1937? July 7th Incident? When the Japanese army occupied Beiping, Qian Mu, then a professor in the history department of Peking University, followed the school to China, moved to Kunming, the rear area, and taught at the newly established National Southwest Associated University. All the way from one place to another, full of vitality. The crisis of national subjugation and extinction made him worried about the future and destiny of the country. In the event of China's unfortunate defeat, as a scholar, it is his duty to let future generations know about China's history and civilization achievements, so as to stimulate the heart of rejuvenation.
Inspired by this sense of mission to write China's last history book for China people, The Outline of National History was completed in June 1939.
With its extensive and profound system, solid and meticulous textual research and colorful original opinions, the book quickly became a lecture on the general theory of national history in China universities at that time, and established Qian Mu's position as a great historian in one fell swoop.
Elitist perspective
This book studies the rise and fall of Chinese dynasties from the perspective of general history, and divides the history of China into eight parts: the ancient three generations, the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the Qin and Han Dynasties, the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the Song Dynasty, the Yuan and Ming Dynasties and the Qing Dynasty. Firstly, the general situation is briefly discussed, and then the political system, talent system, economy, military and characteristics of the times are discussed in detail. ? Because it is written in the style of college textbooks, we have to be as concise as possible, pay great attention to it and delete its trivial details. The content is in academic thought, political system, social atmosphere and international situation, taking both into account, but seeking mastery, knowing the reasons for the rise and fall of chaos, and hearing its consistency, so as to participate in Chen Wuzhi's national life spirit. The main purpose of this book is to discover its mutual influence and its successive evolution and development, so as to provide reference for China people to deal with various events in the present era. ?
In this general history of China, which focuses on politics, ideology, economy and military history, the author's perspective is elitist. For example, he thinks that the most important factor of political gains and losses is whether scholars have a sense of responsibility and can interfere with the government to form an outer court representing civilians to compete with the emperor's private court; And judging whether a society still has hope and can resist foreign aggression, natural disasters and other damage depends on whether the elites are alive and kicking. It can be seen that at the time of national crisis, he pinned his hopes on being an elite in the Anti-Japanese War.
Cultural self-help thought
Yu Yingshi, Qian Mu's high foot, thinks himself a scholar? Ultimate care? In the end, the analysis is to answer a big question that I can't let go, that is, what will happen to China's cultural tradition in the face of the impact of western culture and the changes in China.
Qian Mu himself admitted:? What I did before the outline of national history was a historical paper, only to rehabilitate the ancients and do evil, that's all. Since then, most of the essays are cultural, advocating the revival of Chinese culture, or comparing Chinese and Western cultures. ? He believes that the rise and fall of culture is closely related to the fate of the country. If a dynasty wants to be prosperous and lasting, it must have a spirit of founding the country, which is actually the traditional spirit of Confucian scholarship. Academic prosperity leads to national prosperity, while academic decline leads to national extinction. There is no national culture in the world that is still brilliant, but suddenly lost its country; Without a person whose national culture has been cut off, the life of the country will live forever? .
He emphasized that the future of the nation-state is not seeking outward, but? Will it gain vitality within itself because of the culture of our ancestors? Qian Mu later summarized it as the thought of cultural self-help.
A warm and respectful attitude.
After the Opium War, faced with unprecedented changes in the past 3,000 years, China people's cultural self-confidence gradually declined. As Qian Mu said, China people in modern times mistakenly thought that all the cultural systems in China's past history were backward just because we were temporarily backward in science. ? Especially the May 4th New Culture Movement? Down with Kongjia Store? In sturm und drang, in? Completely westernized? In the tide, the attitude towards China's history inevitably went to extremes and even developed into a historical nihilism.
The introduction of nearly 20,000 words in front of the Outline of National History was praised by Chen Yinque as a required reading? Big article? . Among them, Qian Mu first put forward several basic beliefs for readers to read the book, the most important of which is to ask readers to hold a view of their own history. Warm and respectful? Attitude, isn't it There is an extreme nihilism about the past history of our country? ,? At least, we won't feel that we are standing at the highest point in the past history, treating us as all kinds of sins and weaknesses and blaming everything on the ancients? . This is not only the author's expectation for readers, but also Qian Mu's own situation as a scholar.
Before the publication of the book, the introduction was first published in the newspaper, which attracted great attention from the academic and intellectual circles, and became the focus of discussion between teachers and students in The National SouthWest Associated University. Some people praised it and others criticized it. Later, before the book was published, it was considered by Chongqing censors at that time? Hongyang Rebellion? It should be changed to? Taiping Heavenly Kingdom? Only at the insistence of the author can it be published as it is.
In the Outline of National History, Qian Mu still stands on the traditional social values, adheres to the Confucian traditional distinction between man and bird, righteousness and benefit, and foreign countries, and emphasizes traditional values. He opposed the attitude of blindly denying tradition in modern China academic circles. China's traditional politics and history are autocratic and dark? Views.
High academic status
Therefore, after the publication of "Outline of National History", under the ideological background of doubting ancient theory and westernization, although it is well known all over the world, slander also followed, causing an uproar in academic circles. Qian Mu's response to this is:? Speaking of fame, why don't you read Wang and Du Chun? . Today, there are still people who disagree with the book's view of history. For example, Huang Renyu criticized the cultural determinism of the Outline of National History in his Great History of China. Others think that the book's position of defending traditional culture is suspected of defending feudal forces. But in a word, the Outline of National History, as a family statement, is debatable, but it does not damage its lofty academic status. If you are interested in the history of China, this book is a must.
1On August 30th, 990, Qian Mu passed away at the age of 95. His academic career is closely related to the traditional culture of Chinese nation. In his more than 80 works, his warmth and deep respect for China's history and traditional culture are everywhere. Professor Liu Guisheng, a famous historian of modern thought, is Qian Mu's elegy: from Confucian classics to history, according to Neo-Confucianism and literature, Confucius studied Confucian classics and Ming history, and believed in Neo-Confucianism, honesty, literature, elegance, mind and things. A few people in a generation love the nation and culture, hope for revival and unity, expect prosperity and prosperity, think about justice, understand the countryside, and are anxious about knowing and doing. It can be said that it is a true portrayal of this master of Chinese studies.