“Hong Kong, Shanghai, the Great wall : Bernard Shaw in China” (Publication, 1985)
Year
1985
Text
Gray, Piers. Hong Kong, Shanghai, the Great wall : Bernard Shaw in China. In : Shaw ; vol. 5 (1985). (Shaw15)
Type
Publication
Contributors (1)
Gray, Piers
(London 1947-1996 London) : Dozent Departement of English Studies, University of Hong Kong, Literaturkritiker
Mentioned People (1)
Shaw, George Bernard
(Dublin 1856-1950 Ayot Saint Lawrence, Hertford) : Dramatiker, Schriftsteller ; Literatur-Nobelpreisträger 1925
Subjects
History : China - Hong Kong
/
Literature : Occident : Ireland
/
References / Sources
Chronology Entries (3)
| # | Year | Text | Linked Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1933 |
Lu, Xun. Six essays in defense of Bernard Shaw [ID D27925]. Lu, Xun. Song xiao. (Febr. 15 1933). [In praise of Shaw]. In : Lu, Xun. Wei zi you shu. (Shanghai : Qing guang shu ju, 1933). 偽自由書 = He, Jiagin. "In praise of Shaw". In : Shen bao ; Febr. 7th (1933). Before Bernard Shaw's arrival, the Da wan bao [Shanghai Evening News] anticipated that Japanese troops in North China would suspend their aggression in deference to Shaw and called him "Old Man Peace." However, after the publication of the translation of the Reuters dispatch of Shaw's speech to the Hong Kong young people, it condemned Shaw for making "Communist propaganda." According to the Reuters report of 11 February 1933, Shaw had remarked that the Reuters reporter did not look Chinese to him and was surprised that there was not a single Chinese among those present. "Are they so ignorant that they have not heard of me?" he asked. Actually we are not ignorant. We understand quite well the benevolence of the Hong Kong governor, the regulations of the Shanghai Municipal Council, the friends and enemies of certain celebrities, as well as the birth- days and favorite dishes of the wives of public figures. But about Shaw, sorry, we only know the three or four titles of his that have been translated. Thus, we do not know his thoughts before or after the European War, or his thoughts after his Russian trip. But according to a Reuters report of 14 February from Hong Kong, he said to the students of Hong Kong University, "Should you not be a Red revolutionary before the age of twenty, you will end up a hopeless fossil by fifty; should you be a Red revolutionary by twenty, you may be all right by forty," so you know that he is great. What I call greatness lies not in his asking our people to become Red revolutionaries. Our peculiar national condition does not allow one to be Red. Merely declaring oneself a revolutionary could lead to losing one's life the next day. There is no way to see a Red live to forty. I call Shaw great because he thought of our youths' future, when they will have reached forty or fifty, and he did not lose sight of their present either. The wealthy with their future in mind can hide their riches in foreign banks and leave China by airplane. But the poor, in a country where politics are whirlwinds and the people the hunted deer, hardly dare or are able to think about tomorrow. So, how can they think twenty or thirty years ahead ? This is a simple, yet big question. This is why Shaw is Shaw ! Lu, Xun. Xiao Bona jiu jing bu fan. In : Da wan bao (Febr. 17 1933). [Bernard Shaw is truly unusual]. In : Lu, Xun. Wei zi you shu. (Shanghai : Qing guang shu ju, 1933). 偽自由書 There is nothing so bad or so good that you will not find Englishmen doing it ; but you will never find an Englishman in the wrong. He does everything on principle. He fights you on patriotic principles ; he robs you on business principles ; he enslaves you on imperial principles ; he bullies you on manly principles ; he supports his king on loyal principles and cuts off his king's head on republican principles. His watchword is always Duty ; and he never forgets that the nation which lets its duty get on the opposite side to its interest is lost. This is Bernard Shaw's satirical critique of British society in his The Man of Destiny. It is quoted here by way of introducing him and to let our readers know the secret to becoming great. Satire fills his works, embarrassing its victims and delighting its onlookers; the popularity of these smart lines has established Mr. Shaw. Becoming famous by promoting "isms" is the trend among today's scholars. Shaw has a talent for satirizing Englishmen, though not much talent for evaluating himself. He is at the forefront of pacificism and a lifelong supporter of socialism; his plays, novels, and essays are full of exposition of his doctrines. Though he believes in socialism, he is a mean accumulator of material wealth, as well as a strong denouncer of charity. As a consequence, he has already become a millionaire sitting on immense wealth. Shaw sings the tune of equalizing wealth, speaks up for oppressed workers, and makes sarcastic remarks about parasitic capitalists ; for these he wins the sympathy of the public. When a new book of his is out, all rush to buy it. When one of his plays is presented, it usually runs for a hundred or more performances - he never has to worry about box office sales. Shaw promotes Communism by sitting in an easy chair with smiling complacency. Gaining fame by isms is like displaying a sheep's head yet selling dog meat to cheat buyers. What a deception ! Shaw is very successful and now has come to our poor China to enjoy himself. We thank him for his enthusiasm in advising our young people : in Hong King he told students, "Should you not be a Red revolutionary by twenty, you will end up a hopeless fossil by fifty; should you be a Red revolutionary by twenty, you may be all right by forty." In other words, the reason for being a Red revolutionary is out of fear of becoming a fossil or a dropout rather than for the principle itself, which certainly has very little to do with the future of the individual. To become something in society, one merely has to avoid being petrified or falling behind. How can this famous piece of advice on social behavior, so boldly expressed, not make us reverent toward Shaw the modern-day Confucius ? But Mr. Shaw, don't you look down upon our venerable China. Not that we don't have fashionable scholars like you in our country, sitting in easy chairs and casting sarcastic remarks to propagate isms. This is familiar enough to us, and there is no need for your advice. But had you known this, I imagine you would have merely smiled with delight and said, "I am not alone on this path." According to our humble understanding, the important element of a great personality is honesty. Whatever doctrine one may believe in, one must honestly practice it, not just mouth it and make it sound good. If Mr. Shaw or his compatriots really believe in Communism, please let him distribute his wealth first, then talk. But, come to think of it, if Mr. Shaw were actually to distribute his property, clothe himself in ragged proletarian garb, and come as a third-class passenger to China, then who would take the trouble to see him ? When we think about it this way, Mr. Shaw is truly unusual. Lu, Xun. Qian wen de an yu. [A footnote to the foregoing essay by Le Wen]. In : Lu, Xun. Wei zi you shu. (Shanghai : Qing guang shu ju, 1933). 偽自由書 The foregoing essay makes several important points: First, Shaw's sharp sarcasm, effective in "embarrassing its victims and delighting its onlookers," is merely a trick to achieve "greatness." Second, this trick of "becoming famous by promoting isms" is equivalent to displaying a sheep's head, but selling dog meat instead. Third, the Shanghai Evening News seems to say that, in principle, one must either sing praises without restraint or open up one's cannibalistic big mouth to swallow one's fellow men; whether one drops out of the rank and file or becomes a fossil at the age of fifty is of no consequence. Fourth, if Bernard Shaw does not agree with these principles, he ought not to sit in his easy chair nor possess any property. Of course, it would be a different story if he did. Yet, even the rottenness of China has reached such a degree that within the class of petty bourgeoisie, people still love the future and do not care to drop out. They march toward the road of revolution. They utilize every posssible personal ability to assist earnestly in the building of revolution. Though previously supporting capitalist connections, they now consciously are transforming themselves into rebels against the bourgeois class, and rebels are often more troublesome than enemies. Their attitude is that, when you are endowed with a million-dollar estate or world-wide prestige and you still rebel and still feel dissatisfied, you are utterly contemptible. So Shaw is contemptible. Fishing for fame by promoting doctrines, as they say, is loathsome philistinism, typical materialism. So Shaw is contemptible. However, you and I know that Bernard Shaw does not belong to these categories, even though he is despised by these critics. The Shanghai Evening News has also mentioned that China, too, has those who "sit in easy chairs and cast sarcastic remarks to propagate isms, . . . there is no need for your [Shaw's] advice." This similarity be- tween China and the West is so obvious to the editorial writer that it seems to need no elaboration, but none of us were ever aware of the existence of these armchair critics. The pity of it is that although cannibalism has been adopted by our ruling class for quite some time, it still has no supporters with Shaw's status. Alas! As for Shaw, his greatness has not been diminished in the least by the loathing of his embarrassed victims. Hence I say good riddance to the troublesome but obsequious literary men in Chinese history who allowed their property to be confiscated by their rulers. Lu, Xun. Shui de Mao Dun ? (Febr. 19 1933). [Who is being contradictory ?]