The literary giants of the late Ming Dynasty began by copying books

When Wang Wenlong walked into the room, Zhao Ergu put down his pen, stood up with a smile and said, "I wonder why Assistant Professor Wang came here?"

Wang Wenlong said directly: "Zhao Siyue banned my books in Suzhou. I really want to know the reason."

Zhao Ergu replied: "Assistant Professor Wang's "On Nation-State" involves many controversies. In the past few months, there has been opposition from various students in newspapers in Suzhou. There are many problems in it. I am just following the opinions of students. I just thought it was inconvenient for this book to be sold in Suzhou."

Wang Wenlong shook his head and said: "Those articles that attacked me were also refuted for me. How can I only read one side of the story?"

Zhao Ergu smiled and said: "Assistant Professor Wang, don't get excited. If you have any objections, you can clarify them. Why don't you write an official document and I will consider it after reading it carefully."

Wang Wenlong asked again: "'On Nation and State' has been banned, so what's the reason for banning my other books? "Lianchengjue" is just a martial arts novel, does it violate some taboo?"

Zhao Ergu said: "This book will bring about the myth of fighting, which attracted the one or two wandering children to wield swords and play swords. They gathered in Xiao Township. The ban was due to safety considerations. If you want to write a book, sir, you can write some good things about educating the people and changing their customs." The book will naturally not be blocked then. Why write such a miscellaneous book to cater to the taste of such vulgar people?"

Wang Wenlong was so angry that he asked him back: "I saw that there were several martial arts novels in Zhao Siyue's bundle this month, and they all told stories about knights using force to break the ban. Why ban mine but not theirs? "Liancheng Jue" "This book has even been read by many high-ranking officials in the North and South. Are they all vulgar people?"

Zhao Ergu was speechless for a moment when he heard this. He was only targeting Wang Wenlong, and he didn't want to offend other officials who liked "Liancheng Jue".

Zhao Ergu rolled his eyes. He knew that among Wang Wenlong's books, "On Nation-State" was the most controversial, so he decided to focus on this one pain point to attack. So he said sophistry: "I thought writing an article should talk about the heart. Mr. "On Nation-State" "My thoughts are far-flung, and other articles inevitably contain some strange meanings. As a scholar, I focus on impartiality and peace, and I can't stand these contents, so I checked Mr.'s books more closely."

Wang Wenlong sneered and asked: "So Zhao Siyue is targeting me because of "On Nation-State"?"

"Yes, this book really violates etiquette and law. I have never heard of any kind of nationalism since ancient times." Zhao Ergu said bitterly.

"That's all I know, farewell." Wang Wenlong cupped his hands, turned around and left.

After leaving Heshan Academy, Wang Wenlong went directly to the editorial office of Suzhou Xunbao. Deng Zhimo came up quickly and asked, "Jianyang, what did Zhao Siyue say?"

Wang Wenlong said: "There is a big page for me on the third page of this issue of Suzhou Xundao."

Deng Zhimo asked: "What article is Jianyang going to write?"

"Let's debate!"

Wang Wenlong was really a little angry. After he wrote "On the Nation and the State", he didn't bother to bother with the articles criticizing him on the market. He just wanted to let the Qing dynasties clean themselves up.

But now that Zhao Ergu is using the controversy of this book to attack, he should try to reason with these attacking remarks.

Deng Zhimo followed Wang Wenlong into the editor-in-chief's office and saw Wang Wenlong spread out the manuscript paper. After a moment of thought, he wrote the title of the article "Nationalism in Ancient Times" on the far right side of the manuscript paper.

Democracy is a social trend of thought with the most extensive influence and the most complex connotations in China in the 20th century. Starting from Liang Qichao’s call for the establishment of the Chinese nation, literati from various parties have explored the connotation of nationalism in Chinese history and have long since The history of thought is sorted out extremely clearly.

