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“Hsu Chih-mo and Bertrand Russell” (Publication, 1980)

Year

1980

Text

Leung, Gaylord Kai-loh. Hsu Chih-mo and Bertrand Russell. In : Renditions, vol. 14 (1980). [Xu Zhimo]. (Russ45)

Type

Publication

Mentioned People (2)

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

Xu, Zhimo (Haining, Zhejiang 1897-1931 Flugzeugabsturz Tai'an, Shangdong) : Schriftsteller, Dichter, Übersetzer

Subjects

Philosophy : Europe : Great Britain / References / Sources

Chronology Entries (11)

#	Year	Text	Linked Data
1	1921.10.18	Letter from Xu Zhimo to Bertrand Russell. 18.10.1921. Xu Zhimo obtained the London address of Russell from his Cambridge friend C[harles] K[ay] Ogden. He wrote : "Indeed I have been longing for an occasion to be with you since I came to England." Through this self-introduction, Xu became a friend of the Russells and commuted frequently between Cambridge and London in order to attend the lecture meetings given by Russell.	Person: Russell, Bertrand Person: Xu, Zhimo
2	1921.11.07	Letter from Xu Zhimo to Bertrand Russell. 7.11.1921. C[harles] K[ay] Ogden planed to publish a World philosophy series, in which Hu Shi's Zhongguo zhe xue shi da gang 中國哲學史大綱 [Outlines of the history of Chinese philosophy] was to be included upon Russell's proposal. The project of Ogden did not materialize. Xu did not agree with Russell : "The author [Hu Shi] is too much concerned with combatting his predecessors on points which are not likely to interest the Western readers not well-informed in this field ; in the second place, it is too bulky, the first volume alone amounting to four hundred pages. It occurs to me [that] the best man for our purpose is Mr. Liang Qichao (the man who gave you that piece of painting) who, as you probably know, is one of the very most learned scholars and probably the most powerful and lucid writer China has ever produced. His continual effort of emancipating Chinese thought and introducing and popularizing Western ideas is worthy of our great admiration. His power of assimilating and discriminating learning has never been equaled. So it would be simply ideal if we could get him to do the job, and that I think more than possible. If you would just kindly write to him, urging him to produce a standard book on Chinese thought and indicating the general character of the Series, it would be, I have no doubt, a tremendous spur to his amazing creative energy and he would be more than pleased to comply with the request. There could be no better arrangement than this."	Person: Ogden, Charles Kay Person: Russell, Bertrand Person: Xu, Zhimo
3	1921.12.06	Letter from Xu Zhimo to Bertrand Russell. 6. Dez.1921. [Birth of Kate Russell]. Do let me congratulate Mrs. Russell and yourself most heartily upon the advent of your beautiful baby as I learnt from Miss Power whom I met the other day in Cambridge. We should expect dyed eggs and stewed noodles as is the custom with us in China on this occasion. We expect Mrs. Russell shall be able to come with you on the 10th.	Person: Russell, Bertrand
4	1922.03.02	Letter from Xu Zhimo to Bertrand Russell. 2.3.1922. Xu Zhimo decided to divorce his first wife and to marry Lin Huiyin. He must have been desirous of seeking advice from the Russells before he contacted his wife in Berlin. "I wonder if I may have the happiness and privilege to book you to lunch or tea with mea t the above address [55 Victoria Road, Cambridge] when you come to town this weedend [sic]. I do hope it will not be inconvenient for you to arrange. I can hardly express the anxiety with which I have been looking forward to meeting you again : I do miss you heartily. I think I can get Mr. [G. Lowes] Dickinson to be with us if you like. But I must confess my desire to monopolize your attention even for a rare short occasion and on that account should not regret omitting Mr. Dickinson's company, charming as it is. Selfishness, perhaps. But you will smile and forgive. I am confident." Xu did not manage to see Russell again before 1925.	Person: Russell, Bertrand Person: Xu, Zhimo
5	1922.12.03	Xu, Zhimo. Luosu yü Zhongguo [ID D28381]. [Bertrand Russell and China]. Gaylord Kai Loh Leung : Referring to Russell's book The problem of China Xu Zhimo declared in his essay that 'Russell had sincere feelings for, deep understanding of and absolute sympathy for us', and 'This book by Russell marks a milestone in the course of cultural exchange between East and West. Russell is a man who truly understands and values Chinese culture ; what he says are correct views originating from sympathy '. Xu admired Russell's condemnation of Japan and other western powers whose encroachment on China, driven by rapacity and stupidity, might have disastrous effects on one of the world's best cultures. But Xu had some mild criticism of Russell but he was generous in his praise of Russell. It is just natural that Xu Zhimo, a starry-eyed idealist, should feel inspired when reveling in the realm of Bertrand Russell's social and political ideals. The English philosopher's attack on hypocricy ; on capitalism and commercialism ; his promotion of an international government for the maintenance of world peace ; his defence of creative impulse ; his love for mankind and for civilization ; and his integrity, bravery and candour, would have appealed powerfully to Xu who was by nature inclined to emotionalism, freedom and justice. The imprisonment [1918] of Russell by the British government would only have excited his admiration for the dauntless fighter of independent thought. Bertrand Russell sent Xu Zhimo his publication The problem of China and asked him to propagate in China the ideas expounded in the book. Xu Zhimo : "Russell, however, does not fully understand the evolution of the Chinese culture and life to its present form. In the first place, he fails to gauge the influence of Confucius. He frankly admits in his book that he is not well-disposed towards Confucius who insisted on excessive formalities. In the second place, he presumes that the strength of China has much to do with Lao Tzu and Chuang tzu. Russell is the highest crystallization of reason in modern age. His logic and mathematics apart, there is a burning passion in him. Coupled with his bravery in his fearless fight against convention, he is truly a great personality to be emulated, a unique figure of all times."	Person: Russell, Bertrand Person: Xu, Zhimo
