The Spirit of the Chinese People

老人小孩先发言

 Core Theme
At the beginning of Chapter 1, Gu Hongming clearly states that the essence of the Chinese spirit is "gentleness." He emphasizes that this characteristic is not a sign of weakness or ignorance but a manifestation of moral consciousness rooted in Confucian culture and the spiritual life of the soul. Through a comparison between Chinese and Western civilizations, he criticizes Western materialism and argues that the Chinese spirit has eternal value that transcends modernity.
Core Arguments and Logical Development
1. The Essence of "Gentleness"
Gu Hongming defines "gentleness" as a combination of "sympathy" and "delicacy," which is a kind of wisdom based on moral emotions rather than the result of rational calculation. He uses the metaphor of "domesticated animals": The gentleness of the Chinese people is like that of a domesticated horse, whose obedience stems from love and attachment to its master ("spirituality"), rather than the "servility" shown by wild animals due to fear or hunger. He further takes Chinese servants as an example: Even if they are "of bad character," they will still take good care of their masters when they are ill, embodying the Confucian spirit of "benevolence" - "Forgive them more, for they have more love."

2. Comparison of National Characters between China and the West
Defects of Western Civilization:
Gu Hongming believes that Western modern civilization relies too much on material things and force, leading to moral corruption and social conflicts. The outbreak of World War I is evidence of the failure of the Western logic of "might makes right."
Uniqueness of the Chinese People:
In contrast to the single characteristics of nations such as Germany ("depth"), France ("delicacy"), the United Kingdom, and the United States, the Chinese people possess four qualities: depth, broadness, simplicity, and delicacy.
- This comprehensive characteristic stems from the long-term influence of Confucian culture and forms "the unity of childlike spirit and a mature mind" - both retaining an innocent heart and having the wisdom to deal with reality.
3. Spiritual Life vs. Intellectual Life
The Dominance of the "Spirit" among the Chinese People:
The Chinese people are guided by emotions and moral experiences ("spirit") rather than rational logic ("intellect") in their behavior. For example: An official may strive for promotion just to make his mother happy (family honor > personal interests); Moral constraints are achieved through poetry and etiquette rather than religious commandments.
Criticism of Western Rationality:
Westerners rely on the precision of the "intellect" and the coercive power of laws to maintain order, while the Chinese people rely on the self-awareness of the "spirit" and moral education (such as "the way of the gentleman") to achieve social harmony.

4.Cultural Criticism and Civilizational Confidence
Criticism of Blind Westernization:
Gu Hongming criticizes the Chinese people at that time for blindly imitating the West, believing that this will lead to the loss of cultural identity. He sharply points out: "True civilization does not lie in appearance but in the spirit."
The Universality of Confucian Values:
He argues that Confucian ethics (such as "benevolence" and "propriety") can make up for the deficiencies of Western religions and provide a path to moral salvation for the modern world.