People who attack "On the Nation-State" think that there was no similar idea of ​​nationalism in ancient China, but they are totally wrong. Wang Wenlong picked up his pen and started writing eloquently:

“Nowadays, some people think that nationalism was proposed by me, which is unprecedented in ancient times. This argument is truly ridiculous.

Nationalism is never lacking in all countries and civilizations, and the same is true for China.

People in ancient times rarely used the name "nation", but words such as family, clan, clan, clan, state, nation and tribe are often found in ancient books.

There has been epigraphy since the Song Dynasty, and now there is also the study of oracle bones. Examining the original meaning of "clan", from the oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions, it was originally a family, a clan, or a "social military organization" built on this basis. The relationship of blood and kinship it embodies is the cornerstone of the early concept of race.

With the progress of society, the activity areas of various ethnic groups have expanded. Due to frequent interactions, various ethnic groups have gradually merged into a larger regional community, which is the so-called "ethnic" in ancient times. Among them, the blood relationship components have become increasingly complex, the concept of race has become generalized, and the common language, customs and cultural identity have become increasingly important, forming what is now called a "cultural nation".

As late as the Spring and Autumn Period, the "Zhuxia" or "Chinese" had been formed and increasingly developed in the Central Plains region, showing such distinct trends and characteristics.

The sage said: Nanyi and Beidi are in contact, but the Central Plains is as continuous as a line. Instead of treating the Chinese civilization in the Central Plains as one nation, why is it different from the Southern Yi and the Northern Enemies?

This is nationalism.

"Book of Rites. Liyun" says: Therefore, the sage regards the world as one family and China as one person.

The world is one family, and the road is never alone. This is the source of the idea of ​​uniting all ethnic groups into one in "On the Nation and the State". Ultimately, it is all the words of the sages. "

Wang Wenlong found a Confucian legal basis for his theory, and then began to describe the development process of Chinese nationalist thought:

"Before Qin, the so-called country only refers to a country with one family and one surname. After Qin, the Central Plains dynasties pursued the identity of the country and the nation. People in the Han Dynasty had a saying: Wherever the sun and moon shine, and where rivers reach, they are all Han soil. . His lofty sentiments can be seen through the ages. At this time, the country was no longer the domain of one person named Liu, but also the country of the Han people. From this point of view, the nationalism of the Han people had already appeared at that time."

"After that, the debate between Hua and Yi in the Spring and Autumn Period also changed. Hua and Yi no longer had no contact with each other, but took the initiative to convert Hu into Han."

"In the Tang Dynasty, "Yuan Dao" written by Han Yu described this method most accurately: Confucius's "Spring and Autumn" also stated that the princes used barbarian rituals to treat barbarians, and when they entered China, they were treated as Chinese."

"Since the Tang and Song Dynasties to the present, many people must have heard this statement. Some people think that Han Yu is regressing by not distinguishing between Huayi and Huayi. In fact, if you look closely, you can understand that these statements are all from the same lineage..."

Wang Wenlong cited a large number of specific examples of ancient Chinese converting overseas ethnic groups into Central Plains ethnic groups. Not many people in this era can read history thoroughly, let alone use uncommon historical materials at their fingertips as their own arguments.

After writing the arguments, Wang Wenlong finally summarized the superiority of nationalist thought:

"What are the benefits of Chinese nationalism? Why has it persisted for thousands of years, and has always moved forward despite repeated obstacles?"

"I think there are at least three advantages:

One is to unite the world into one, so that all ethnic groups in the country can unite and prevent them from falling apart.

The two are to support the weak, absorb other civilizations and at the same time enable them to survive, so as not to be forced to a dead end. The so-called surrender to the king can be preserved, and the world can return to its heart.

Third, today's Confucians no longer rush among the princes as in the Spring and Autumn Period, but regard the world as the largest princes. The world is one and the world is one family. State affairs are also the affairs of the people of the world. Only with this heart can Confucians participate in the affairs of the state. Motivation is the inevitable way to clarify the path of sainthood..."

(End of this chapter)