Emigrate to Beijing in the Republic of China

At the end of the Qing Dynasty, there was a saying in the west: You don't have to go to the Three Great Halls to go to China, but you must go to Gu Hongming.

Who is Gu Hongming? This is a China native who didn't grow up in China, but he will never forget that he is from China. This is a scholar who accepts western education but is keen to carry forward eastern culture; This is an old-fashioned man who walks in the forefront of the times, but has always kept an antique braid.

Gu Hongming can be described as a geek. He is proficient in 89 languages. He was "born in Nanyang, studied in the West, married in the East and served in Beiyang".

At that time, there was a kind of "western centralism" in academic circles, not all of China, but East Asia. Foreigners' things are the best, foreigners' theories are correct, and eastern things are backward and dross. But this Gu Hongming, who grew up abroad, is not like this. Gu Hongming, who is proficient in western learning, has a lifelong view because of his comparison after studying Chinese studies. He believes that the Confucian way of benevolence and righteousness can save the ruthlessness and destruction in the competition of the jungle; He believes that the traditional culture that China people are abandoning is just a good way to save the world, and Confucianism is the essence of this culture. Therefore, he not only prostrated himself, but also spared no effort to push the world, thinking that he should shoulder the heavy responsibility of strengthening the country and rejuvenating Europe and America. His China Studies published in English is almost a manifesto of China Studies. Since then, he has written Notes on China, Oxford Movement in China, and The Great Righteousness in the Spring and Autumn Period (that is, the Spirit of China), and translated three of the four books, such as The Analects of Confucius, The Doctrine of the Mean, and The University. He has made great efforts to spread Confucianism to the world and advocate oriental culture, which has aroused great repercussions in the west. It should be said that before this, no one has consciously spread China classics to foreign countries more systematically, completely and accurately.

1857, 18 In July, Gu Hongming was born in a British rubber plantation in Penang (Penang, Malaysia), northwest of Nanyang Malay Peninsula. In his early years, his ancestors moved to Nanyang from Hui 'an County, Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province, China, and accumulated rich property and prestige. His father, Gu Ziyun, was the manager of a rubber plantation run by the British at that time. He speaks fluent Minnan, English and Malay. His mother is a blonde westerner who can speak English and Portuguese. In this family environment, Gu Hongming has an amazing understanding and memory of language since childhood. Mr. Brown, a childless rubber gardener, liked him very much and adopted him as his adopted son. Let him read Shakespeare, Bacon and other works from an early age.

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1867, the Browns returned to England and took 10-year-old Gu Hongming to the most powerful western empire at that time. Before leaving, my father burned incense in front of the ancestral tablet and warned him: "No matter where you go, no matter whether you are English, German or French, don't forget that you are from China."

It was not until 1885 that Gu Hongming returned to China for the first time.

In China, there are two special places for Gu Hongming. One is his ancestral home, and the other is Beijing, where he taught at Peking University and lived for five years.

As for Gu Hongming's ancestral home, it's really not my fault, it's an unsolved case. As for Gu Hongming's ancestral home, due to the lack of convincing textual research materials, it is often based on speculation. There are roughly several statements about Haicheng in Zhangzhou, Fujian, Tongan in Xiamen, Hui 'an in Quanzhou and Jinjiang in Quanzhou. The theory of "Zhangzhou Haicheng" is probably based on the fact that most Chinese immigrants in Penang come from Zhangzhou Haicheng. For example, The History of Chinese in Penang said that the Ku family in Penang came from "Zhangzhou Haicheng", but it was not confirmed by historical documents. The latter three statements-Xiamen Tongan, Quanzhou Huian and Quanzhou Jinjiang-are more popular. Huang, a scholar of modern history, said: "Gu's ancestral home is in Fujian, and there is no disagreement, but there are different opinions on specific areas. Besides Tongan, there are Xiamen and Jinjiang. Gu once called himself "Tomson Yipin" in Xiamen. "Jinjiang" originated from Wang Senran. See the biographical manuscript of Gu Hongming in Beijing Library. There are still people in Jinjiang, including Gu Hongming, but there are many people who hold the "Tongan Theory". The earliest is the "Clear Draft" and Gu's good friend Luo Zhenyu's statement. Personally feel that Tongan is more accurate. " Huang's judgment is correct, but it still lacks textual research support.

