BOOK TALK by YK Kwan (Apr 2010) The Spirit of the Chinese People (春秋大義) By Ku Hung-ming, 辜鴻銘1915 Born in Penang, Malaya in 1857. Studied in Britain in 1870, graduated as MA from Edinburgh University at the age of 20. Got engineering degree in Germany and a LLD in Paris University. Worked in Singapore and returned to China in 1885. Worked in the foreign secretariat in the Governor’s office of Guangdong and Guangxi. He could speak 9 languages including Greek, Latin, English, French, German, Russian, Italian. Taught in language college, the predecessor of Wuhan University. Appointed Vice-foreign Secretary in 1908. After the revolution in 1911, professor in Peking University. Died in Peking in 1928. In Ku Hung-ming’s book, “The Spirit of the Chinese People”(春秋大義) he talked about the culture and civilization of the Chinese people, Confucianism as compared with western religions, why Europe was engulfed in a world war and the way to get out of it. Though the book was written almost 100 years ago, yet his perceptions, analysis and projections are still valid or worthwhile to-day. Ku considers that the Chinese spirit has depth, broadness and simplicity, like ancient Greeks, with a delicacy like the French. For 2500 years the Chinese are used to a free society with no priests, and no policemen in their daily lives and no tax (apart from land). He quoted Goethe saying “There are two peaceful powers in the world Right and Tact” and that was what Confucius gave to the Chinese civilization. Ancient Greece showed Tact but not Right; and the Hebrew Bible taught Right but not Tact. What Confucius’ Canons taught is a Religion of good citizenship. Religion in the broad universal sense. Confucius says “The gentleman understands Right, the cad understands Interests” (君子喻於義, 小人喻於利). To do what is right, behave with tact and good taste are the secrets of the Chinese soul. The enemy of the world at the time was selfishness plus cowardice which produced commercialism and militarism. Men understand two forces, the force of Nature and the physical force of men. Also, unlike animals, men understand moral force. In the past, in the west, Christianity was a moral force but it became ineffective (to prevent the war). Europe was faced with the question of anarchy and militarism. They must use force, militarism, to stop anarchy but with militarism, they cannot avoid war. The worship of militarism in Prussia made war unavoidable. Chinese civilization appreciates moral force higher than physical force. If all mankind agree to recognize right and justice, physical force will become unnecessary. There is no need for militarism. To this end it is necessary to recognize the nature of man is good. If we assume the nature of man is evil, militarism is the only solution. Western society is built on Religion and Law. Religion means the fear of God, fear implies the use of force, spiritual or physical. Fear of the law also implies the fear of physical bodily harm. In contrast, the entire population of China (greater than the population of whole of Europe) lives in peace without priests or policemen or soldiers, ie. without the fear of a religion or the military. Religion in a broad universal sense, is a system of teachings with rules of conduct accepted as true and binding by the mass of people of a nation. Confucianism is a system of philosophy and ethics and a synthesis of the Chinese society and civilization which can take the place of religion. Western religion in the strict sense is a Church Religion, whereas, Confucianism in a broad sense is a Social Religion or State Religion, relying on the Principle of Duty and Honour. Confucianism is the Magna Carta of China. It rests on two corner stones, loyalty and filial piety. Christianity stresses on Marriage being a sacrament and holy. Confucius also rests on the marriage of men and women as fundamental to the Family and to the State. “Law of the gentleman begins with recognition of husband and wife, in its utmost, it reaches the whole universe” (君子之道, 造端乎夫婦, 及其至也, 察乎天地). Confucius even had reference to God. He says “At fifty, I knew the   Ordinance of God”. Heaven was the word used in those days. In Taoism, it is called the Way. Even western religion requires the observance of its moral laws through the moral sense of its believers. Christ says, “The Kingdom of God is within you.” Goethe is quoted saying : “Belief in God is not an end of itself, but a means to achieve perfect calmness, to attain the highest culture and human perfection.” Confucianism is not a religion in the narrow sense but it serves the purpose of religion in the spirit and culture of the Chinese people. The book is available from the internet at: http://www.archive.org/details/spiritofchinesep00guhorich