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“Cosmopolitanism, nationalism, and transnational networks : the Chenbao Fujuan, 1921-1928” (Publication, 2004)

Year

2004

Text

Xu, Xiaoqun. Cosmopolitanism, nationalism, and transnational networks : the Chenbao Fujuan, 1921-1928. In : The China review ; vol. 4, no 1 (2004). [Betr. Bertrand Russell]. (Russ44)

Type

Publication

Mentioned People (1)

Russell, Bertrand  (Trelleck, Monmouthsire 1872-1970 Plas Penrhyn bei Penrhyndeudraeth, Wales) : Philosoph, Logistiker, Mathematiker, Literaturnobelpreisträger ; Dozent Cambridge, Oxford, London, Harvard University, Chicago, Los Angeles, Beijing

Subjects

Philosophy : Europe : Great Britain / References / Sources

Chronology Entries (3)

# Year Text Linked Data
1 1922.03.19-22 [Russell, Bertrand. Sketches of modern China]. Chi Fu yi. [ID D28291].
Chi Fu added his own reflection at the end of his translation :
Now western culture comes to China everyday. We have invited many famous people to lecture in China. Even if [foreigners] have ideas about reforming China, these are just ideas. They cannot carry out reform for us. One who is not familiar with the history, customs, and human relationships [of China] may not have ideas that are feasible. Mr. Russell understands that, and that is why he does not approve of foreigners trying to reform China.
2 1922.11.11 [Russell, Bertrand. Zhongguo wen ti.]. Ed. by Sun Fuyuan. [ID D28292].
Sun Fuyuan added a commentary in Chen bao fu juan ; 11. Nov. (1922) : The national characters of various peoples naturally have merits and defects at the same time. But Russell, using the opportunity of praising the Chinese, criticized the British severely. Nowadays most Chinese are mentally unstable, ecstatic when praised and enraged at criticism. Such a temperament is preserved from children and barbarians, because the [Chinese] national character has not had the opportunity to develop and grow, due to thousands of years of political turmoil. Russell's attitude of being 'heavy in criticizing oneself and light in criticizing others', therefore, is exactly the medicine we need. At another, and most important level, it is not that we have not seen a few Westerners praising China, such as [John O.P.] Bland and his like. But they only praise China's old personalities and old systems. Just as Russell says, their preise hides a malicious motive, which is to make us sacrifice modern life and preserve the bizarre and the ancient for them to amuse themselves and play with. That is why they like us to have an emperor, like us to wear the queue, like us to have bound feed, like us to be confined in the cage of the old moral system to suffer, while they stand outside the cage and shout bravo. While Russell praises a few of the merits of our inherent national character, most of which I think are gone, he pays special attention to our new movement. Whether the Chinese nation has hope for rejuvenation depends on whether the new movement succeeds.
3 1938 Lu, Xun. Lu Xun quan ji (1938).
But there are two more types. One, those who regard the Chinese as an inferior race deserving to remain so, and therefore deliberately praise the old things of China. Two, those who want peoples to be different so as to increase their interest in travel, seeing the queue in China, wooden sandals in Japan, bamboo hats in Korea ; if clothes were the same, it would be no fun, and therefore oppose the Europeanization of Asia. Both the types are despicable. As for Bertrand Russell, who praised the Chinese because he saw sedan-chair carries smiling around the West Lake, perhaps he meant something else. But if the sedan-chair carriers were able not to smile at their passengers, China would have long ago ceased to be what it is today.

Sources (3)

# Year Bibliographical Data Type / Abbreviation Linked Data
1 1922 [Russell, Bertrand. Sketches of modern China]. Chi Fu yi. In : Chen bao fu juan ; 19.-22. März (1922). [Auszüge]. Publication / Russ164
2 1922 [Russell, Bertrand. Zhongguo wen ti]. Ed. by Sun Fuyuan. In : Chen bao fu juan ; 11.-12., 17.-26. Nov. (1922).
Übersetzung von Russell, Bertrand. The problem of China. (London : G. Allen & Unwin, 1922). Chap. 13 : On higher education in China and other chapters.
中国问题
Publication / Russ165
3 1926 [Russell, Bertrand. Today's China]. In : Chen bao fu juan ; 6. Aug. (1926). Publication / Russ166

Cited by (1)

# Year Bibliographical Data Type / Abbreviation Linked Data
1 2000- Asien-Orient-Institut Universität Zürich Organisation / AOI
  • Cited by: Huppertz, Josefine ; Köster, Hermann. Kleine China-Beiträge. (St. Augustin : Selbstverlag, 1979). [Hermann Köster zum 75. Geburtstag].

    [Enthält : Ostasieneise von Wilhelm Schmidt 1935 von Josefine Huppertz ; Konfuzianismus von Xunzi von Hermann Köster]. (Huppe1, Published)