《The_Chinese_Character中国人的性格.docx》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《The_Chinese_Character中国人的性格.docx（21页珍藏版）》请在taowenge.com淘文阁网|工程机械CAD图纸|机械工程制图|CAD装配图下载|SolidWorks_CaTia_CAD_UG_PROE_设计图分享下载上搜索。
1、The_Chinese_Character中国人的性格TheChineseCharacterbyBertrandRussellThereisatheoryamongOccidentalsthattheChinamanisinscrutable,fullofsecretthoughts,andimpossibleforustounderstand.ItmaybethatagreaterexperienceofChinawouldhavebroughtmetosharethisopinion;butIcouldseenothingtosupportitduringthetimewhenIwaswo
2、rkinginthatcountry.ItalkedtotheChineseasIshouldhavetalkedtoEnglishpeople,andtheyansweredmemuchasEnglishpeoplewouldhaveansweredaChinesewhomtheyconsiderededucatedandnotwhollyunintelligent.IdonotbelieveinthemythoftheSubtleOriental:IamconvincedthatinagameofmutualdeceptionanEnglishmanorAmericancanbeataCh
3、ineseninetimesoutoften.ButasmanycomparativelypoorChinesehavedealingswithrichwhitemen,thegameisoftenplayedonlyononeside.Then,nodoubt,thewhitemanisdeceivedandswindled;butnotmorethanaChinesemandarinwouldbeinLondon.OneofthemostremarkablethingsabouttheChineseistheirpowerofsecuringtheaffectionofforeigners
4、.AlmostallEuropeanslikeChina,boththosewhocomeonlyastouristsandthosewholivethereformanyyears.InspiteoftheAnglo-JapaneseAlliance,IcanrecallhardlyasingleEnglishmanintheFarEastwholikedtheJapaneseaswellastheChinese.Thosewhohavelivedlongamongthemtendtoacquiretheiroutlookandtheirstandards.Newarrivalsarestr
5、uckbyobviousevils:thebeggars,theterriblepoverty,theprevalenceofdisease,theanarchyandcorruptioninpolitics.EveryenergeticWesternerfeelsatfirstastrongdesiretoreformtheseevils,andofcoursetheyoughttobereformed.ButtheChinese,eventhosewhoarethevictimsofpreventablemisfortunes,showavastpassiveindifferencetot
6、heexcitementoftheforeigners;theywaitforittogooff,liketheeffervescenceofsoda-water.Andgraduallystrangehesitationscreepintothemindofthebewilderedtraveller;afteraperiodofindignation,hebeginstodoubtallthemaximshehashithertoacceptedwithoutquestion.Isitreallywisetobealwaysguardingagainstfuturemisfortune?I
7、sitprudenttoloseallenjoymentofthepresentthroughthinkingofthedisastersthatmaycomeatsomefuturedate?Shouldourlivesbepassedinbuildingamansionthatweshallneverhaveleisuretoinhabit?TheChineseanswerthesequestionsinthenegative,andthereforehavetoputupwithpoverty,disease,andanarchy.But,tocompensatefortheseevil
8、s,theyhaveretained,asindustrialnationshavenot,thecapacityforcivilizedenjoyment,forleisureandlaughter,forpleasureinsunshineandphilosophicaldiscourse.TheChinese,ofallclasses,aremorelaughter-lovingthananyotherracewithwhichIamacquainted;theyfindamusementineverything,andadisputecanalwaysbesoftenedbyajoke
9、.Irememberonehotdaywhenapartyofuswerecrossingthehillsinchairs-thewaywasroughandverysteep,theworkforthecooliesverysevere.Atthehighestpointofourjourney,westoppedfortenminutestoletthemenrest.Instantlytheyallsatinarow,broughtouttheirpipes,andbegantolaughamongthemselvesasiftheyhadnotacareintheworld.Inany
