The reaction to the book
To be honest, when firstly reading this book online, I find it a little confusing since Mr.Gu wrote it with some difficult grammar. He is a scholar so that he may use various ways to show his high achievement in the English language.
Though difficult to be understand, the book itself perfectly introduced the real Chinese men’s spirit so that the foreigner that time are able to get the inner spirits of we Chinese. Attention please! I mean that time, so maybe it can use to describe Chinese people in Qing dynasty, but it may not fit modern Chinese guys.
Primarily, Gu used the word “gentle” to describe Chinese men. Combine with many good words just like simple goodness and so on, he then said that we Chinese men have the spirit of sympathy, even empathy. The fierce empathy urged Chinese to give hands to others. Confucius’ spirits including polite, kindness and so on have been greatly shown in the ancient Chinese men.
Secondly, he mentioned Chinese language. The author reckoned that Chinese(the language it self) is a language of heart. It is quite of great difficulties for many foreigners to learn Chinese since clever as they, the use their wise brain instead of their heart. The western languages have collective characteristics just like this. Also, the author remarked the Chinese as children. He thought that Chinese men live in the lives just like children, so they have the power of impression. All in all, Chinese peoples is a peoples which is combined with anciency and the great lively power. That means, the real Chinese men have the heart pure as children and a brain of wisdom.
When it comes to Chinese spirit, one element that can’t be ignored is the Chinese civilization. Compared with modern European civilization, the author got some conclusions. Among that the most distinction is that Chinese do not have religions which exists in Europe. The modern European religions help people get satisfaction in their deep heart, and philosophy fulfills their mind. However, Chinese do not have religions serious like that. The place of Buddhism and Taoism may just be like the place of entertainment. Many scholars thought that Confucianism is like the religion in Chinese. In fact, it is not the real religion, maybe it is more similar to the philosophy. Confucius taught Chinese men how to be a man, and how to be a gentleman. He created the concept of right country and human being.
However, just as I mentioned before, I only think what Mr.Gu said about Chinese men’s spirits are only the spirits that time. I do not mean the Chinese spirits now have changed. I read the book and found the deep and fierce love that Gu showed to Chinese people But in modern society, many people have changed. They do not be gentle, and refuse to help others. They become more selfish. By thinking themselves merely, they gradually lose the spirit of empathy, and only show their aspect of coolness to the whole world. I do not criticize what Gu said, but I do not think the Chinese men now still have. I hope we can retrieve the spirit, the real gentle.
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