Gu Hongming

Gu Hongming's On the Spirit of Chinese People deeply analyzes the spiritual world of Chinese people, emphasizes the core position of Confucianism, and points out the spiritual characteristics of Chinese people and the challenges they face. The Spirit of the Chinese People 论中国人的精神 辜鸿铭 Now the first thing, I think, which will strike you in the old Chinese type of humanity is that there is nothing wild, savage or ferocious in him. 以为，在古老的中国式人性中最先打动你们的一点是，真正的中国人从不野蛮、不残忍，也不凶恶。 In fact, the one word, it seems to me, which will sum up the impression which the Chinese type of humanity makes upon you is the English word “gentle". By gentleness I do not mean softness of nature or weak submissiveness. 事实上，以我之见，如果用一个英文单词概括中国式人性给你的印象，那就是“gentle”，即“温顺”之意。我所说的“温顺”并不意味着天性软弱或者软弱顺从。 "The docility of the Chineseis not the docility of a broken-hearted, emasculated people." “中国人的温顺，不是伤心而柔弱的人的那种温顺。 ” But by the word "gentle" I mean absence of hardness, harshness, rouhness, or violence, in fact of anything which jars upon you. 其实，我所指的“温顺”是不猛烈、不苛刻、不粗野或暴虐，没有任何刺激你的东西。 There is in the true Chinese type of humanity an air, so to speak, of a quiet, sober, chastened mellowness, such as you find in a piece of well-tempered metal. 在真正的中国式人性中，可以说，有着从容、冷静、练达的特点，就像你评价一块经过优良锻造的金属。 Indeed the very physical and moral imperfections of a real Chinaman are, if not redeemed, at…