Fujian people have always attached importance to genealogy, but Gu Hongming's family moved to Nanyang several generations ago, and its genealogy is no longer circulating in Fujian. But in another way, we may find some clues by searching Chinese and English historical materials related to early overseas Chinese in Penang. In fact, in the early 20th century, Arnold White in London and H.A. Cartwright, who worked in Singapore, the capital of the Straits Colony, have been compiling a reliable and informative chronicle of British Malaya, including the British Straits Colony. H·c· Robinson, who is in charge of writing chronicles, is the curator of the Selangor Museum in Malaya. He is not only familiar with local anecdotes, but also published local chronicles in London in 1908, in which the number is "KohSe? AngTat "lists four generations of genealogy of Ku family in Penang. KohSeangTat, Gu Hongming's cousin, is the fourth generation patriarch of the Ku family in Penang. He started from opium and became the richest man and celebrity in Penang.

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Robinson's "Penang Ku Family Genealogy" was clearly written at the beginning, and the ancestral home of this family was "from Tongan Guankucuo Village, Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province, China". A brief reading of Tongan Pass as Tongmin Pass Tongmin An Pass is the only pass in the north and south of Fujian that blocks Xiaoyingling. This is a battleground for military strategists and the only way for business travel from Tongan to Quanzhou. In the Qing dynasty, in order to prevent "pirates", the "order to move the sea" was implemented, and the coastal people were moved to the inland for dozens of miles. Xiaoying Lingguan has become an important place to "cut off the connection between mountains and seas", not only with the tax gate of the post station, but also guarded by soldiers.

Originally named Tongmin Anfang, the eponymous An Guan was built in Xiaoying Lingguan when Zhu Wei, a great scholar in the Southern Song Dynasty, was in charge of Tong 'an, as a boundary pillar of Tong 'an County in Nan 'an. The inscription "Tongmin 'an" embedded in Fang's forehead comes from his calligraphy. Stone Square was destroyed during the reign of Yongzheng in Qing Dynasty, and in the thirty-third year of Qianlong in Qing Dynasty (1768), Lin Yinglong, a scholar in Tong 'an Maxiang, proposed to rebuild the collapsed stone square as a pass, and wrote Preface to Rebuild Tongmin Anfang as a pass to persuade donations, which was strongly supported by Wu Yong, the Tongan magistrate, so he set up a pass at Tongmin Anfang's former site to "defend the people and consolidate the country."

Shang ban cun, Luoyang Town, Hui 'an County, has not made any textual research. On February 10, 2004, when Gu Hongming's cousin in Taiwan Province and former President Gu's wife returned to Fujian to seek roots, she wrote an inscription for the Gu Ancestral Hall in Luo Yang, Hui 'an: Maicheng Hui 'an. Since then, Huian has become a more reliable one. Last July, an activity was held at Ku Hongming Memorial Hall (Ku Ancestral Hall) in shang ban cun, Luo Yang Town, Hui 'an County to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Ku Hongming's birth/kloc-0.

No matter where it is, it is not very important to Gu Hongming himself. For most people, the migration of ancestors is hard to find. The so-called ancestral home is not necessarily the "root". After a long time, it is just a symbol of homesickness. And Peking University gave Gu Hongming a specific image of homesickness.

After teaching in Peking University for six years, Gu Hongming lived at No.26, Bai Shu Hutong, Dongcheng District. Bai Shu Hutong No.26, the old house number is Chunshu Hutong No.30. Housing archives show that the hospital is located in a small alley recessed in the south of the west section of the alley, with an area of 130 square meters; To the west of the street facade is a "small gatehouse" along the wall; In the courtyard, there are three ridge tile houses in the north and a platform with a gray roof in the south, with a construction area of 60 square meters. In 1980s, Bai Shu Hutong No.26 and its adjacent quadrangles were requisitioned and converted into Wangfujing Hotel.

