Wang Shengtie

In the long history of the motherland, Jingchu culture is an important part of China ancient culture. Chu is not only a national concept, but also a national concept and a regional concept. Add a word "fine" and the time will be extended. Chu culture has a history of more than 800 years and has far-reaching influence. "Jingchu culture" has a longer time and can last for more than 2,000 years. In the study of Jingchu culture, the study of Chu culture is the focus, because the source of Jingchu culture is Chu culture. Chu culture

It was born and developed in Jingchu. It absorbs the strengths of the surrounding cultures, while retaining its own unique cultural forms and characteristics.

Chu culture is an extremely important branch of Zhou Guojia's regional culture. The main components of Chu culture can be summarized as six pillars: bronze smelting and casting, silk embroidery, wood and bamboo lacquerware, artistic music, Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi's philosophy and Qu Sao's literature. Judging from the current archaeological achievements, the most advanced bronze smelting and casting comes from Chu; The earliest ironware was in Chu State; In the pre-Qin period, there were a large number of lacquerware with exquisite craftsmanship. The most creative silk embroidery comes from Chu State. Gold coins and silver coins in the pre-Qin period were Chu coins. There are Laozi and Zhuangzi in philosophy and Qu Sao in literature. The originator of drama is the Chu people, You Meng. Yang is a famous archer in Chu State. Chu's music, dance, painting and sculpture are all extraordinary. The eight tones of Chu music refer to gold, wood, earth, stone, silk, bamboo, leather and silk. The high level of chime music and dance in Chu State is universally recognized. In terms of political innovation, the Chu people first set up a county system in Jingmen, Hubei Province, and divided it into a first-class administrative division, which changed the aristocratic enfeoffment system and then triggered military, land and tax reforms. Chu people have made unique contributions in astronomy, calendar and mathematics. In a word, Chu people have made unparalleled achievements in mining, smelting, silk and lacquerware, and Laozi and Zhuangzi's philosophy, Qu Sao and Song Fu have also become outstanding scholars.

Throughout the world, during the 300 years from the 6th century BC to the 3rd century BC, the eastern and western cultures competed for supremacy, so Chu culture and ancient Greek culture can be listed as the representatives of world civilization at the same time. Chu's bronze smelting, cast iron, silk and lacquerware were all earlier than ancient Greece, and many science and technology were in the leading position. In terms of music art, Chu people are also above the ancient Greeks. Philosophically, both have their own strengths. The important foundation of China's traditional philosophy lies in Laozi and Zhuangzi, both of whom are Chu people. From 65438 to 0993, three bamboo slips of Laozi, A, B and C, unearthed in Jingmen, Hubei Province, were highly concerned by international sinologists. In the construction of state power and monetary system, Chu is more perfect than ancient Greece. Ancient Greece had sailed before the Chu people were transported by car. The ancient Greeks were better than the Chu people in theoretical science, shipbuilding and navigation, sports, realistic art and architectural technology. It can be said that Chu culture and ancient Greek culture boarded the glorious hall of ancient world civilization from different directions.

In addition to the above six pillars, Chu culture has the following four very obvious spiritual characteristics.

One is the enterprising spirit of hard work and self-improvement. Exploring the arduous pioneering course of Chu ancestors can be traced back to BC 1 1 century. When Xia and Shang dynasties changed, the ancestors of Chu people moved to Jingchu area after years of war. By the end of the Western Zhou Dynasty, the Chu people were still a weak tribe. After Xiong Yi became a tribal leader, he led the tribe to live in a humble place by the river and "smashed the road to open the forest". It is this spirit that has become the foundation of the prosperity of Chu and a model of hard struggle in the history of the Chinese nation. At the beginning of the week, Zhou Chengwang was a vassal of the Alliance, and Xiong Yi's mission was given a cold shoulder. When Xiong Yi came back, he told the ministers that he was determined to make great efforts to develop production and expand his territory. Through the efforts of several generations, from Xiong Yi to Xiong Qu, the territory has been expanding and the national strength has been increasing, and Fiona Fang has become a great country from a small country less than a hundred miles away. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Chu Zhuangwang borrowed the Yellow River to drink horses and won the Central Plains. The economy of Chu has developed unprecedentedly. At that time, the capital city of Chu was "cars hit the hub, people jostled shoulder to shoulder, the city roads stood out from the crowd, and the dressing gowns were fresh and poor." It is with this spirit of struggle that Chu can survive and develop in the cracks of a strong country like a forest, from small to large, from weak to strong, creating a miracle in the history of pre-Qin development.