10、countrythathadlearnedthevirtueofforethought,theywouldhavedevotedthemomentstocomplainingoftheheat,inordertoincreasetheirtip.We,beingEuropeans,spentthetimeworryingwhethertheautomobilewouldbewaitingforusattherightplace.Well-to-doChinesewouldhavestartedadiscussionastowhethertheuniversemovesincyclesorpro
11、gressesbyarectilinearmotion;ortheymighthavesettoworktoconsiderwhetherthetrulyvirtuousmanshows_complete_self-abnegation,ormay,onoccasion,considerhisowninterest.OnecomesacrosswhitemenoccasionallywhosufferunderthedelusionthatChinaisnotacivilizedcountry.Suchmenhavequiteforgottenwhatconstitutescivilizati
12、on.ItistruethattherearenotramsinPeking,andthattheelectriclightispoor.Itistruethatthereareplacesfullofbeauty,whichEuropeansitchtomakehideousbydiggingupcoal.ItistruethattheeducatedChinamanisbetteratwritingpoetrythanatrememberingthesortoffactswhichcanbelookedupin_WhitakersAlmanac_.AEuropean,inrecommend
13、ingaplaceofresidence,willtellyouthatithasagoodtrainservice;thebestqualityhecanconceiveinanyplaceisthatitshouldbeeasytogetawayfrom.ButaChinamanwilltellyounothingaboutthetrains;ifyouask,hewilltellyouwrong.Whathetellsyouisthatthereisapalacebuiltbyanancientemperor,andaretreatinalakeforscholarswearyofthe
14、world,foundedbyafamouspoetoftheTangdynasty.ItisthisoutlookthatstrikestheWesternerasbarbaric.TheChinese,fromthehighesttothelowest,haveanimperturbablequietdignity,whichisusuallynotdestroyedevenbyaEuropeaneducation.Theyarenotself-assertive,eitherindividuallyornationally;theirprideistooprofoundforself-a
15、ssertion.TheyadmitChinasmilitaryweaknessincomparisonwithforeignPowers,buttheydonotconsiderefficiencyinhomicidethemostimportantqualityinamanoranation.Ithinkthat,atbottom,theyalmostallbelievethatChinaisthegreatestnationintheworld,andhasthefinestcivilization.AWesternercannotbeexpectedtoacceptthisview,b
16、ecauseitisbasedontraditionsutterlydifferentfromhisown.Butgraduallyonecomestofeelthatitis,atanyrate,notanabsurdview;thatitis,infact,thelogicaloutcomeofaself-consistentstandardofvalues.ThetypicalWesternerwishestobethecauseofasmanychangesaspossibleinhisenvironment;thetypicalChinamanwishestoenjoyasmucha
17、ndasdelicatelyaspossible.ThisdifferenceisatthebottomofmostofthecontrastbetweenChinaandtheEnglish-speakingworld.WeintheWestmakeafetishofprogress,whichistheethicalcamouflageofthedesiretobethecauseofchanges.Ifweareasked,forinstance,whethermachineryhasreallyimprovedtheworld,thequestionstrikesusasfoolish
18、:ithasbroughtgreatchangesandthereforegreatprogress.Whatwebelievetobealoveofprogressisreally,inninecasesoutoften,aloveofpower,anenjoymentofthefeelingthatbyourfiatwecanmakethingsdifferent.Forthesakeofthispleasure,ayoungAmericanwillworksohardthat,bythetimehehasacquiredhismillions,hehasbecomeavictimofdy
19、spepsia,compelledtoliveontoastandwater,andtobeamerespectatorofthefeaststhatheofferstohisguests.Butheconsoleshimselfwiththethoughtthathecancontrolpolitics,andprovokeorpreventwarsasmaysuithisinvestments.ItisthistemperamentthatmakesWesternnationsprogressive.Thereare,ofcourse,ambitiousmeninChina,butthey
