China and the West

Yoshikawa, Kojiro. An interview with Ezra Pound. Transl. into English by Burton Watson. In : The East-West review ; vol. 1, no 2 (1964).
When Professor Yoshikawa met Pound, the poet was exposing himself to the sun, half-naked, standing on the grass. Around him were several young people, among whom a lady, a painter.
"We were just protesting against Western civilization". This seemed to be the gist of his first words. I supposed he was referring to the exercises they had been doing. His next words I caught clearly. "I am a Confucian". Though I was aware it might sound like flattery, I asked pointedly if this was true. He repeated once more, "I am a Confucian". At this the young lady seated at his side kissed his left hand with a look of joy… A number of oil paintings on canvas and on board were scattered about the grass, already there when the exercises were going on. One of them was turned face down. On the yellow grain of the wood I could see written the three characters Hsin, Hsin, Hsin. I pointed to the painting and asked why there were Chinese character written on them… I did not catch his answer, but only the question he asked in return. "The character means new, doesn't it ?" "Fresh", I added. "Creative". Hsin tso nan men - "We built anew the southern gate" ; the passage in the Spring and autumn annals came to my mind. His eyes narrowed behind the beard and the young lady once more pressed her face against his hand. The board was turned over, revealing the face of a young girl ; she looked like the girl sitting beside us.