The Reading Review of the Chapter3

香山亭

Reader:
谢嗣婷

Reading Time:
第四周

Reading Task:
Chapter3

Summary of the Content:
This chapter unfolds its narrative around the theme of "The Characteristics of the Chinese Language and Its Relationship with Civilization."
Gu Hongming believed that the Chinese language does not rely on strict grammatical rules or logical structures, but rather expresses meaning through "intuition" and "poetic suggestion." He compared the Chinese language with Western languages, pointing out that the latter is the "language of the intellect," relying on formal logic, while the Chinese language is the "language of the heart," directly appealing to emotions and moral experiences.
In response to the criticism from Westerners at that time that the Chinese language was "unscientific" and "difficult to modernize," Gu Hongming retorted that the ambiguity of the Chinese language was not a defect, but rather an embrace of the "higher truth." The looseness of the language form symbolizes the flexibility of "ritual propriety" in Confucian ethics, that is, external rules serve internal moral consciousness.
Gu Hongming also believed that the structure and expression of the Chinese language are naturally suitable for conveying Confucian thoughts. The implicitness of the Chinese language (such as "the meaning lying beyond the words") is in line with the Confucian emphasis on "the Doctrine of the Mean."
In addition, he implicitly opposed the Vernacular Movement and the reform of Romanization. He believed that simplifying the Chinese language would undermine its moral and aesthetic essence and sever its connection with traditional culture.

Evaluation:
Gu Hongming effectively highlights the distinctive features of the Chinese language by drawing comparisons with Western languages, enabling readers to gain a clearer understanding of its uniqueness. Furthermore, his argumentation is richly supported by extensive erudition, drawing upon a wide range of knowledge to substantiate his claims. For instance, when elucidating the characteristics of Chinese, he incorporates traditional cultural concepts such as Confucian ethics and "ritual propriety," demonstrating his profound cultural literacy and broad intellectual horizons. In articulating abstract ideas, Gu frequently employs vivid and figurative language to enhance reader comprehension. Terms like "intuition" and "poetic suggestion" to describe the expressive nature of Chinese, for example, allow readers to intuitively grasp the language's distinctive charm.  
Gu Hongming emphasizes the deep connection between the Chinese language and the human spirit. In response to Western critiques that Chinese is "unscientific" or "difficult to modernize," he counters that the language's inherent ambiguity reflects its capacity to accommodate "higher truth." He argues that the flexibility of Chinese linguistic structure symbolizes the adaptability of Confucian "ritual propriety," underscoring how the language embodies and perpetuates traditional Chinese culture while possessing intrinsic value. Moreover, he notes that the implicit nature of Chinese aligns with the Confucian principle of "the Doctrine of the Mean," further illustrating the close relationship between the language and the core tenets of traditional Chinese thought—Confucianism. Gu's implicit opposition to the Vernacular Movement and phonetic reforms reflects his steadfast commitment to preserving the integrity of the Chinese language and his deep concern for the continuity of traditional culture.  

Reflection：
First, in the era of information explosion, the conciseness and comprehensiveness of the Chinese language (such as idioms and classical poems) can correct the thinking inertia of excessive reliance on data analysis and help us regain our holistic cognitive ability. In interpersonal communication, the context-dependence of the Chinese language reminds us that effective communication not only relies on logic, but also requires a keen perception of interpersonal relationships and subtexts.
Second, Gu Hongming's adherence to the traditions of the Chinese language and his vigilance towards modernization prompt us to think about how to protect the "cultural genes" of dialects and classical Chinese while promoting the standard Chinese language (Putonghua) and internet buzzwords.
Third, Gu Hongming equates the characteristics of the Chinese language with the national spirit, which may lead him to fall into the trap of essentialism. We need to realize that while language influences thinking, it does not determine it. Overemphasizing the uniqueness of the Chinese language may impede cross-cultural understanding. Therefore, we need to strike a balance between cultural confidence and an open and inclusive attitude.
Fourth, his stance against language reform reminds us that protecting traditions does not mean refusing to change. For example, although the Vernacular Movement had an impact on classical Chinese, it enabled the popular dissemination of culture. Today, the digitalization of Chinese characters (such as the Unicode encoding) can prove that traditional languages can perfectly coexist with modern technologies.