During the Republic of China, many people with unique personalities appeared, but the most "weird" one is probably Gu Hongming. People who like him call him a "weird", and people who don't like him call him a "monster".
Gu Hongming was born in Malaysia. His father is Chinese, his mother is Portuguese, and his adoptive father is British. The servants in his family include Malaysians and Filipinos. Therefore, Gu Hongming has been interacting with various cultures since he was a child. He has a strong ability to understand various cultures.
When he was ten years old, his adoptive father, Mr. Brown, wanted to return to England and 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, asked him to kneel down, and said: "No matter where you go, whether you are surrounded by British, German or French people, don't forget that you are Chinese."
After arriving in the UK, Gu Hongming showed amazing learning ability. He was proficient in nine foreign languages ??including English, French, German, Latin and Greek. He was shocked to have received thirteen doctorate degrees. Western academia as a whole.
After completing his study tour in Europe, when Gu Hongming passed by Singapore, he met the language master Ma Jianzhong. Ma Jianzhong showed him the breadth and depth of Chinese traditional culture. Gu Hongming was immediately attracted and decided to return to mainland China and concentrate on research. Chinese traditional culture.
Because he was proficient in both Eastern and Western cultures, in that special era, Gu Hongming quickly became a popular figure in the world's cultural circles.
In 1909, the English version of Gu Hongming's "The Oxford Movement in China" was published in Europe. It immediately had a huge impact. Many universities listed this book as required reading. In 1915, "The Chinese Spirit" was published in Europe. The book not only introduced China's traditional culture, but also deeply analyzed the bad habits of Westerners, so it was extremely sensational in the West. At that time, there was a saying circulating in the Western cultural circles: "You can go to China without seeing the Forbidden City, but you must see Gu Hongming."
In the minds of Germans, there are two people who represent Eastern culture, one It is Rabindranath Tagore, and the other is Gu Hongming. Ai Kai, a Ph.D. from Harvard University in the United States, also said: "In that era, Gu Hongming was extremely popular. His books were required reading in philosophy courses in European universities and were translated into many European languages. Many Western philosophers cited his books as important authorities. "Western guests came to visit and listen to his teachings."
Not only is he widely respected in academic circles, but also in the eyes of great writers, Gu Hongming is also a god-like existence. For example, the great Russian writer Tolstoy wrote to him to ask questions; the great British writer Somerset Maugham also called him "the greatest authority on Confucianism in China"; when the great Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore visited China, he even made a special trip I went to ask him for advice, but Gu Hongming thought that Tagore did not understand the Book of Changes. Stop claiming to represent Eastern culture and just go back and write your poems.
At that time, Gu Hongming lived in a courtyard house in Chunshu Hutong, Beijing, and international celebrities came to visit him every day. At that time, electric lights had been introduced to China, but Gu Hongming never used them. Instead, he lit a small kerosene lamp. In addition, the lighting at home was not good and it was dim. Some international celebrities suggested that he turn on the lights, but Gu Hongming said: "We Chinese people pay attention to the clarity of mind, the mind is clear, and the lamp is self-illuminating. We are not like you Westerners who only pay attention to superficial skills. Since you have come to China, you should learn Learn Chinese philosophy." Although the international celebrities didn't understand much, no one dared to object and could only listen obediently.
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Although Gu Hongming was highly respected in the West, because China was being bullied by the West at that time, Gu Hongming felt extremely sad, so he ridiculed Westerners.
Once, the great British writer Maugham came to China and wrote a letter to be sent to Gu Hongming, hoping to invite him to discuss the issue. But Gu Hongming didn't come for several days after sending the letter, so Maugham had to ask around to find Gu Hongming's residence.