. In : Lu, Xun. Nan qiang bei diao ji. (Shanghai : Tong wen shu dian, 1934). Bernard Shaw enjoys not so much cruising about the world, but rather observing journalists' faces around the world. Here in China, they set oral trials for him, and he seems to have failed the ordeal. He was unwilling to accept ceremonial welcomes, but they welcomed him and interviewed him anyway. After the interviews, all made cutting remarks about him. He evaded and hid; they spied and tracked him down. They wrote up a storm about him, then accused him of angling for publicity. They pressed him to talk when he was not in a talking mood, and they egged him on to make speeches. When he complied, the papers would not print exactly what he said and blamed him for being verbose. When he was telling the truth, they said that he was joking. They laughed at him and blamed him for not laughing himself. When he was telling the truth, they obstinately called it sarcasm; they laughed at him and blamed him for conceit. He is not a satirist at heart, but they accused him of being one and looked down on him; then they themselves used sardonic remarks to needle him. He is not an encyclopedia, yet they put trivial queries to him. His answers made them cross, as if they certainly knew better than he. He came with the intention to relax, but they forced him to philoso- phize. After listening to a few words, they were displeased and accused him of coming with the intent "to propagate Communism." Some despised him because he is not a Marxist writer. Were he one, they would not have given him a second glance. Some resented him because he has never engaged in manual labor. Were he a laborer, he would not have been able to visit Shanghai, and they would have had no chance to see him. Some looked down on him because he is not a practicing revolutionary. Were he one, he would have been jailed with the Noulens, and they would have avoided mentioning his name. He has money but he favors socialism. He does no labor and he travels. He came to Shanghai, talked about revolution, talked about Soviet Russia, and purposely gave people no peace. Therefore, he is contemptible. He is contemptible because he is tall. He is contemptible because he is old. He is contemptible because his hair and beard are white. He is contemptible because he does not appreciate ceremonial welcomes and avoids interviews. Even his affectionate relationship with his wife be- comes contemptible. But now he has left China, a Shaw who all agree is a contradiction. I think that we must swallow our pride and accept him as a literary giant of world renown, for our mumbling and backbiting are not going to hurt his image one bit. Furthermore, his visit gives us an excuse to grumble. When the contradictory Shaw declines, or the contradictions of Shaw are resolved, that will mark the time when the contradictions of the world are resolved. That will be the day. Lu, Xun. Kan Xiao he kan Xiao de ren men. (Febr. 23 1933). [Watching Shaw and those who watches Shaw]. In : Lu, Xun. Nan qiang bei diao ji. (Shanghai : Tong wen shu dian, 1934). I like Shaw, not because of my reading of his works or his biography, but because I came across some of his epigrams and heard that he often tears the masks off people. That is why I like him. Furthermore, many Chinese who ape Western gentlemen do not like Shaw, and I find that those who are disliked by those whom I dislike are often excellent men. Now Shaw has come to China. I had no special intention to search him out, but on the afternoon of 16 February 1933, Uchiyama Kanzo showed me a telegram from the Tokyo office of Kaizo magazine and asked me to meet Shaw. Since I was needed, I decided to go. On the morning of the seventeenth, Shaw was to have landed in Shanghai, but no one knew where he was hiding himself. Haifa day passed and it appeared that our meeting was not to materialize. However, by that after- noon, a note from Mr. Cai Yuanpei told me that Shaw was having lunch at the home of Madame Sun Yat-sen, and that I was to come forthwith. I got there as soon as I could. Upon entering a small side-room off the living room, I spotted Shaw in the seat of honor at a round table having lunch with five others. Since I had seen photographs of Shaw as a famous man, I knew right away that this was the literary giant. However, there was no special aura of eminence. His snow-white hair and beard, ruddy complexion, and kindly face made me think to myself that he would be an excellent model for a portrait painter. They seemed to be halfway through lunch already. It was vegetarian and very simple. A White Russian newspaper had speculated that there would be a plethora of waiters on such an occasion; in fact, there was only the cook serving. Shaw did not eat much, but he may have started early and therefore had had enough. Midway through the meal, he attempted to use chopsticks, but was not very successful. To his credit, he kept working at it, and soon became rather adept. When he finally got hold of a morsel tightly, he looked from face to face expectantly, but few, unfortunately, observed his success. I did not particularly notice Shaw's satiric traits as we were eating. His conversation topics were the usual things. For example, he mentioned that friends are the best because a lasting relationship can be maintained with them, whereas parents and siblings are not of one's own choosing, so a distance has to be kept. After lunch, three pictures were taken. Standing next to Shaw, I became aware of my shortness. I thought to myself that, were I thirty years younger, I would exercise rigorously to make myself taller. At about two o'clock, the P.E.N. Club was giving a reception. I went along by car. It was held in a large Western-style building called World College. Upstairs, about fifty men of letters, writers of Ethnic Literature, socialites, the king of Peking opera, and so forth had already gathered. They surrounded Shaw and asked him sundry questions as if consulting the Encyclopedia Britannica. He responded with a few words: "You are all men of letters, hence you are familiar with publicity stunts. The actors among you are practitioners, so you understand these things more than a mere writer such as I. What do I have to say to you? This gathering today is like your visiting an animal in a zoo. Now that you've seen it, it should be enough." Everyone laughed, probably considering it to be satire. Shaw also addressed questions to Dr. Mei Lanfang and other celebrities, which I shall omit. There followed a ceremony to present Shaw with gifts. These were presented by Shao Xunmei, a literary man known for his handsome looks. One gift was a box of small, stylish Peking opera masks made of clay. Another, as I was told, was a stage costume; since it was wrapped in paper, I did not see it. Shaw cordially accepted. According to a later report by Mr. Zhang Regu, Shaw asked a few questions about the gifts and Zhang made some snide remarks, but Shaw did not appear to hear them, and neither did I. Someone asked Shaw his reasons for being a vegetarian. By then, many had started taking pictures. Figuring that my cigarette smoke would not be welcome, I went into the outer room. Since there was another scheduled interview with news reporters at Mme Sun's house at three o'clock, we returned there. Forty or fifty people had already gathered, but only half of them were let in. First came Mr. Ki Kimura and four or five writers. Among the reporters were six Chinese, one English, one White Russian, and three or four photographers. On the backyard lawn, they formed a semicircle around Shaw and again barraged him with detailed questions. Shaw seemed in no mood to talk, but if he would not the reporters would not let him go, so he talked. The more he said, the less the reporters wrote down. In my opinion, Shaw is not