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ChineseCharacteristics201111010532LvJinyuan30/12/202030/12/2020ContentsIntroductiontoWriterIntroductiontoBookConservatismContentandCheerfulnessPersonalViews30/12/2020IntroductiontoWriterArthurHendersonSmith,bornin1845anddiedin1932,wasamissionaryoftheAmericanBoardofCommissionersforForeignMissions(美国国外传教理事会)notedforspending54yearsinChinasince1872andwritingbookswhichpresentedChinatoforeignreaders.HavinglivedinTianjin,Shandongprovince,Hebeiprovinceandotherplaces,hecontactedwidelywithalllevelsoftheChinesepeople,especiallyfamiliarwiththepeasants’life.ApartfromChineseCharacteristics,hisworksVillageLifeinChinaandTheUpliftofChinaarewroteabouthisexperienceinChina.30/12/202030/12/2020IntroductiontoBookChineseCharacteristics,publishedin1894,ishisrepresentativeworkafterhis22-yearmissioninChina.ThisbookpioneeredthestudyofChinesenationalcharacterandwasthefirstwritingswithanatureofsociety,whichhadaprofoundeffectonthelaterscholars.Inthisbook,the26characteristics,describingthelifeofpeoplewholivedinthelateQingDynasty,areexpoundedwithabundantandvividcitation.Eachexampleisjustifiedandgivesreadersdeepthoughts.Inthe1920s,ChineseCharacteristicswasstillthemostwidelyreadbookonChinaamongforeignresidentsthere.30/12/2020FaceEconomyIndustryPolitenessThedisregardoftimeThedisregardofaccuracyThetalentformisunderstandingThetalentforindirectionFlexibleinflexibilityIntellectualturbidityTheabsenceofnervesContemptforforeignersTheabsenceofpublicspiritConservatismIndifferencetocomfortandconvenience,面子节俭勤劳礼节漠视时间漠视精确误解的才能拐弯抹角的才能灵活的固执智力混沌神经麻木轻视外国人缺乏公共精神保守漠视舒适和便利2630/12/2020PhysicalvitalityPatienceandperseveranceContentandcheerfulnessFilialpietyBenevolenceTheabsenceofsympathySocialtyphoonsMutualresponsibilityandrespectforlawMutualsuspicionTheabsenceofsincerityPolytheism,Pantheism,AtheismHerealconditionofchinaandherpresentneeds生命力忍耐和坚韧知足常乐孝顺仁慈缺乏同情心社会台风相互负责和遵纪守法互相猜疑缺乏诚信多神论、泛神论、无神论中国的真实状况一起当今需求30/12/2020ConservatismArthurSmith’sviewHesaidthatChinesecustoms,fromorigintopresent,hadneverchanged.Chinesecustoms,liketheChineselanguage,havebecomeestablishedinsomewaytousunknown.Thecauseofthisphenomenonistheunderlyingassumptionthatwhateveritismustberight.Chinesethinktheyshoulddocertainactsincertainways,andinnoother.Theoldcustoms,oldsuperstitions,andoldfaithsnowoutworn,butChinesestillproppedupandmadetodothesamedutyasheretofore.Exceptforthecustoms,theattitudeoftowardsthelandsoftheWestisanattitudeofprocrastination(耽搁、拖延).30/12/2020ConservatismLinYutang’sview(MyCountryandMyPeople)Hethoughttheconservatismshouldn’tberegardednegative.Ontheonehand,itisapride,builtonthebasisoflifesatisfaction.Oncepeoplerealizethattheyhavegainedsomeuseful,meaningfulandtruthfulthingswhichneedn’tchange,itisnaturaltobecomeconservative.Ontheotherhand,themagnificentlonghistoryofcivilizationmakestheChinesenationpride.Forthisreason,whenChineseaccesstothefreshthingswhichshaketheirprideofChina’scivilization,theyfeeluncomfortableandblamethosefreshthingsinvariousways.Chinesearenotconservatism,butprotecttheircivilizationwhichisveryvaluableintheirmind.30/12/2020ContentandCheerfulnessArthurSmith’sviewHethoughtthatChineseareeasytocontentandcheer.Chinesedidnotcherishplansing,andtheydidnotappeartosupposethattherewasanysuchtimetobeexpected.Chinesesatisfiedwitheverythingtheyhaveowned,thecustomsandthepoliticalinstitution,andtheydidn’twanttochangethematall.ForChinaandChinese,thepresentsystemwasthebestobtainable.Theyhaveahappytemperament,nonervoussystemtospeakofandadigestionstonelikethatoftheostrich(鸵鸟).Chinesesimplysubmitsforthemostpartwithoutseriouscomplainttowhattheycannothelp30/12/2020ContentandCheerfulnessTheyaregenerallywillingtobeashappyastheycan.InordinatefastidiousnessisnotacommonChinesefailing.AnyplaceandanyfoodaregoodenoughforChinese.Chinesesociability,isanalmostuniversalillustrationofChinesecheerfulness.Itisonlyfairtomentionthattheywillfrequentlysubmittoseriousinconveniences,andwilldoextraworkformanypeopleforagreatlengthoftime,notonlywithoutcomplaint,butoftenwithanapparentunconsciousnessthatthereisanythingtocomplainof.WhenChineseareintimeofsickness,theytakethemostoptimisticview,oratallevent,wishtoseemtodoso,bothoftheirownconditionandofthatofothers.ArthurSmith’sview30/12/2020ConservatismInthesamecircumstances,Chinesearemorelikelythanwesternerstocontent,nomatterwhatclass.Whetherintellectualortoilingmasses,havecontentednessandcheerfulness,whichistheresultofthetraditionalpenetrationoftheChinesenation.Inliterature,thecontentednessisoftenpraisedforcountrylifeandtheoptimist,whichcanbefoundinandallthepoetryandtheprivateletters.ThephilosophyofcontentednessgaveChinesethenegativemethodofthepursuitofhappiness.MakingadeterminetogetasmuchstufffromlifeandaspiringtoenjoyeverythinggainedandnotfeelingregretifnotgettinganythingisthemysteryoftheChinesenaturetocontent.LinYutang’sview(MyCountryandMyPeople)30/12/2020PersonalViewsAndcontentednessandcheerfulnessofChineseisexcellent.Contentednessandcheerfulnesscangivemuchpeacefullifewithoutargumentevenwar.ThatisthereasonwhyourChinesecanliveinasocietywhichisfullwithmanynatio