ashamed! After a while, you have only "weighed" your own weight, which does no harm to New Culture, but it is far from being a contribution to Chinese culture.
The only thing I admire about you all is that you actually have the courage to publish something like this."
——Excerpt from Lu Xun's "EstimationXueheng
"I, Mr. Fengsheng, have read the essays published in this newspaper on August 9th. Mr. Fengsheng's knowledge is profound, far beyond my reach; his writing is vigorous and inspiring, and also applauds me.
But as a good man, I have something to say. Mr. Wu from the Xueheng faction and I had a face-to-face conversation in New York. His intention to protect the essence of Chinese culture is good, and his concern that "the loss of Chinese culture will lead to the loss of a nation" is not entirely wrong...
Therefore, I think it is inappropriate to be too harsh on the people at Xueheng."
——Excerpt from "Re-evaluation (Xueheng)" by Hongjian
"Mr. Hongjian's 'Re-evaluation of Xueheng' fully demonstrates his chivalrous demeanor as a gentleman who studied abroad. However, this is China, and the spirit of fair play should be slowed down..."
——Excerpt from Lu Xun's "Re-evaluation (Xueheng)"
"Mr. Feng Sheng's 'Zai Zai Gu (Xue Heng)' really surprised me. Mr. Feng's writing style is indeed mature, but his mind is quite narrow. His article seems to be written by a Shaoxing lawyer..."
——Excerpt from "Repeated Evaluation (Xueheng)" by Hongjian
"Recently, my two friends, Mr. Fengsheng and Mr. Hongjian, have engaged in a war of words in the Morning Post Supplement over their differing opinions on the Xueheng faction. I believe they are both resolute in promoting the New Culture Movement, but their attitudes differ..."
——Excerpt from Hu Shi's "A Few Thoughts on Feng Hong's Theory"
In 1922, two leaders of the New Culture Movement had a famous debate in the Morning Post Supplement over their different attitudes towards the Xueheng faction, known as the "Fenghong Debate."
These two are Lu Xun and Hongjian, the first and second writers of vernacular Chinese. However, the question of who is the first writer of vernacular Chinese is still a matter of debate to this day.
Some people believe that Lu Xun's "Diary of a Madman" is the first true vernacular novel, so he is undoubtedly the first.
However, some people say that Mr. Hongjian's vernacular works are not only much more in quantity than Mr. Lu Xun's, but also superior in quality. His reputation as the first person is unquestionable.
This article does not discuss the question of who was the first person to write vernacular Chinese, but rather talks about their essays.
Lu Xun's essays have been described as daggers, often piercing blood and making readers shudder. However, in real life, he was approachable, taciturn, and quick to act, making him a good teacher and friend.
In contrast, Mr. Hongjian was known as a whimsical young man, with a rebellious character and unbridled words and deeds. He described himself as "so handsome that he had no friends." However, most of his essays were graceful and generous, and even his satire was to the point. Of course, he could sometimes be blunt. It is said that after reading his essay "What to Do and What Not to Do," Mr. Kang Nanhai was so angry that he vomited blood on the spot.
There is a saying that a writer's writing reflects his character, but these two are real-life counterexamples.
Fortunately, Mr. Hu Shi wrote an article to persuade them, and the two great essayists shook hands and made peace at the end of 1922.
So at that time everyone thought that Mr. Lu Xun was extremely sharp and could be a vanguard official.
Mr. Shizhi is cautious and calm, so it is most appropriate for him to stay behind and hold the fort.
Mr. Dazhao and Mr. Zhongfu were the leading generals on the left and right sides.
Mr. Hongjian was a man of great magnanimity and noble character, making him the perfect choice to be the leader of the New Culture Movement. Because of his saying that he was "so handsome that he had no friends", he was called "Marshal Yuan".
These five are the Five Commanders-in-Chief of the New Culture Movement."
——Excerpt from "Yuan Yanshu and the New Culture Movement"
(This article was published in the first issue of Yuan Yanshu Research)