6	1923	Xu, Zhimo. Luosu you lai shuo hua le [Artikel über Leisure and mechanism von Bertrand Russell]. [ID D28403]. Bertrand Russell himself also said that his ideas were not novelties. But however commonplace a principle may be, if the society as a whole could recognize its importance and seriously put it into practice, then astonishing effect could be achieved. In the final analysis, the current industrialism, mechanism, system of competition and the mentality associated with superstition engendered by those phenomena are enemy of our ideal society and obstacles to a national life. Now as far as China is concerned, the only hope is an early awakening by her leaders who could, by virtue of their positions, set example to resist the temptations from without and reverse the suicidal trend. Otherwise, the future will be bleak and full of traps. Every time I read Russell's writings or recollect his voice and facial expressions, I think of New York City, especially the fifty-eight-storied Woolworth Building. Russell's thought and views resemble the summer evening on the sea – there are flashes of lightning like golden snakes, sharply and coldly streaking amidst the dark purple clouds. They appear and disappear before your eyes and above your head. Isn't a skyscraper dangerous ? Just half a thunderbolt is enough to pulverize the entire building ; it could shake and terrify the woods and lawns along the Hudson river ! But no ! Despite the flash of lightning, the thunderbolt never comes. The building still towers high in the clouds. The golden lightning only illuminates its loftiness and adds to its lustre.	Person: Russell, Bertrand Person: Xu, Zhimo
7	1926	Xu, Zhimo. Wu suo zhi dao de kang qiao. [My impressions of Cambridge]. [ID D28287]. I went to England with a view to studying under Bertrand Russell. I paid my steamer ticket to cross the Atlantic, setting my mind on doing some serious study under 'the Voltaire of the 20th-century'. To my surprise, things had changed upon my arrival : he had been dismissed from Cambridge partly because of his pacifism during the War and partly because of his divorce. He was originally a fellow of Trinity College, but then this fellowship was also stripped. After his return to England from China, he and his wife settled down in London, earning their living by wirting. As a result, my original intention of studying under him fell through.	Person: Russell, Bertrand Person: Xu, Zhimo
8	1926	Xu, Zhimo. Luosu yu you zhi jiao yu. [Artikel über On education von Bertrand Russell.] [ID D28405]. It was the first time John saw the sea. He was scared and cried when he was told to enter the water. This angered our philosopher. 'What ! Russell's son afraid of something ?! Russell's son scared of seeing something ?! Impossible !' The Russell couple simply ignored the screaming of their child, who was still under three years of age, and dumped him into the water. They did it once and again, despite the child's crying. Well, after a few days, the child would insist on playing in the water without your telling him… The parents in the East certainly will not do that, will they ? I know that. But the spirit of courage, valour and fearlessness is the root of all virtues and foundation of character. We have to be very strict about it. We can tolerate many things, but not cowardice and fear. If you didn't help a child to overcome this obstacle early, you may ruin the rest of his life. Whenever Russell mentioned the word 'courage', his voice became exceptionally grave ; his eyes sparkled with an extraordinary light. Courage seemed to be the first tenet of his religion, the only credential of a human being. 'On education' is an extremely brilliant book for character training. After reading it the sensible parents will be more interested in educating their children and the knowledge-hungry parents will be greatly benefited. Believe me, this book is an inextinguishable light. The family that has obtained it will be free from the misery of darkness. Reply from Xu Zhimo to Ou-yang Lan's Luosu yu you zhi jiao yu zhi yi yu da wen. [In : Chen bao fu kan ; 19. Mai (1926)]. Xu's story provoked some protest from a couple of Chinese education specialists and in defending Russell presented the following opinion : I cannot guarantee that we all sympathize with Russell's passion to uphold courage and denounce cowardice, but truly, if you consider other aspects of character as secondary and your greatest expection of your child is his being good-tempered, being able to produce sweet smiles and to greet others politely, you differ widely from Russell. Concerning this, I must admit that my obsession is pretty deep. I prefer not having a child if I should have a cowardly one. There is nothing more shameful in the world than being cowardly.	Person: Russell, Bertrand Person: Xu, Zhimo
9	1926.05.10	Xu, Zhimo. Luosu yu you zhi jiao yu. [Russell and child education]. [ID D28404]. Xu Zhimo visited Bertrand Russell during his tour of Europe and stayed in Carn Vole, Porthcurno, Penzance, Cornwall for two days in July 1925. Russell's house, a light grey square structure of three stories, is surrounded by a low wall. There is a verandah jutting out from the back of the house ; its two pillars are yellow in colour, serving in a way as a remembrance of China… They were going to set up a small structure which would resemble a Chinese pavilion. At the time, I wrote for them a Chinese inscription bearing – I can't remember with certainty – either the characters 'Listening to wind' or 'Facing the wind'. When Russell drove an old car to Penzance station to meet me that day, I almost couldn't recognize him. Every inch a countryman ! His straw hat had holes, and his jacket was torn. If he did wear a necktie that day, it would be like a straw dangling in front of his chest. His shoes, needless to say, were twins with Charley Chaplin's. He held a smoking pipe whose dark brown colour blended well with his skin. But how sharp, how intense and how bright his eyes were. The exterior of a rustic could not conceal the intelligence of a philosopher ! It was Sunday that day… He started with an epigram thus, 'Sunday is the only common tenet shared by both Christians and the trade unionists…' I asked why he and his wife had come to the tip of the south for a recluse's life. Russell said first he wanted to concentrate on writing and second, more importantly, he had to look after the moral education of their kids. I spent two days there. Listening to Russell is like watching German firecrackers – all sorts of dazzling wonders cracking in the sky in a most amazing way, one group after another and clusters after clusters. You cannot help being amazed, astounded and delighted. But I am not going to recall his talks. The difficulty would be something like wishing to depict the silvery sparks in the sky.	Person: Russell, Bertrand Person: Xu, Zhimo
10	1928	Xu Zhimo saw Russell again in September 1928. Brief von Xu Zhimo an Elmhirst. Sept. 1928. I have found the Philosopher [Bertrand Russell] as pungently witty and relently [sic] humorous as ever. They are out here, once again, looking after the moral welfare of their two kids. We have had a jolly good time together since last evening. Since I was only to stay overnight we were very jealous of the little while we had with each other, so we sat up chatting last evening till, before we were aware, it was almost 2 a.m.	Person: Russell, Bertrand Person: Xu, Zhimo
11	1931	Death of Xu Zhimo. Bertrand Russell was classifying his manuscripts and correspondence in the fifties or sixties. He attached the following note to Xu Zhimo's letters : Mr. Hsü [Xu] was a highly cultivated Chinese undergraduate, a poet both in English and Chinese. He was taught Chinese classical literature by a man who had never been washed, even at birth. When this man died, Mr. Hsu, who was the local landowner, was asked whether the body should be washed. 'No', he replied, 'bury him whole'. Unfortunately, Mr. Hsü [Xu] was killed on his way home to China.	Person: Russell, Bertrand Person: Xu, Zhimo