really a satirist at all. It is just that he is gifted in eloquence. The quiz ended at about four-thirty. Shaw looked very tired, so Mr. Kimura and I returned to Uchiyama Bookstore. The press releases of the next day were far more colorful than Shaw's own words. The reporters, who had all gathered at the same place, at the same time, and heard the same words, managed to report disparate stories. It was as if the English language that Shaw had uttered had transformed itself. For example, on the topic of the Chinese govern- ment, the Shaw of the English language press said that the Chinese must choose their own favorite man as the leader; the Shaw of the Japanese press said that there was more than one Chinese government; and the Shaw of the Chinese press said that the people had never appreciated their government, no matter how good it was. In this case, we see that Shaw is not a satirist, but a reflective mirror. Most of the news reports on Shaw were unfavorable. Reporters came to hear what they wanted, but also heard disagreeable sarcasms. So each threw barbs at Shaw, saying that he was a mere satirist. In the sarcasm competition, Shaw is the winner, in my opinion. I asked Shaw no question, and he asked me none. Nevertheless, Mr. Kimura wanted me to write my impression of Shaw. I have read reports by others who seem to know the very heart of the one interviewed at a glance; I admire their penetrating observations. As for myself, I have never studied any books on physiognomy, so even when I have met a famous man, I cannot relate a great many words about him. However, since the request came all the way to Shanghai from Tokyo, I must at least write this much to fulfill my obligation. Lu, Xun. Xiao Bona zai Shanghai xu. (Febr. 28 1933). [A preface to Bernard Shaw in Shanghai]. In : Lu, Xun. Nan qiang bei diao ji. (Shanghai : Tong wen shu dian, 1934). Nowadays, so-called humans are covered with some type of wrap, be it silk, brocade, flannel, or coarse fabric. Poor beggars wear at least pants, ragged though they be. Even primitives have a string of leaves to cover themselves. Should this covering be removed in public by the wearer or torn off by others, a man would not be considered proper. Improper though he may be, people still like to look. Some stand to watch; others follow him around. Ladies and gentlemen cover their eyes with their hands, but peek through their fingers. They want to see the nakedness of others, however careful they are about their own wraps. The words of men are also wrapped in silk, brocade, or tree leaves. Should the wraps be torn off, people want to listen and, at the same time, fear to hear. Out of curiosity, they surround the speaker; out of trepida- tion, they try to soften the effect by dubbing him a satirist. I believe this is the reason that Bernard Shaw's arrival in Shanghai caused a far greater stir than that of Tagore, not to mention Boris Pilnyak and Paul Morand, because Shaw's speeches are unwrapped. An- other reason is that tyranny turns men into cynics, but that is the worry of the English, not of the Chinese, a people traditionally trained to be mute. Yet, times are different after all. Chinese people now will listen to a foreign satirist for "humor" and for a few laughs. But one must guard his own wraps, and each has a different wish. The lame wanted Shaw to support the use of canes; the scabby-headed wanted him to support wearing hats; women who wear makeup wanted him to ridicule those who do not; and the writers of Ethnic Literature expected him to crush the Japanese troops. What is the result? From the number of complaints we know of, not very satisfactory, it seems. But the greatness of Shaw also lies here. Although newspapers owned by the English, Japanese, and White Russians fabricated different stories, in the end they attacked him in concert, which only proves that Shaw is not to be used by any of these imperialists. As for some Chinese newspapers, their standpoint is hardly worth mentioning since they are the followers of their overseas lords. This habit has existed for a long time; only when it comes to "nonresistance" or "strategic retreats" do they march in the front. Shaw was in Shanghai for less than a day, yet he gave rise to many stories. This would not happen with any other literary man. As it is not a trivial matter, the compilation of articles on him surely is important. In the first three parts, the different faces of writers, politicians, warlords, and lapdogs are reflected as in a flat mirror. Calling Shaw a concave or convex mirror [both distort reality] is not accurate. In the wake of the stir reaching Peking, British reporters drew the conclusion that Shaw did not like having the Chinese welcome him. A Reuters report of the twentieth said that the amount of Peking papers' coverage of Shaw was "enough to prove the callousness of the Chinese." Dr. Hu Shih, especially detached, said that no welcome was the highest form of welcome. The same reasoning applies to "To beat is not to beat, and not to beat is to beat." These events make me feel that I am looking at reflections in a mirror in which men, whatever their pretensions, are all revealed in their true nature. The articles about Shaw in Shanghai, though the writers are less skilled in writing than the foreign reporters and Chinese scholars of Peking, do present variety. The collection has its limits; some articles may have been left out and others may have appeared too late for inclusion, but by and large most are included. Lu, Xun. Lun yu yi nian. (Aug. 23 1933). [On the anniversary of the "Analects" : another occasion to talk about Bernard Shaw]. In : Lu, Xun. Nan qiang bei diao ji. (Shanghai : Tong wen shu dian, 1934). The journal Analects has reached its first anniversary, and its editor, Mr. Lin Yutang, has asked me to write a piece about it. This is like having to asked me to write a piece about it. This is like having to write an old-fashioned "eight-legged essay" in the vernacular under the assigned title "Xue er." Impossible though this may be, write I must. To tell the truth, I am often against what Lin promotes. In the past, he has promoted "fair play," and now "humor." I believe that humor is a plaything created by those who are in favor of holding international roundtable conferences. The meaning of the word "humor" is impossible to translate into Chinese. In our country, there were Tang Bohu, Xu Wenchang, and the most famous Jin Shengtan. Jin said once, "Beheading is painful, yet I have arrived at it unexpectedly. Is that not marvelous?" Whether this quotation is truth or joke, fact or fiction, at all events it shows that, first, Jin Shengtan was not a rebel and, second, that he converted the cruelty of butchering into a laughing matter. He made a happy ending of a sad fact. This is the kind of thing we have, but it has nothing to do with humor. In the pages of Analects, there is a long list of names, but very few of these people actually contributed any writings to it. This is the custom in China, to lend one's name, but not one's labor, to a cause. Hence actually publishing two issues a month of "humor" is quite humorous. This humor gives me a pessimistic feeling, though I do not care much for it and I have not been enthused about the Analects. But its Special Issue on Shaw is a good thing. In it, articles rejected elsewhere have been printed, thus exposing twisted remarks about Shaw's speeches. This undertaking has made a few well-known figures unhappy, and some bureaucrats angry and disgruntled. The longer they hate it and the more the people hate it, the more the influence of this Special Issue is proven. Shakespeare may be the English bard of drama, but few of us ever mention him. When Ibsen was introduced to China during the May 4th Movement of 1919, he fared quite well. This year, Shaw's arrival has been a disaster. Even today there are people who are still indignant about him. It is probably because Shaw smiled. Who can tell the meaning of his smile ? Did he smile sarcastically or amusedly? No, it was neither. Was his smile filled with barbs which pierced the viewers' vulnerable parts? No, it was not that either. Litvinov explained that Ibsen was a great question mark, while Shaw was a great exclamation point. Needless to say, Ibsen and Shaw's audiences are mostly upper-class ladies and gentlemen, those concerned with maintaining "face." Ibsen, though he puts them on stage and exposes their weaknesses, offers no conclusions. He deliberately says, "Come, think about it. Why is it this way?" The dignity of the audience is shaken, but it is allowed to return home to contemplate, so it saves people "face." Whether people indeed contemplate or what it is they contemplate is not the issue. Therefore, when Ibsen was introduced to China, public tranquility was undisturbed, and those against