20、arelesscommonthanamongourselves.Andtheirambitiontakesadifferentform-notabetterform,butoneproducedbythepreferenceofenjoymenttopower.ItisanaturalresultofthispreferencethatavariceisawidespreadfailingoftheChinese.Moneybringsthemeansofenjoyment,thereforemoneyispassionatelydesired.Withus,moneyisdesiredchi
21、eflyasameanstopower;politicians,whocanacquirepowerwithoutmuchmoney,areoftencontenttoremainpoor.InChina,the_tuchuns_(militarygovernors),whohavetherealpower,almostalwaysuseitforthesolepurposeofamassingafortune.TheirobjectistoescapetoJapanatasuitablemoment;withsufficientplundertoenablethemtoenjoylifequ
22、ietlyfortherestoftheirdays.Thefactthatinescapingtheylosepowerdoesnottroublethemintheleast.Itis,ofcourse,obviousthatsuchpoliticians,whospreaddevastationonlyintheprovincescommittedtotheircare,arefarlessharmfultotheworldthanourown,whoruinwholecontinentsinordertowinanelectioncampaign.Thecorruptionandana
23、rchyinChinesepoliticsdomuchlessharmthanonewouldbeinclinedtoexpect.ButforthepredatorydesiresoftheGreatPowers-especiallyJapan-theharmwouldbemuchlessthanisdonebyourownefficientGovernments.Nine-tenthsoftheactivitiesofamodernGovernmentareharmful;thereforetheworsetheyareperformed,thebetter.InChina,whereth
24、eGovernmentislazy,corrupt,andstupid,thereisadegreeofindividuallibertywhichhasbeenwhollylostintherestoftheworld.Thelawsarejustasbadaselsewhere;occasionally,underforeignpressure,amanisimprisonedforBolshevistpropaganda,justashemightbeinEnglandorAmerica.Butthisisquiteexceptional;asarule,inpractice,there
25、isverylittleinterferencewithfreespeechandafreePress.96Theindividualdoesnotfeelobligedtofollowtheherd,ashehasinEuropesince1914,andinAmericasince1917.Menstillthinkforthemselves,andarenotafraidtoannouncetheconclusionsatwhichtheyarrive.IndividualismhasperishedintheWest,butinChinaitsurvives,forgoodaswell
26、asforevil.Self-respectandpersonaldignityarepossibleforeverycoolieinChina,toadegreewhichis,amongourselves,possibleonlyforafewleadingfinanciers.Thebusinessofsavingface,whichoftenstrikesforeignersinChinaasludicrous,isonlythecarrying-outofrespectforpersonaldignityinthesphereofsocialmanners.Everybodyhasf
27、ace,eventhehumblestbeggar;therearehumiliationsthatyoumustnotinflictuponhim,ifyouarenottooutragetheChineseethicalcode.IfyouspeaktoaChinamaninawaythattransgressesthecode,hewilllaugh,becauseyourwordsmustbetakenasspokeninjestiftheyarenottoconstituteanoffence.OnceIthoughtthatthestudentstowhomIwaslecturin
28、gwerenotasindustriousastheymightbe,andItoldthemsoinjustthesamewordsthatIshouldhaveusedtoEnglishstudentsinthesamecircumstances.ButIsoonfoundIwasmakingamistake.Theyalllaugheduneasily,whichsurprisedmeuntilIsawthereason.Chineselife,evenamongthemostmodernized,isfarmorepolitethananythingtowhichweareaccust
29、omed.This,ofcourse,interfereswithefficiency,andalso(whatismoreserious)withsincerityandtruthinpersonalrelations.IfIwereChinese,Ishouldwishtoseeitmitigated.ButtothosewhosufferfromthebrutalitiesoftheWest,Chineseurbanityisveryrestful.Whetheronthebalanceitisbetterorworsethanourfrankness,Ishallnotventuret
30、odecide.TheChineseremindoneoftheEnglishintheirloveofcompromiseandintheirhabitofbowingtopublicopinion.Seldomisaconflictpushedtoitsultimatebrutalissue.ThetreatmentoftheManchuEmperormaybetakenasacaseinpoint.WhenaWesterncountrybecomesaRepublic,itiscustomarytocutofftheheadofthedeposedmonarch,oratleasttoc