An article in Beijing Evening News said that Gu Hongming's former residence was "in a small alley recessed in the south of the west section of the alley, with an area of 1.30 square meters; To the west of the front of the street is a "small gatehouse" along the wall; In the courtyard, there are three ridge tile houses in the north and a platform with a gray roof in the south, with a construction area of 60 square meters. In 1980s, Bai Shu Hutong No.26 and its adjacent quadrangles were requisitioned and converted into Wangfujing Hotel. Starting from Gate 24, there is a parking lot with vegetation between Building 24 and Building 30. I wonder if this is the ground that Gu Hongming stepped on. Now there are no cypress trees, let alone Toona sinensis trees, but there are many locust trees, and Gu Hongming's former residence disappeared together with his house number.

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But Gu Hongming is indeed a historical figure that we should not forget. Looking up Gu Hongming's chronology, he accompanied Zhang Zhidong to Beijing for foreign affairs in 1907, then taught in Peking University, and finally died in 1928. During this period, except for short stops in Shanghai, Qingdao and Japan, he almost lived in Beijing for the last 20 years of his life. Some celebrities, including internationally renowned writers Mao Mu, Akutagawa Ryunosuke and Tagore, have visited Chunshu Hutong (now Cypress Hutong) and his "Jin 'an Land Machine". However, since the May 4th Movement, Gu Hongming has been criticized as a representative of royalism and cultural conservatism, and his academic status and value have been neglected for a long time. His former residence is naturally difficult to protect and preserve. It is also valuable to leave one on the nameplate of Hutong now!

Gu Hongming's braid is a "unique scenery" in China in the early years of the Republic of China. Zhou Zuoren gave a vivid description of this "landscape" in "Old Records of Love in Peking University": Gu Hongming "was born with the appearance of a foreigner, with deep eyes and a high nose, and a pinch of yellow hair on his head, but he braided it into a braid. In winter, he wears a long-sleeved square jacket with bordeaux silk and a small hat with melon skin. Don't say that Beijing around the decade of the Republic of China was the early Qing Dynasty. We met such a well-dressed and priest-like figure in a small town on the road, and everyone couldn't help staring. What is particularly wonderful is that the chartered driver comes from somewhere in the countryside, or the remnants of Xuzhou braided soldiers are unknown. He is also a man carrying big braid behind his back, just like the host in the class. He is sitting in the car pocket outside the gate of the Red Mansion, and he is not a special person in the driver team. "

Liang Shiqiu described this more vividly: "My ancestors liked to chase the pleasure of others, regardless of their unkempt appearance, they all hung long braids, and the greasy clothes on bordeaux robes and sky-blue gowns were particularly educational. People standing in front of them didn't need to look in the mirror, but they felt sorry for themselves."

Some people say that Gu Hongming's braid complex represents his conservatism and stubbornness. This is only part of the truth. In fact, what Gu Hongming is conservative is the traditional culture of China. 192 1 year, Gu Hongming said to the British writer Mao Mu, "Look, I have a braid, which is a mark. I am the last representative of Boss China. " He called the "civilized West" a "country of four foreigners", and his "alternative image" was an "alternative response" to modern civilization. Gu Hongming said: Foreigners will never show us a little respect just because we cut our braids and put on suits. Let's not comment on how Gu Hongming is "different". His courage to fight alone and persevere is beyond the reach of today's China people, because today's China people, especially China literati, have become extinct.

However, his "alternative image" was not tolerated by people at that time and was ridiculed by many people. At that time, Gu Hongming was lecturing at Peking University with a pigtail, which caused an uproar among the students. Gu Hongming said to the students, "The braid on my head is tangible, but the braid in your heart is invisible." He later said something similar in Taiwan Province province. In the process of giving lectures in Taiwan Province Province, "when he is in high spirits, he will tell some funny things. His clothes are very strange. He always wears a blue robe. Wearing a melon seed hat, red top and long braid, at first glance, who believes that he is an old-timer studying in China? He sometimes berates others: "Do you think wearing a suit and keeping a fashionable hairstyle is fashionable enough?" "

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Gu Hongming is not only an excellent student, but also a professor at Peking University. His classes are very popular with students. Gu Hongming's teaching is also very strange. Judging from today's eyes, he is grandstanding in class. His eccentric style and funny behavior are definitely unqualified teachers today and will definitely be "dismissed".