him were far fewer than those who enjoyed him. This is not the case with Shaw. Shaw also puts upper-class folks on stage, but he tears off their masks and their finery, and then he grabs one by the ear and points him out to the audience saying, "Look, here is a maggot!" He does not give them the chance to evade or cover up. At this moment, those who can still smile are the lower-class members who do not have the shortcomings he points out. Hence, Shaw is closer to the lower and further from the high and mighty. What is to be done ? There is an ancient way to counteract, which is simply to yell as loudly as one can: He is wealthy! He is pretentious! He is famous! He is tricky! or at least the same as, or worse than, they are. If they themselves live in a cramped latrine, they believe that Shaw too lives in such a place, or must have climbed out of a large one, but is a maggot nevertheless. They believe that those who introduced him are stupid and those who praised him are hateful. Yet I think that even if Shaw were a maggot, he would be an extraordinary maggot, just as among many exclamation points, he is a great point. For instance, there is a certain crowd of maggots, whether they call themselves ladies and gentlemen, writers and scholars, politicians or celebrities, who nod to one another, bow to one another, and all is in peace. But then they are all common maggots. Should there be one who suddenly jumps out and shouts, "We are actually mere maggots!" then, though he too is from a latrine, we have to admit that he is an exceptional maggot. Even maggots vary in size and quality. The theory of evolution was proposed by Charles Darwin, who let us know that our distant ancestors were related to the monkeys. The behavior of these ancients was exactly the same as that of humans today, yet today's beings deride Darwin as a monkey. Dr. Lo Guangting's experiment of natural creation of the species at Sun Yatsen University has not been conclusive, so suppose we just accept the theory that man is a relative of the monkey, undignified though it may be. Among the relatives of the monkey, Darwin cannot but be the greatest. Why ? Because though he believed that, he did not make it taboo to point it out. Rela- tives of the monkey also vary in size and quality. Darwin was good at research but not at making cutting remarks; hence he was laughed at by upper-class gentlemen for half a century. The one who defended him was Thomas Henry Huxley, who called himself Dar- win's bulldog. Huxley, with his profound learning and excellent writing, attacked and demolished the last citadel of those who considered them- selves the descendants of Adam and Eve. The denunciation of calling a man a dog is currently in vogue. But even dogs vary : some eat meat, some pull sleds, some work in the military, some help in police work, some race in the Zhang Garden's racecourse, some follow beggars as their masters. How does a lapdog which gives pleasure to the wealthy compare with a Saint Bernard who rescues the distressed in snow? Huxley was a good dog who benefited mankind. Dogs vary in size and quality too. In order to comprehend, one must first distinguish. Lin Yutang said once, "Humor is something in between cleverness and dignity." Without distinguishing between cleverness and dignity, how does one understand the "in between"? Although we have been branded as the disciples of Confucius, in fact we are the followers of Zhuangzi. Zhuangzi said in his work, "That view involves both a right and a wrong, and this view in- volves also a right and a wrong." So why does one bother to distinguish them? Did Zhuangzi dream about being a butterfly, or did the butterfly dream about being Zhuangzi ? Dreaming and waking, too, are indistinguishable. Life must be chaos. Should chaos be made sensible, life would be no more. Zhuangzi said, "At the end of seven days Chaos died." In chaos, is there a place for an exclamation point ? There is no place for a smile either. The headmasters of the old-fashioned schools never allowed students to show a trace of anger, sad- ness, or gladness. Despots did not smile. Slaves were not allowed to smile. Once they were to smile, they might progress to anger and stir up trouble. Today those who live on royalties of writing dare to make only sad or sarcastic remarks. This shows you that there is no humor in China. This also shows that my pessimism regarding Analects is not due to oversensitiveness. If those having royalty income make only pitiful noises, can we expect those who must live with the dangers of bombing and floods to have a sense of humor ? I am afraid that they make no sound of sadness or sarcasm, not to mention that of a prosperous time. In the future, some of us may be present at a conference roundtable, but we will be the guests. In that case, between host and guest, no humor is necessary. Gandhi refused to eat time and again. Newspapers of his host country suggested that he deserved a whipping. This shows that in India there is no "humor" either. The most severe whipping given to a host country was by Bernard Shaw. For that, some of our Chinese ladies and gentlemen dislike him. This to Shaw is like the case of Jin Shengtan, arriving at a treatment totally unexpectedly. But that would make a good source for a new magazine, Filial Piety, since piety agrees with the ways of our bureaucrats, especially toward their foreign lords. The titles of the Confucian classics, The Golden Mean, The Great Learning, and now the Analects, have been adopted as modern magazine titles. Eventually, Filial Piety must also be put out. Should that happen, the next after could be entitled Zuo zhuan [The Leftist Biography]. In the present situation, how can Analects prosper? Twenty-five issues is good enough for us to say, "What a joy!" |
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| 2 | 1933 |
George Bernard Shaw's visit to China. Febr. 2th Yu, Dafu. Xiao Bona yu Gaoersihuasui. In : Shen bao ; 2 Febr. (1933). [Shaw and Galsworthy]. 萧伯纳与高尔斯华绥 Er schreibt : "While we are preparing for the warm welcome of the long-faced prophet Old Mr Shaw, unfortunately we heard about the death of last year's Nobel Prize winner Galsworthy. Shaw is 76, Galsworthy 65. Although comparatively he came from the upper class, we could not help respecting highly his attitude of speaking for humanity and criticizing society, even now when the time is different and the tides are changing rapidly. At first, Shaw seems to be speaking dead words flippantly. But when one closes his eyes and reconsiders, he will find immediately that all his roguish laughter and angry words are cardiac stimulants aiming at social disease." Kay Li : Yu went on to compare Shaw with Galsworthy, Galsworthy was regarded as a 'detail recorder of British upper class society'. The writer was respected in China because of his social criticism. The writer was respected in China because of his social criticism. Shaw was appreciated for humor and social criticism. Shaw also was associated with socialism. His visit to the U.S.S.R. and his meeting with Stalin were mentioned, quoting Shaw's words, "I studies Marx much earlier than Lenin". Notice from the editor : "The world-famous Irish humourist-satirist Mr Bernard Shaw will visit our country in the middle of next week. This section [of Shen bao] intends to have a 'special issue on Bernard Shaw' on the day when Shaw arrives at Shanghai. We welcome any contributions on the criticism, the life and works of Shaw. Please limit your article to 600 words." Febr. 10th Xuan. Xiao Bona fang wen Zhongguo. In : Shen bao ; 10 Febr. (1933). [Bernard Shaw's visit to China]. 萧伯纳访问中国 Er schreibt : "The British literary veteran Bernard Shaw will arrive at Shanghai shortly in his world tour. The Chinese literary field will not forget the war introduction of Shaw ten years ago in the May fourth movement. When Ibsen was mentioned, Shaw would be thought of. One would think about the problem raised in Mrs. Warren's profession – the controversies caused by capitalism, and the warm attention youths paid to this in the May fourth. Old Mr Shaw's works are anti-capitalistic. His style is humourous and satiric. Old Mr Shaw exposes the spokesman of imperialism's flattering whitewashing of modern warfare. Galsworthy's works superficially appear to show the controversy and rottenness of modern capitalist society, but basically he affirms and speaks for the present system. Those advancing toward brightness include Shaw in England. He indicts the atrocities of imperialism. At this time when there are dangerous fast-changing situations in the Pacific, when the imperialist powers are tightening preparations for a world war to divide China and to attack the U.S.S.R, we welcome Shaw's visit to China, and hope that he can take part in the investigating party organized by the International League against Imperialism, which will soon also come to China." Hong Kong Febr. 11th Shaw arrived in Hong Kong from Bombay, via Ceylon and Singapore on the Empress of Britain 11 Febr. (1933). Hong Kong Telegraph ; 11 Febr. (1933). Shaw arrives in Hong Kong. The visit got off to a good start with Shaw's refusing to speak to the Rotarians : he reasoned it to reporters who interviewed him on board the Empress of Britain : "I remember the beginning of Rotary. It was a movement to induce captains of industry to take their business more scientifically and to raise business men to the professional rank. Rotary Clubs are merely luncheon clubs, which as a general rule know as much about the aims and objects of Rotary as a luncheon of Church of England members knows about the 39 Articles." Febr. 13th South China Morning Post ; 13 Febr. (1933). "On Saturday there were only six reporters present when G.B.S. strolled in. We watched him anxiously, but our fears were groundless. G.B.S. was at peace with the world. 