31、ausehimtoflythecountry.ButtheChinesehavelefttheEmperorhistitle,hisbeautifulpalace,histroopsofeunuchs,andanincomeofseveralmilliondollarsayear.Heisaboyofsixteen,livingpeaceablyintheForbiddenCity.Once,inthecourseofacivilwar,hewasnominallyrestoredtopowerforafewdays;buthewasdeposedagain,withoutbeinginany
32、waypunishedfortheusetowhichhehadbeenput.PublicopinionisaveryrealforceinChina,whenitcanberoused.Itwas,byallaccounts,mainlyresponsibleforthedownfalloftheAnFupartyinthesummerof1920.Thispartywaspro-JapaneseandwasacceptingloansfromJapan.HatredofJapanisthestrongestandmostwidespreadofpoliticalpassionsinChi
33、na,anditwasstirredupbythestudentsinfieryorations.TheAnFupartyhad,atfirst,agreatpreponderanceofmilitarystrength;buttheirsoldiersmeltedawaywhentheycametounderstandthecauseforwhichtheywereexpectedtofight.Intheend,theopponentsoftheAnFupartywereabletoenterPekingandchangetheGovernmentalmostwithoutfiringas
34、hot.Thesameinfluenceofpublicopinionwasdecisiveintheteachersstrike,whichwasonthepointofbeingsettledwhenIleftPeking.TheGovernment,whichisalwaysimpecunious,owingtocorruption,hadleftitsteachersunpaidformanymonths.Atlasttheystrucktoenforcepayment,andwentonapeacefuldeputationtotheGovernment,accompaniedbym
35、anystudents.Therewasaclashwiththesoldiersandpolice,andmanyteachersandstudentsweremoreorlessseverelywounded.Thisledtoaterrificoutcry,becausetheloveofeducationinChinaisprofoundandwidespread.Thenewspapersclamouredforrevolution.TheGovernmenthadjustspentninemilliondollarsincorruptpaymentstothreeTuchunswh
36、ohaddescendeduponthecapitaltoextortblackmail.Itcouldnotfindanycolourablepretextforrefusingthefewhundredthousandsrequiredbytheteachers,anditcapitulatedinpanic.IdonotthinkthereisanyAnglo-Saxoncountrywheretheinterestsofteacherswouldhaverousedthesamedegreeofpublicfeeling.NothingastonishesaEuropeanmorein
37、theChinesethantheirpatience.TheeducatedChinesearewellawareoftheforeignmenace.TheyrealizeacutelywhattheJapanesehavedoneinManchuriaandShantung.TheyareawarethattheEnglishinHong-KongaredoingtheirutmosttobringtonaughttheCantonattempttointroducegoodgovernmentintheSouth.TheyknowthatalltheGreatPowers,withou
38、texception,lookwithgreedyeyesupontheundevelopedresourcesoftheircountry,especiallyitscoalandiron.TheyhavebeforethemtheexampleofJapan,which,bydevelopingabrutalmilitarism,acast-irondiscipline,andanewreactionaryreligion,hassucceededinholdingatbaythefiercelustsofcivilizedindustrialists.Yettheyneithercopy
39、Japannorsubmittamelytoforeigndomination.Theythinknotindecades,butincenturies.Theyhavebeenconqueredbefore,firstbytheTartarsandthenbytheManchus;butinbothcasestheyabsorbedtheirconquerors.Chinesecivilizationpersisted,unchanged;andafterafewgenerationstheinvadersbecamemoreChinesethantheirsubjects.Manchuri
40、aisaratheremptycountry,withabundantroomforcolonization.TheJapaneseassertthattheyneedcoloniesfortheirsurpluspopulation,yettheChineseimmigrantsintoManchuriaexceedtheJapaneseahundredfold.WhatevermaybethetemporarypoliticalstatusofManchuria,itwillremainapartofChinesecivilization,andcanberecoveredwhenever