The second is the innovative spirit of seeking novelty and difference, that is, forging ahead and constantly exploring. There are many records about the innovative spirit of the Chu people: Chu Jun Xiong was known as Wang, creating a county system. When Chu destroyed its power, it set up counties to govern it. Qin county, after Chu. The Wuqi Reform, which was earlier than Shang Yang, was a tragic reform movement in the history of Chu. Chu people have made outstanding contributions in science and technology, philosophy and literary creation. As far as literature is concerned, Zhuang Zhou's prose is fantastic, unpredictable, changeable, magnificent and magnificent. Qu Yuan is a master of Chu Ci. The evaluation of Qu Yuan's works by later generations is: "Learning from the past, learning from the present, and merging into one is amazing", which shows the amazing beauty of Chu Ci. The Chu people boldly innovated and created a splendid Chu culture.

The third is the open spirit of eclecticism, that is, the integration of North and South, eclecticism. Among the pre-Qin nationalities, Chu people have the least national prejudice, advocate national integration, emphasize eclecticism, and can integrate other nationalities and countries, including cultures from Southeast Asia and the West. There are many outstanding examples in this regard. For example, the glass beads called "Eye of Dragonfly" originated in the eastern Mediterranean, and their styles seem to condense the gorgeous blue sky and white clouds, green mountains and white stones, blue waves and white sails, and green windows and white walls in the Mediterranean. This kind of glass beads and light green glass were introduced into Chu State from South Asia, which became the earliest example of cultural exchange between China and the West in China. This "glass road" of cultural exchange between China and the West is about four centuries earlier than the Silk Road. In the early days, the king of Chu had no blood relationship with the Zhou royal family, and there was no vast territory to rely on. He just actively draws lessons from others' strengths, supplements his own shortcomings, applies what he has learned, and aims at independence and prosperity. Therefore, Chu culture shows great openness, diversity and pragmatism. These characteristics are mostly based on the broad mind of Chu people who are good at learning and tolerant of others. Bronze smelting was developed by Chu people using the technology of Wu Yue people for reference. Chu once invaded Lu. In order to avoid war, Lu gave Chu 65,438,000 embroiderers, 65,438,000 carpenters and 65,438,000 weavers. Chu accepted these 300 skilled craftsmen and immediately retreated. These 300 craftsmen taught advanced technology, which played a great role in the development of handicraft industry in Chu State. These examples fully embody the valuable spirit of Chu people's eclecticism, learning from each other's strong points and developing Chu.

Fourth, the patriotic spirit of worshiping martial arts and loving the motherland. Chu people have a martial style. For example, there is a cultural relic in Jingzhou Museum called "Lianfa Crossbow", and Li Bai has a five-character quatrain, which is addressed to Qin Shihuang, including the poem "Even the crossbow shoots fish in the sea". Even the crossbow can fire ten arrows in succession, which shows that the Chu people have a long history of research and invention of weapons. In the rich Chu culture, there are many examples that reflect the patriotic spirit of Chu people. For example, in order to get the Qin state to send troops to save Chu, Shen cried in the Qin court for 7 days and 7 nights, and finally moved the Qin king; When General Chu was defeated, he felt sorry for his hometown elders and apologized for his death, setting a precedent for the death of General Chu. Chu Wuwang, King Chu Wen, Chu Zhuangwang and King Chu * * all took the lead in the war, showing a very firm patriotism. Qu Yuan, a representative, has such a poem: "When a bird flies back to its hometown, the fox dies first." Qu Yuan is a patriotic poet, whose spirit has been admired by the world for generations and has become a symbol of the national backbone. When Chu was destroyed by Qin, Duke Nan of Chu said, "Although there are three Chu clans, Qin will be destroyed." This is not only a prophecy, but also an oath. Sure enough, in 1967, the state of Qin was overthrown in the peasant uprising with Chu descendants as the main force. This patriotic spirit of Chu people transcends time and space, blends into the blood of the Chinese nation and is passed down from generation to generation.

Chu culture is extensive and profound, with many essences, which need further study and exploration.

(The author is Chairman of Hubei Provincial Political Consultative Conference and Honorary President of Hubei Jingchu Cultural Research Association.)