'Hello, only six of you ? Where's the rest ?' were his first remarks. Someone explained that all the Hong Kong newspapers were represented. In the afternoon a party on a ramble organized by the Sailors' and Soldiers' Home, in Wanchai, Having visited several old landmarks of the Colony in the Pokfulam neighbourhood, had the pleasure of seeing one of the worlds's landmarks, Mr Shaw, who was returning from a drive round the island under the guidance of Professor R.K. Simpson of Hong Kong University. Shaw about the Japanese invasion of Manchuria : 'Japan is going to take Manchuria. But hasn't she behaved very correctly over it all ? She pledged herself to the League of Nations that she would not declare war on anyone. Consequently she has not declared war on China, but has contented herself with fighting – all so legitimately. What does China expect the League to do ? An economic boycott ? But the League has funked the issues. And now it is gradually ceasing to exist. Japan has smashed the League, or, let me put it this way, Japan has called the League's bluff'. [The great] Powers want to come to some arrangement by which they can fight more cheaply. They hold meetings and say to each other 'if you disarm, we'll disarm', and the result is deadlock. The greatest satisfaction to us is that in the next war we will be knocked by a ten inch shell and not a sixteen inch shell." Febr. 13th Shaw accompanied by Professor R.K. Simpson, took 'tiffin' at the residence Idlewild of Sir Robert Ho Tung [Sir Robert Hotung Bosman (1862-1956) : Businessman, manager of the Chinese Department of Jardine, Matheson and Co.]. [Siehe Shaw 1946]. Febr. 14th South China Morning Post ; 14 Febr. (1933). Brilliant address George Bernard Shaw Breaks resolution Advises University students To be communists Education denounced. In the afternoon the Great Hall of the University of Hong Kong was packed with students and distinguished guests. When Mr Shaw was accompanied to the dais by the Vice-Chancellor, Sir William Hornell, there was a terrific out-burst of cheering. Sir William introduced Mr Shaw collectively and then individually to the visitors. The pair stopped before the Press representatives. "I have met them already", commented G.B.S. 'And this is Mr M.F. Key, formerly of the Press', said Wir William. "Yes", said Mr Key, "But now secretary of the Rotary Club. I want to tell you, Mr Shaw, that you were quite right in all you said about the Rotary Club the other day". Sir William interjected, "But Mr Shaw said that the Hong Kong Rotary Club was probably an exception". "I had to be polite" was the dry comment of the famous man. Shaw set about his audience with enthusiasm : "I am here as a guest of the University. I have a very strong opinion that every University on the face of the earth should be levelled to the ground and its foundations sowed with salt. There are really two dangerous classes in the world – the half-educated, who half-destroyed the world, and the wholly-educated who have very nearly completely destroyed the world. When I was young – an incalculable number of years ago – nobody knew anything about the old, old civilizations. We know a little about Greece and Rome and we knew that Rome somehow or other collapsed and was very ably replaced by ourselves. But we had no idea how many civilizations exactly like our own had existed. They almost all collapsed through education. "What are you going to do ?" "I don't know. You may say 'Shall I leave the University and go on the streets ?' Well, I don't know. There is something to be got from the University. You get a certain training in communal life which is very advantageous. If I had a son I should send him to the University and say 'Be careful not to let them put an artificial mind into you. As regards the books they want you to read, don't read them." (Applause). Professor Brown : "They never do". (Laughter). Shaw : "Well, that's very encouraging". This was the spirit of the assembly : laughter, applause, cheerful backtalk. "We like it" one student shouted out when Shaw asked if he should continue. "If your read, read real books and steep yourself in revolutionary books. Go up to your neck in Communism, because if you are not a red revolutionist at 20, you have some chance of being up-to-date at 40. So I can only say, go ahead in the direction I have indicated." (Prolonged applause). "The thing you have to remember is valuation. Remember all you have to forget or you will go mad. Keep and stick to your valuation. You may be wrong but you must make up your mind. Being human and fallible you may come to wrong opinions. But it is still more disastrous not to have opinions at all. I hope you are properly edified and will not regret having made me break my promise not to make a speech while in Hong Kong." Florence Chien : Shaw's speech to the students at Hong Kong University created a major stir which widened the gulf of antagonism between the Nationalist and the Communist factions, and also marked Shaw's stance against the reigning Nationalists. Since Shaw sided with the Communists, he was automatically regarded as the enemy of the reigning Nationalists. His safety in 133 was guaranteed by his nationality, but his activity was not to be publicized. The Hong Kong Telegraphy ; 14 Febr. (1933). Letter from Robert McWhirter. "Sir - Allow me to congratulate the Vice-Chancellor of the Hong Kong University on his enterprise in securing the attendance of Mr Shaw at a tea-party held there yesterday afternoon. Sir William Hornell's [Vice-Chancellor] distinguished supporters are also to be thanked, many of whom will no doubt treasure the newspaper account of the affair. Mr Shaw's student listeners had the treat of their lives. They, really, quite understood that the famous author was but talking with his tongue in his cheek. The Chinese have such a keen sense of Humour ! Seriously, I trust that all concerned in yesterday's farce now see their mistake. I can appreciate the misgivings of those responsible if a lesser light of theirs had raved half so rantingly in a lecture-room of our University. We can also realise how difficult it will be for those in authority to deal with any mild outbreak of 'Bolshevism' which may occur at our principal seat of learning. After the wise counsel given yesterday, I can, in addition, appreciate the confusion in the minds of students when next they hear that one [of] their countrymen has been gaoled for preaching 'revolution' in our streets." Febr. 15th The Empress of Britain pulled out of Hong Kong harbour. Febr. 16th South China Moring Post ; 16 Febr. (1933). "Reactions to Mr G.B. Shaw's visit are mixed. His ardent admirers stand staunchly by him and dilate upon the brilliance of his utterances, while the mischievous chuckle to see the pained expressions on the faces of the eminently proper. Outrageous ! The average person, perhaps, has been surfeited and, not a few disappointed, having in their dullness expected something far better from the oracle. In fairness, it must be said, however, that no criticism attaches to Mr Shaw. He was on holiday and with no desire to speak or to be interviewed. Having been pestered, he responded naturally and with Shavian malice aforethought, setting himself out to be deliberately outrageous, by way of reprisal and as though to teach us that stringing plants and insects are best left alone. Exception has been taken to his remarks to the University students, and it is being said that no explaining may remove all of the harm that may have done thereby. Nevertheless the position remains that upon his hosts falls the responsibility of justifying Mr Shaw's irresponsibility. Himself would offer no apology : and his disciples deny that his satires can have been misunderstood, or, in any event, that any harm can come from candour. The discussion