Sources (6)

#	Year	Bibliographical Data	Type / Abbreviation	Linked Data
1	1921	Xu, Zhimo. Luosu you e ji shu hou. In : Gai zao ; vol. 3, no 10 (1921). [Postscript to Bertrand Russell's 'The practice and theory of Bolshevism']. 羅素遊俄記書後	Publication / Russ254	Person: Russell, Bertrand Person: Xu, Zhimo
2	1921	Xu, Zhimo. Luosu yü Zhongguo. In : Chen bao fu kan ; 3. Dez. (1922). [Bertrand Russell and China]. 羅素與中國	Publication / Russ255	Person: Russell, Bertrand Person: Xu, Zhimo
3	1923	Xu, Zhimo. Luosu you lai shuo hua le. (1923). [Artikel über 'Leisure and mechanism' von Bertrand Russell. In : Dial ; vol. 75 (Augs. 1923)]. 羅素又來說話了	Publication / Russ278	Person: Russell, Bertrand Person: Xu, Zhimo
4	1926	Xu, Zhimo. Luosu yu you zhi jiao yu. In : Chen bao fu kan ; 10. Mai (1926).[Russell and child education]. 羅素與幼稚教育	Publication / Russ279	Person: Russell, Bertrand Person: Xu, Zhimo
5	1926	Xu, Zhimo. Luosu yu you zhi jiao yu. In : Chen bao fu kan ; 10. Mai (1926). [Artikel über On education von Bertrand Russell]. 羅素與幼稚教育質疑與答問	Publication / Russ280	Person: Russell, Bertrand Person: Xu, Zhimo
6	1931	Zhang, Shenfu. Guanyu Luosu. In : Qing hua zhou kan ; May 1 (1931). [Artikel über Bertrand Russell].	Publication / Russ281	Person: Russell, Bertrand Person: Zhang, Shenfu

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)