Just a few examples: Gu Hongming met Hu Shi for the first time in Peking University, and there was a conflict. You know, Hu Shi is Dewey's disciple and got 36 doctors. His trendy ideas made young doctors studying in the United States famous overnight, when they were red and purple. But as soon as Gu Hongming saw Hu Shi, he asked, "What do you do?" Hu Shi said, "Teaching at Peking University." Gu Hongming said: "We are colleagues." He asked, "What is this for?" Hu Shi said, "Teach the history of western philosophy." Gu Hongming then switched to Latin to talk to Hu Shi. Hu Shi said, "Sorry, I don't know Latin." Gu Hongming said: "Ancient philosophy was dominated by Greece, while modern philosophy was dominated by Germany. Hu Shi doesn't know German and Latin. Isn't teaching philosophy a lie to children? " He also criticized Hu Shi for learning English in the middle and lower classes of the United States. Hu Shi is very angry. Since then, the two masters have had a problem. They often fight with words and pen and ink.

When Gu Hongming attends classes at Peking University, he always brings a boy servant to pack cigarettes and pour tea for him. He doesn't need a textbook for class. Even if there are textbooks, they are just decorations. Because he has too much knowledge in his mind and his thoughts are too active, how can he attach importance to dead textbooks? In the first class, he dragged a braid behind his head and wore a dirty gown, which caused the students to burst into laughter. In the first part, he asked the students to open the first page. Until the end of the semester, he still asked the students to open the first page. What he said is English poetry, boundless, unrestrained, humorous, laughing and cursing. When it comes to pride, he either sings a ditty or takes out some peanut candy and munches on it. Therefore, his classes are always the most popular. He is very strict with his students. Every class, he has to make three rules with them: (1) Once in the classroom, students must stand up and salute; After class, he goes first and the students go again; (2) Students can't recite, and they are not allowed to sit or stand before class; (3) Those who can stand the constraints of class, and those who can't, can leave early. The English homework he gave his students was also excellent, and he actually asked students to translate the three-character classics and thousands of words in English.

As a teacher, his image and manners are unqualified, but he teaches students the most knowledge. From this point of view, he is better than teachers who follow the rules, not to mention those who follow the book and have no thoughts. Gu Hongming can be a professor at Peking University and a leading figure in China University, which is naturally attributed to President Cai Yuanpei. Without Cai Yuanpei, there would be no Gu Hongming. Today, China University has many professors, but no masters. There are many reasons, but the lack of Cai Yuanpei-style educators as university presidents is probably an important reason.

Gu Hongming admired Confucianism to the extreme, and his eloquence showed his wit and humor everywhere. "He teaches Latin and other courses at Peking University, so he can't play his orthodox thoughts, so he will find opportunities to vent anytime and anywhere." On one occasion, he hosted a banquet at his home in Chunshu Hutong to entertain European and American friends. The cramped yard is shabby enough, and the lighting is still kerosene lamps, which are dim and smoky. Moreover, these European and American friends don't know the true meaning of "Jin 'an sending Lu". Then, someone said, "kerosene lamps are not as bright as electric lights and steam lights." "Gu Hongming knows:" We orientals pay attention to the understanding of nature, and the orientals are sober-minded and the oil lamps are self-illuminating. Orientals don't pay special attention to superficial work like westerners. "This sentence of Gu Hongming really frightened his European and American friends.

Now many people will talk about Gu Hongming's pigtails and his strange hobby of loving feet, but forget that in that stormy era, this stubborn old man who didn't look like China made a sound to the world. He opposed the western philosophy of advocating interests and let the eastern civilization blossom and bear fruit in the western world. Guy Salvatore Alitto, a famous contemporary American sinologist, commented in his Chinese book Persistence in Culture —— Analysis of Anti-modernization Thoughts. At that time, Gu was very popular. His books were a compulsory course in philosophy courses in European universities and were translated into many European languages. Many western philosophers cite his books as an important authority; Western guests rushed to visit and listen to the teachings. "

Now that I think about it, isn't it sad that Gu Hongming is remembered only for madness? If the homesickness of ordinary people is concrete, then Gu Hongming's homesickness is probably an ideal hometown called "China".