thus ends in impasse or else is ruled out as unnecessary and the episode to be forgotten. There is only one Shaw, and that he should grace Hong Kong but once in his lifetime is an historical event, to be appreciated in all humility. In comparison, what matters ? If in fact the Shavianism has been overdone, having acquitted Shaw of blame it can only be pleaded that seldom does a fish worth baiting come this way. As we are, Shaw has come and Shaw has gone ; and so back into our narrow beds creep and let no more be said." "Actually Shaw himself is an example of the tragedy of a mind undisciplined by a University education. Nobody can deny his genius ; everybody is made to laugh by his humour ; but on reflection anyone might also weep that such a genius has done so little, if any, constructive work. Few people in Britain take Shaw's social or political views seriously and it is unfortunate that any of the British in Hong Kong should have done so." P.H. Larkin : "You have absolutely spoilt him ! You have credited him with a power greater than the Creator ! You have placed him on a pedestal so high that he fears to fall, lest his fall would be disastrous ;hence his attempt to justify his omnipotence by clinging fast to the top, daring not to look down on the ground from his dizzy height ! And what do we, mere men in the street, get from this man-made god ? Trash ! Absolutely undiluted trash ! Shaw is first and last an egoist, and the way he babbled about the affairs of the world as if he knew all, excaping nothing, plainly shows this self-patting of him. For the love of Mike give us less of Shaw and more of the saner men !" The North China Herold ; 16 Febr. (1933). Mr Shaw greeted the correspondents with the words : "You do not look very much like Chinese" and expressed surprise at the entire lack of Chinese pressmen. "Where are the Chinese", he asked with his usual genial impertinence. "Are they so primitive that they have not heard of me ?" South China Morning Post ; 18 Febr. (1933). "In the welter of correspondence on G.B.S's famous lecture, it appears to me that the most of your correspondents, Shavian and anti-Shavian alike, ignore the main point. I mean the effect that such an open support of Communism will have on the lower social strata of our Colony. I know nothing of the student body of the University, but am willing to take it as read, that they will be able to place such advice in its proper perspective. I take it that representatives of the Chinese press were in attendance at the lecture, and I would like to know how it appeared in their papers, and what the average Chinese would make of it." Shanghai The Empress of Britain left Hong Kong on 15 Febr. (1933) and arrived in Shanghai 17 Febr. (1933). Febr. 17th Song Qingling met the Empress of Britian at 6.45 in the morning and had breakfast with the Shaws. [Einige Leute behaupten, dass er im Hotel Cathay (heute Peace Hotel) Shanghai abgestiegen ist. Er wird auch auf der Gäste-Liste des Astor House Hotel aufgeführt. Er war aber nie in einem Hotel, er war 10 Std. tagsüber in Shanghai und ging abends auf sein Schiff Empress of Britain zurück.] Among the some four hundred people present were Hong Shen, representing the China Film and Culture Society, Ying Yunwei, representing the Xi ju xie she (Joint Drama Society), The Shanghai Students Drama Society and others. The students made a speech welcoming Shaw to China. The banners held by the people at the pier showed their attempt to construct Shaw as a sympathizer of Chinese nationalism. Among the slogans chanted were : "Welcome, Bernard Shaw the revolutionary artist. Welcome, Bernard Shaw the dramatist. Welcome, Bernard Shaw the god of peace. Welcome, Bernard Shaw who is sympathetic to the integrity of the Chinese territory. Welcome, Bernard Shaw who is sympathetic to the independence and liberation of China. Welcome, Shaw the vanguard of anti-imperialism. Welcome, Shaw who wants to overthrow imperialism. Welcome, Shaw who wants to oppose the Japanese invasion of North East China. Welcome, Shaw who is against the Second world war. Welcome, Shaw who does not want to be left behind." The crowd waited. Four hours later, the marine police informed the exhausted fans that Shaw had landed elsewhere. 12.00 Song Qingling gave a dinner at her home Rue Molière 29 in honour of George Bernard Shaw, with Agnes Smedley, Lu Xun, Cai Yuanpei, Harold Isaacs, Lin Yutang, Yang Xinfo [(1893-1933) ermordet Shanghai) : Wissenschaftler, Aktivist, Dozent Southeast University]. On the afternoon Shaw met a dozen writers and news reporters representing different papers, including Japanese, English, Russian, and Chinese. Xiao Bona guo Hu tan hua ji. In : Lun yu ; vol. 1, no 13 (1933). [Bernard Shaw's conversations during his stopover in Shanghai]. Before he left Hong Kong, Shaw sent a cable to Song Qingling, informing her that he would pay her a visit. Song Qingling considering Shaw's age and the fact that this was his first trip to China, went all the way to meet him, accompanied by two friends. Shaw said he would have had no intention of leaving the ship when it arrived in Shanghai were it not for his wish to meet Madame Song. The trip from ship to Shanghai and back again lasted for four hours - time enough for "Shaw, the outspoken conversationalist, to comment on a wide range of topics wittily." The major concern was politics, specifically the example of Soviet Russia. In the rapporteurs words, "during the four hour conversation, Shaw never stopped discussing this." Alas, there was, moreover, the usual discourse on Stalin : What is freedom ? The British give the Indians a free trial by jury, in which the judge would go back on the verdict if the jury decided that the accused should be released, and send him to jail. This is the so-called free system of the British. And what about the freedom of speech in various countries ? Only a privileged few have the right to say a few words. The freedom of speech or democracy that is truly valuable should give to peasants and workers the freedom to cry aloud when they are hurt, and improve their conditions subsequently. This is the freedom that the Russians have. I paid close attention to Stalin. When we were talking to him, everyone thought that we had only talked for twenty-five minutes, but actually we had been talking for two and a half hours already. He seemed to pay little attention to theory. He is a practical man. He finds solutions to problems by experiments, and calls all successful projects Marxism. . . . He values the objective and not the theory. He may be unscrupulous in trying to reach his goal, but in the end, he manages to reach it. Shaw : The Peace Conference cannot stop the war, and neither can we end a war by starting another war. Only when all nations are determined to have peace can the war be ended. The people themselves do not want war. After the European War, all the nations that took part discovered that they were worse-off than before. Everyone was destroyed. Facts like these can make people weary of war. The League of Nations has a tool called the International Committee of Intellectual Cooperation. If all the Intellectuals in the world can make use of this tool, it may be more effective than forming another conference. Shaw : The Peace Conference cannot stop the war, and neither can we end a war by starting another war. Only when all nations are determined to have peace can the war be ended. The people themselves do not want war. After the European War, all the nations that took part discovered that they were worse-off than before. Everyone was destroyed. Facts like these can make people weary of war. The League of Nations has a tool called the International Committee of Intellectual Cooperation. If all the Intellectuals in the world can make use of this tool, it may be more effective than forming another conference. Madame Sun : . . . The only effective way to eliminate wars is to eliminate the system which gives rise to wars - the capitalist system. Shaw: But aren't we all capitalists? I admit that I am - to a certain degree. Aren't you ? Madame Sun: No. Not entirely. The subjects discussed at the luncheon party included vegetarianism, the Chinese family system, the war, drama taught in the British universities, and Chinese tea. Lin, Yutang. Tan Xiao Bona. In : Lun yu. [On Shaw]. 