41、Japanhappenstobeindifficulties.TheChinesederivesuchstrengthfromtheirfourhundredmillions,thetoughnessoftheirnationalcustoms,theirpowerofpassiveresistance,andtheirunrivallednationalcohesiveness-inspiteofthecivilwars,whichmerelyrufflethesurface-thattheycanaffordtodespisemilitarymethods,andtowaittillthe
42、feverishenergyoftheiroppressorsshallhaveexhausteditselfininternecinecombatsChinaismuchlessapoliticalentitythanacivilization-theonlyonethathassurvivedfromancienttimes.SincethedaysofConfucius,theEgyptian,Babylonian,Persian,Macedonian,andRomanEmpireshaveperished;butChinahaspersistedthroughacontinuousev
43、olution.Therehavebeenforeigninfluences-firstBuddhism,andnowWesternscience.ButBuddhismdidnotturntheChineseintoIndians,andWesternsciencewillnotturnthemintoEuropeans.IhavemetmeninChinawhoknewasmuchofWesternlearningasanyprofessoramongourselves;yettheyhadnotbeenthrownofftheirbalance,orlosttouchwiththeiro
44、wnpeople.WhatisbadintheWest-itsbrutality,itsrestlessness,itsreadinesstooppresstheweak,itspreoccupationwithpurelymaterialaims-theyseetobebad,anddonotwishtoadopt.Whatisgood,especiallyitsscience,theydowishtoadopt.TheoldindigenouscultureofChinahasbecomeratherdead;itsartandliteraturearenotwhattheywere,an
45、dConfuciusdoesnotsatisfythespiritualneedsofamodernman,evenifheisChinese.TheChinesewhohavehadaEuropeanorAmericaneducationrealizethatanewelement,isneededtovitalizenativetraditions,andtheylooktoourcivilizationtosupplyit.Buttheydonotwishtoconstructacivilizationjustlikeours;anditispreciselyinthisthattheb
46、esthopelies.Iftheyarenotgoadedintomilitarism,theymayproduceagenuinelynewcivilization,betterthananythatweintheWesthavebeenabletocreate.Sofar,IhavespokenchieflyofthegoodsidesoftheChinesecharacter;butofcourseChina,likeeveryothernation,hasitsbadsidesalso.Itisdisagreeabletometospeakofthese,asIexperienced
47、somuchcourtesyandrealkindnessfromtheChinese,thatIshouldprefertosayonlynicethingsaboutthem.ButforthesakeofChina,aswellasforthesakeoftruth,itwouldbeamistaketoconcealwhatislessadmirable.Iwillonlyaskthereadertorememberthat,onthebalance,IthinktheChineseoneofthebestnationsIhavecomeacross,andampreparedtodr
48、awupagraverindictmentagainsteveryoneoftheGreatPowers.ShortlybeforeIleftChina,aneminentChinesewriterpressedmetosaywhatIconsideredthechiefdefectsoftheChinese.Withsomereluctance,Imentionedthree:avarice,cowardiceandcallousness.Strangetosay,myinterlocutor,insteadofgettingangry,admittedthejusticeofmycriti
49、cism,andproceededtodiscusspossibleremedies.ThisisasampleoftheintellectualintegritywhichisoneofChinasgreatestvirtues.ThecallousnessoftheChineseisboundtostrikeeveryAnglo-Saxon.Theyhavenoneofthathumanitarianimpulsewhichleadsustodevoteonepercent.ofourenergytomitigatingtheevilswroughtbytheotherninety-ninepercent.Forinstance,wehavebeenforbiddingtheAustrianstojoinwithGermany,toemigrate,ortoobtaintherawmaterialsofindustry.ThereforetheViennesehavestarved,exceptthosewhomithaspleasedustokeepalivefromphilanthropy.T