"Gu Hongming advocated imperial power throughout his life, but he did not kowtow when encountering a memorial tablet. Even such an old conservative has a backbone. "For example, if you talk about the law, you have to talk about the law (whispering when speaking), no one is afraid; If you want to talk about the "King's Law" (say it loudly and slam the table), everyone will be afraid. Without the word "King", it will definitely not work. "Many people laugh at my obsessive loyalty to the Qing Dynasty, but my loyalty to the Qing Dynasty is not just loyalty to the royal family that my family has received favor from the emperor for generations - it is also loyalty to China's politics and religion, that is, loyalty to China's civilization. "
Gu Hongming also often talks about Mencius's famous saying: "I am not easy to argue, I have no choice but to do so." "He was eloquent and sophistical, and his eloquence and sophistry were like a torrent. It was unstoppable and difficult to stop. Those who took it were invincible, and they would not be able to escape without being destroyed. Once, Gu Hongming made a wild statement at a banquet: "I wish I could kill him. The two of them thank the world! "A visitor asked him who these two people were, and he replied: "They are Yan Fu and Lin Shu (shū). Both Yan and Lin were present at the table. Yan Fu was well-mannered and turned a deaf ear to Gu Hongming's provocation. Lin Shu, on the other hand, had a bad temper and immediately asked Gu why he said this. Gu Hongming spoke plausibly, slapped the table and shouted: "Zi Yanfu translated "Heaven". "On the Speech", the Chinese people only know about natural selection, but do not know that there is justice, so they have wars and disasters. Ever since Lin Shu translated "La Traviata", many students have only known about men's pleasure and women's pleasure, but do not know about etiquette and justice, so people are full of lust. Who is it but Yan and Lin who have ruined the world with their doctrines? ”
However, Gu Hongming was extremely obsessed with traditional Chinese culture, and some of Gu Hongming’s behaviors were even a bit extreme, such as his big braid that he never cut off his hair. At that time, after the influence of the Revolution of 1911, most people Everyone has cut off their braids, especially in universities, no one does not cut off their braids, but the only exception is Gu Hongming, so that at Peking University, and even universities across China, whenever braids are mentioned, everyone will involuntarily think of Gu Hongming.
But Gu Hongming didn't take it seriously at all, and said plausibly: "You laugh at me only because of my braids. My braids are tangible and can be cut off. However, the braids in the heads of your classmates, It’s not that easy to cut! "
Not only braids, Gu Hongming is very fond of women's little feet. "The three-inch golden lotus walks gracefully and gracefully, and it will produce a charming figure with a willow waist, and the small feet will arouse the imagination of men. The most amazing thing about women is their little feet. "Kang Youwei also gave him a banner saying "Content is Always Happy". Gu Hongming said: "Kang Youwei knows my heart well. "In the 1930s, Peking University English professor Wen Yuanning's essay "A Thoughtful Layman" has a passage that hits the nail on the head. "During his lifetime, Gu Hongming had already become a legendary figure; after his death, he may become a mythical figure. In fact, he is not very different from the many people you meet every day. He is just a naturally rebellious character. "
Similarly, Gu Hongming also vigorously defended the traditional concept of three wives and four concubines. Once, he talked to an American about concubines and said: "The word 'concubine' means establishing a daughter. Standing nearby for men to lean on when they are tired.
Americans have always advocated equality between men and women, so naturally they would not agree with his strange argument, so they retorted: "According to what you said, women can let men be their helpers when they are tired, or they can have multiple wives." Husband. "
Gu Hongming took a sip of tea slowly and said: "Look at this tea set, it has one teapot with four teacups. How can there be one teacup with four teapots in the world? "It made Americans dumbfounded.
Later, this "teapot and teacup" joke 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 into four teacups, but the toothbrush can only be used by one person. From now on, I will only use your toothbrush, and you can't pour water into other teacups. "Everyone present burst into laughter and thought it was wonderful.
However, Gu Hongming advocated three wives and four concubines. It seemed that he disrespected his wife, but in fact he was very afraid of his wife. There were many beggars in Beijing at that time. Gu Hongming He often gave them some money, but later his wife found out about it and scolded him so much that Gu Hongming was so scared that he never dared to do it again.
When talking about this matter to the students, he said helplessly: "If you are not afraid of your wife, how can you still have a king's law?" Perhaps because he has been oppressed by his wife for too long, Gu Hongming admired the brothel prostitutes very much. Once, a foreign scholar Ask him where to learn the real Chinese culture. Gu Hongming mysteriously said that you can go shopping in the Bada Hutong, where you can see the dignity, shyness and elegance of traditional Chinese women. As a result, after the foreign scholar went there, he was really happy to miss Shu, and later became an expert on Chinese women.
For this argument, the great writer Lin Yutang also deeply agrees: "Gu Hongming is not wrong, because those singing girls, like Japanese geishas, ??can blush, but modern girls can no longer do it. ”
In fact, Lin Yutang not only agreed with Gu Hongming’s argument, but also highly praised his knowledge. He once said affectionately: “The English writing is so outstanding that it has not been compared to anyone in the past two hundred years.” The words and words used are all excellent. All in all, Mr. Yougu's transcendent thoughts are unique in his literary talent.