谈萧伯纳 Lin, Yutang recalls Shaw’s comments on war : "The English never quarreled with the Germans. When they met on the battlefield, they only took their knives and if one did not kill the other, the other would kill him. But the English hated the French, and the French hated the Americans. By the time the European war was over, the bad feeling among the Allies was high. We often talked about the courage of the warriors. But since the European war, bravery was a historical fact. In the war nobody tells about his courage, but just about his fear. Now the modern war was cruelest. I once heard a pro-war person talking about the good the war can do to the human character, for it encourages sacrifice, bravery, and fearlessness. I told them how to eliminate war. I said that we should abolish the military review that took place in autumn, for this did not kill, and will not raise one's character. Instead, those who are pro-war should go to the fields and kill one another. This will satisfy their barbaric cannibalism." Shaw meets Mei Lanfang Mei Shaowu [Son of Mei Lanfang] : Shaw asked my father "Why is Beijing opera so loud with all those gongs and drums ?". My father answered, "Chinese opera began as entertainment for the masses. They had to use gongs and drums to attract the audience". The North China Herald reports : [Shaw] : "Will you please tell me how a Chinese actor can do anything in the midst of such infernal uproar as one hears on your stage ? In our theatre, they put a man out if he sneezes. But you have gongs and symbals [sic] and the competition of half the audience and innumerable vendors. Don't you object ?" Mei Lanfang : "[The noisy drums and gongs were necessary] because the opera was a folk art first performed in the open air and the drums have been kept to this day". 14.00 George Bernard Shaw : "Speech at the Pen Club Shanghai". In : Xiao Bona zai Shanghai. [Shaw in Shanghai]. In : Shen bao ; 28 Febr. (1933). 萧伯纳在上海 "China and the East don't have much culture worth speaking of. Culture, by scientific definition, is all those human activities which enable human beings to control nature. In China, except for the little culture that can still be found in the farms, there isn't any culture to speak of. China is now importing from Western Europe, a lot of so-called 'cultural ideas' which have long ceased to be effective and have in fact had harmful effects on the people. What good will it do to bring this sort of Western culture to China ? When I was in Hong Kong, I urged the students to start revolutions. But please don't misunderstand ; I didn't ask them to go to the streets and fight the police. When the police come to suppress revolutionaries with their clubs, the safest way is to run. You should run as fast as you can to your head won't bleed. And you don't have to get into a confrontation with the police, for policemen are like the gun in a robber's hand ; of course you don't want to fight against the gun when you're robbed, nevertheless those with guns in their hands should still be beaten down. But this takes time and you cannot make it by sheer force. The international conditions of the Soviet Union both spiritually and materially are improving vastly these days. And this systematic improvement is not only to the best interests of the Russians alone. It serves as an example for all the other countries which should learn from her strong points and start imitating her. Socialism will surely be implemented in every country sooner or later. The means and process of the revolution may appear in different forms in each country, but as all roads lead to Rome so all countries will be on the same path and the same level in the end." At the Pen Club Shaw was presented with a box of miniature clay masks, like those used by the Bejing opera, and an embroidered ancient Chinese robe. 15.00 Press Conference at Song Qingling's house. Shen bao reports ; 18 Febr. (1933) : "Shaw criticizes Chinese culture. He said that China and the East did not have culture. This is because, scientifically speaking, culture refers to all human behavior that can increase human happiness, especially the control of nature. In China, apart from finding a little culture in the fields on the countryside, there is no culture. Nowadays, China adopts from the West a lot of 'culture' that is no longer effective, and is harming the people instead. For example, the parliament started when the English did not want a government, and made use of it to upset monarchical rule and church authority. Yet eventually it could not overturn the power of the capitalists, since it was fundamentally controlled by the capitalists. What good can this kind of so-called Western culture do for China ?" Bai, He. Xiao Bona fang wen Zhongguo. In : Shen bao ; 17 Febr. (1933). [Bernard Shaw's visit to China]. 萧伯纳访问中国 Er schreibt : "I remember old Mr Shaw having a very good impression after visiting the USSR. After his visit to India, he advocated that England should give up her sovereignty over India. This time, when he visits China, I think he will not have impressions of 'pigtails' and 'foot binding'. What does he think about Hong Kong under British rule ?" Miao, Shen. You mo yu feng ci. In : Shen bao ; 17 Febr. (1933). [Humorous and satiric writing] 幽默与讽刺 Er schreibt : "In an oppressive serious situation, one cannot frankly scold the pains one is suffering, nor can one be warned kindly. Consequently, one has endless grievances and worries. At this time, if we have the power to make humorous and satiric discussion, one can attack by innuendo, tactfully using humorous words to present reality satirically. This is the so-called 'the art of scolding people'." "At the time of serious national calamity, the people are numb, the government officials are at ease. We can think about the tragedy of a dying nation. Of course we hope that, on one hand, we can have loud, deafening, fervent words of warning. On the other hand, we need many humorous and satiric words in order to wake up and strengthen our hearts. Therefore I hope that all kinds of publications can bear this mission, and publish more literary works on the difficulties of people's livelihoods. Works making the youth's body and mind drunk should be published less. At this time when we are standing together through thick and thin, we should save and arouse in many ways." Juan, Yun. Xiao xian sheng yu Xiao tai tai. In : Shen bao ; 17 Febr. (1933). [Mr and Mrs Shaw]. 萧先生与萧太太 Er schreibt : "Since the Indian poet Tagore's visit to China, the visit of the world-famous personages making the Easterners drunk with respect was not realized until the coming of Bernard Shaw. Shaw became one of the then most famous people in the world." Yu, Dafu. Jie shao Xiao Bona. In : Shen bao ; 17 Febr. (1933). [Introducing Shaw]. 介绍萧伯纳 Er schreibt : "We hope that Shaw will make use of his humor to go to the countries of the world, and tell them about our government's humor toward Japanese imperialistic invasion, and the League of Nation's humor toward this event." Zheng, Baiji. [Shaw is welcome to listen to the sounds of the cannons]. In : Shen bao ; 17 Febr. (1933). Er schreibt : "Bernard Shaw comes to China. This great satirist of the world is coming to China. The large-scale Japanese invasion triggers the world war and is the prelude to the world revolution. If Shaw uses his astute mind and analyses these cannon sounds clearly, just as he analyses the human relationships in his plays, he may give a good report to the masses of the world." 18.00 Shaw returns to the Empress of Britain. Febr. 18th The interview of 17th was reported in different papers, each had its own version. Zi lin xi bao, an English paper, reported Shaw's response to a question about the Chinese government : "They [the oppressed people] should rely on themselves. China should do the same. The Chinese people should organize themselves and choose for their ruler their favourite man, not an actor nor a feudal lord". Da lu bao, a conservative, semi-government Chinese paper in English language reported : "Even a good ruler can hardly ever establish a good reputation among the people, because in nine out of ten cases a leader is not a good actor, and he does not know how to please his people". Mei re xing wen, published in Japanese, reported it with even greater variation : "What is your view on the Chinese government ?" Shaw replied "In China, as I know, there are several governments. Which one are you referring to ?" The Shanghai daily, published in Japanese, reported Shaw as attacking both Communism and the United States, an anti-Communist nation, saying : "The anti-Communist movement waged by various countries going against Communism. It is also an oppressive country with no freedom for its people. While in China, Communism seems to have been misunderstood. Those so-called Communists who raid and suppress people are nothing but bandits". Lu Xun said about the event : "The reporters, who had all gathered at the same place, at the same time, and heard the same words, came up with disparate stories. It seemed that the same English words manifested themselves differently in different ears. In this case, we can see that Shaw is not a satirist, but a reflective mirror". Fei, Ming. Tan Xiao Bona. In : Shen bao ; 18 Febr. (1933). [On Shaw]. 