《中国人的精神》第一章

长理第一深情

The True Chinese People

1. Spiritual Traits: Gu Hongming believed that the true Chinese people possess the rationality of an adult and the heart of a child, which is a harmonious unity of the heart and the intellect. This means that the Chinese people not only have mature thinking abilities but also retain innocence and kindness, and can treat the world with a gentle and inclusive attitude. For example, in a traditional Chinese family, the wisdom and steadiness shown by the elders when handling family affairs, and the loving care they have for the younger generation, reflect the integration of this rationality and innocence.

2. The Essence of Gentleness: The essence of the Chinese spirit is gentleness. This kind of gentleness is not weakness but a kind of refinement without cruelty and violence, which is the embodiment of being considerate and reasonable. In daily life, the gentleness of the Chinese people is reflected in details such as the mutual help between neighbors and the friendly greetings between strangers, showing the warmth and kindness among people.

3. Elements of Understanding: To understand the true Chinese people and Chinese civilization, one needs to possess three characteristics: broadness, profoundness, and simplicity. Chinese culture has a long history and encompasses everything, showing a broad mind; traditional philosophy, art, and other fields contain profound wisdom, reflecting the profound connotation; and in the daily life and social interactions of the Chinese people, the quality of simplicity is revealed everywhere.