谈萧伯纳 Er schreibt : "Shaw and Galsworthy are most famous among the world's great writers China is familiar with, whose names are translated into Chinese. This great writer [Shaw] is a satirist with a strong Chines flavour. Apart from accent, costume, and eating habits, his speech and actions do not look like a mechanical European, but like a comical Easterner." Xuan. Tan Xiao Bona. In : Shen bao ; 18 Febr. (1933). [On Shaw]. 谈萧伯纳 Er schreibt : "Shaw's major works reveal the fallacies of man's traditional beliefs, which reminds one of how Shaw was used as an iconoclast against tradition in 1919 in the May fourth movement." Yang, Xingzhi. Hallo Shaw. In : Shen bao ; 18 Febr. (1933). Er schreibt : Dear Shaw, why do you come to Shanghai? To visit us slaves of colonialism? To salute the British flag at the Whampao River? To listen to the cannons of the Japanese? To praise our nonresistance philosophy? But I tell you: Shanghai is not London, New York or Paris, Nor is it a red city like Leningrad. The British, American, Japanese, French flags fly proudly in the sky, Clearly saying that China is only a colony. The black smoke of the warships in the Whampao River, The coolies at the Whampao River are panting rapidly for breath, The blood and flesh of the weak are supporting the authority of the strong, Shanghai is this colonial city. Do you feel that this is a tragedy? I tell you also: Your words in Hong Kong are preposterous! Youths listening to it will pull their tongues, Old people hearing will say "fart." Maybe some will even be rude to you, Don't say anything foolish when you arrive at Shanghai, This is because we do not know humor, And you cannot say anything you like, We warn you to keep your mouth shut here, Actually there is no need to tell nonsense. But, when you return, Bring good tidings! You only have to say: China will be saved, The Whampao River will rise one day, And wash the darkness and authority of the land! Febr. 19th Zhang Menglin. Shuo zhen hua. In : Shen bao ; 19 Febr. (1933). [Telling the truth]. 说真话 Er schreibt : "People can only follow their instincts. When you instinctively feel that this action is not right, you will think of ways to change. If you cover reality with words, you cannot change for the rest of your life. You cannot evolve to a higher creature. Then, creatures higher than you (what old Mr Shaw calls the Superman) will appear, and treat you as you would treat a monkey." Febr. 20th [Shaw, George Bernard. Speech at the Beijing Hotel in Beijing]. In : Shen bao ; 20 Febr. (1933). "I came to Beijing for sightseeing and to visit the world-famous old capital. I do not have any responsibility or mission. The newspaper said that the Sino-Japanese problem is serious, and that Jehol was especially tense. In the future, Beijing and Tientsin may be included in the dangerous zones. I have come to tour China at a time when the situation is serious. This seems to be different from Europeans coming to China under normal conditions. Beijing is a rich and grand old capital. If people of the world cannot forget China, they cannot forget Beijing. The Japanese immigrants are preparing to return to their country, as the catastrophe is coming. The rich Chinese also moving south, as if Beijing could be abandoned. The property of the rich cannot be damaged. I do not understand : is the price of the property of the rich higher than Beijing ? The antiques of the Forbidden City are being moved south, and this move adds another new leaf in the cultural history of Beijing, as if the antique were more important than the lives of a few million of Beijing's citizens. If we tour Italy, the antiques from the ancient Roman Empire are still there. These were not moved in spite of the wars in Italy. The Chinese love peace, and the Japanese also claim to be peace-loving. But the peace of the Japanese is the peace that follows war. The peace of the Chinese is the peace of peace. The Japanese told the League of Nations that they have the duty to protect Manchukuo, and claim that they invade Jehol to protect Manchukuo. They invade in the name of protection and claim that their actions are undertaken in self-defense. China has adopted the policy of nonresistance. I feel that the policy of nonresistance no longer applies. It changes to resistance, and China thinks that resistance no longer applies. It changes to resistance, and China thinks that resistance means self-defense. I do not know when the self-defense of China and Japan will end. Some Chinese youths are interested in communism. Although the government has repeated injunctions, the students are still studying. Communism is a political problem. At first it was an economic problem. Communism is still a problem deserving study. The absolute communism first adopted by the USSR has failed, so that the country turned to th4e New Economic Policy and implemented the five-year plans. Now this plan is successful. It is not easy to spread communism in China, and China does not have big capitalists. The labor-capital relations problem is not studied academically in China. Therefore I cannot say whether people to learn the Three People's Principles as good students. Therefore whether a discipline is right or not is determined by time. A am touring China because I believe the historic sites to be unique, and to have great value in cultural history." Beijing Shaw left Shanghai on 20 Febr. at 7.00 and arrived at Beijing via Chinwangtao at 18.40 on 20 Febr. Febr. 21th Press conference by Shaw in the Beijing Hotel, at which he commented on various subjects, from war to cheap labor, from communism to language. The educational institutions and literary circles in Beijing decided not to give Shaw an official reception. Hu Shi announced diplomatically before Shaw's arrival that "the most respectful form of welcome to a special guest like Shaw is to leave him alone ; let him move about freely, meet whomever he wants to meet and see whatever he wants to see". The Great Wall. On her recovery, Shaw insisted that Charlotte Shaw should go with him to see the Great Wall of China. The best way to see it, he decided, would be from an airplane which would reveal the vast expanse of the wall. The plane was one of the early biplanes, their seats were open to the sky. As the plane flew low over the Great Wall, Shaw was horrified to see a fierce battle in progress just below them between the Chinese Army and a horde of armed Japanese. Shaw frenziedly jabbed the shoulder of the pilot in front. "Turn back ! Turn back !" he shouted. "I don't like wars. I don't want to look at this". Apparently they flew back to Beijing in silence. George Bernard Shaw to Hesketh Pearson : "Did you see the Great Wall in China ?" "I flew over it in an aeroplane." "Interesting ?" "As interesting as a wall can be." Febr. 25th Yu, Dafu. [Literary and military lessons]. In : Shen bao ; 25 Febr. (1933). The literary lesson is from the glib Old Mr. Bernard Shaw. He told reporters in Beijing : "The Chinese have a strange character. They are inconceivably polite and friendly toward the foreigners. But among themselves they are so impolite and always fighting one another". He also said that the Great Wall was like a common low wall. Leaving China, Shaw went on to Beppu, Japan, arriving there on Febr. 28 (1933). |
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| 3 | 1940 |
Lin, Yutang. A talk with Bernard Shaw [ID D27973]. Bernard Shaw once looked in at Shanghai and looked out again. On the morning of his arrival, the papers reported that the local Rotary Club had decided to snub Shaw by letting him "pass unnoticed." The apparent implication was, of course, that Shaw would suffer such terrible disgrace from being passed unnoticed by the local Rotarians that he would never be able to recover his reputation. That was, of course, very intelligent on the part of the Shanghai Rotarians in view of the fact that the Hong Kong Rotarians had been worse than snubbed by Bernard Shaw. But it would have been still more intelligent to decide not to read Shaw alto- gether. Shaw had aroused, besides, such a scare among the Shanghai respectable society by urging the Hong Kong students to study communism that the entire Shanghai foreign press was in hiding that morning for fear of coming into contact with him. The attitude of the Rotary Club was but typical. The only thing, however, that will go down to posterity about the Shanghai Rotary Club is that on the day preceding Shaw's arrival, these Rotarians, or by Shaw's definition, these people who "keep in the rut," called Shaw "Blighter," "Ignoramous," "Fa Tz" and "Baka-yaro." |
Cited by (1)
| # | Year | Bibliographical Data | Type / Abbreviation | Linked Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2000- | Asien-Orient-Institut Universität Zürich | Organisation / AOI |
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