[Reader Says]
Author: Liu Ning (Deputy Director and Researcher of the Institute of Literature and Art, Shaanxi Academy of Social Sciences)
1010 years ago, modern Chinese scholars explored the origin of national civilization, discovered national history, sorted out national past, investigated the wooden structure, and forged new monuments of national culture in the face of internal and external troubles. 2021 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Chinese archaeology. The newly published book "Masters in the Wilderness: A Centenary of Chinese Archaeology" (hereinafter referred to as "Masters in the Wilderness") brings us back to the golden age when Chinese archaeology went from nothing to something, Chinese scholars moved from tradition to modernity, and Chinese culture extended from the southeast coast to the inland hinterland.
"The Master in the Wilderness: A Centenary of Chinese Archaeology" by Zhang Quan, Guangxi Normal University Press
Focus on field investigation and scientific empirical research
"The Master in the Wilderness" tells the story of the early-stage archaeology and the exploration of civilization in modern China. Unlike previous research and writings, this book shows a completely new cultural picture of China: a modern intellectual group different from traditional literati was born, a group of modern higher academic institutions with world-class standards and far-reaching influence were established, and a trend that focused on field investigation and scientific empirical research on empirical research. The vigorous study abroad movement in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, as well as the new school that emerged like mushrooms after a rain, cultivated many patriotic intellectuals with strong national consciousness, integrating ancient and modern times, and learning from both Chinese and Western countries for modern China. They have double degrees in geology and zoology , master Japanese, English and other foreign languages, and have a broad international perspective; China's first doctorate in geology, , Weng Wenhao , who studies geology, rocks and paleontology; , doctorate in anthropology , who later became the father of Chinese archaeology , Li Ji ; world-class linguist , Zhao Yuanren ; , Yang Zhongjian , who mainly focuses on vertebrate paleontology ; Liang Siyong, who is engaged in archaeology and anthropology research; , who participated in the excavation of Yangshao Village l5 Yuan Fuli , Pei Wenzhong and Jia Lanpo , who excavated the skull of Beijing; Chen Yinke , who was in the Tang history, the Tufan and the Buddhist world; Liang Sicheng , who discovered Foguang Temple in Shanxi, and there were also famous transformer and new historian in modern Chinese cultural history; Liang Qichao , who entered archaeology , who proposed the " double evidence method ", Wang Guowei , who integrated new knowledge Wu Mi , oracle bone expert Dong Zuobin . At that time, and even later generations, each of them was the brilliant stars in the starry sky of cultural China, creating an unprecedented new era of Chinese academics.
In order to modernize China's cultural high standards, this group of pioneers of modern Chinese academics have made every effort to build modern academic institutions. "Masters in the Wilderness" focuses on describing four academic institutions that are comparable to first-class academic organizations in Western countries. In 1913 and 1916, geologists represented by chapter Hongzhao , Ding Wenjiang and Wenhao formed the China Geological Research Institute and Survey Institute. Ding Wenjiang visited the Zhengtai Railway for the first time, investigated the Jingxing Coal Mine and Yangquan Iron Mine, and determined the Taihang Mountain concept. Weng Wenhao attended the 13th International Geology Conference to release the academic results published by the Geological Survey Institute. Pei Wenzhong and Yang Zhongjian excavated the Beijing human skull that shocked the world in Zhoukoudian, Beijing. The Geological Survey Institute in the early 20th century was the birthplace and center of China's natural geography. Its geology and paleontology promoted the development of Chinese prehistoric archaeology. Its strict scientific methods, field excavation without fear of difficulties, and its remarkable academic achievements made it an important academic institution in modern China. , Tsinghua University Chinese Studies Institute, , founded in 1925, has achieved great academic achievements although it has only lasted for four years. Among the four great mentors, Wang Guowei inherited the classics and epigraphy of the Qing Dynasty and proposed a dual evidence research method. Chen Yinke studied "the literature of a special clan and the history outside the border", Liang Qichao focused on historical research methods and Buddhist history research, and Zhao Yuanren carried out linguistics and dialect investigations. Their emphasis on new materials in "physical objects underground" directly promoted the development of historical methodology.The most eye-catching Institute of History and Languages hosted by Fu Sinian was the most eye-catching. Li Ji, the Archaeological Group, set a historical precedent for the Chinese to independently preside over archaeological excavations, thus overturning the conclusion of the Chinese without stone age. Liang Siyong's discovery of the trissular layer of Hougang, Nanyang, Henan completed the transformation from "geostratigraphy" to "archaeological stratigraphy". Tsinghua National Academy and Historical Languages Yin and Shang oracle bones study ancient history, Han bamboo slips and Dunhuang documents study medieval history, Danei Archives study modern history, and open up a new situation in Chinese academics with new materials, new methods and new models, allowing Chinese academics to enter a new world academic trend. The China Construction Society was established in 1930. Liang Sicheng, Liu Dunzhen, Lin Huiyin and others went deep into the mountains of the rivers and rebuilt ancient civilizations during field investigations; under the extremely difficult conditions of the Anti-Japanese War, Liang Sicheng completed the "History of Chinese Architecture" and established the Chinese's own architectural system.
On May 9, 1935, the construction of the Circular Mound Altar of the Temple of Heaven began. Zhu Qiuqin, Liang Sicheng, Liu Dunzhen, Lin Huiyin and other ancient construction experts, as technical consultants of the project, Yang Tingbao guided the entire process of the project implementation as the chief architect of the Jitai Engineering Department. The picture shows a commemorative photo of the renovation of the Hall of Prayer for Youth. Data picture
There is no doubt that these "masters in the wilderness" that have opened up new fields and new realms of Chinese academics have broken through the shackles of old ideas, accepted new ideas and scientific research methods, and embarked on a modern academic path that focuses on scientific concepts, field investigations, surveying and mapping methods. This positivism is what Ding Wenjiang emphasized, "Climbing a mountain must reach the peak, moving must walk." The local archaeology advocated by Tsinghua National Academy starts from "sitting" to "starting up", Fu Sinian advocates "the vastness of the sky and falling down the underworld, and finding things with hands and feet", which Liang Sicheng, the Chinese Creation Society, said, "The way of modern scholars in studying should focus on evidence first, and take real objects as the shield of the theory. The proverb says that 'a hundred hearings are not as good as seeing' is suitable for scientific methods. In terms of modeling art, the appreciation of art must be particularly important to "see." These benchmark figures of modern Chinese archaeology insist on field investigations, laboratory analysis and data research, not only show their unique modern values to Chinese traditional intellectuals, but also under the influence of new trends and new methods, with the help of the foundation of national studies in the transformation of ancient and modern times and the integration of Chinese and Western times, modern Chinese studies have enabled China to form a new discipline system and a new academic paradigm in the time and space of transformation of ancient and modern times and the integration of Chinese and Western countries.
National civilization exploration and modern China symbiosis
No era faces the troubles of national problems like in modern times, and raises the banner of nationalism. China's modern academic studies have been synchronized with the development of the nation-state from the very beginning and side by side. Since the middle and late Qing dynasties, the Egyptian theory, Indian theory, Central Asian theory, etc. appeared in the Western academic circles, which greatly shocked the Chinese intellectuals deep in national distress. In the face of Western civilization, strong patriotism occupied the hearts of most intellectuals, and they tried to take the interpretation of Chinese civilization into the hands of Chinese scholars themselves. The excavation of Yinxu and Zhoukoudian by the Institute of Geological Survey and the Institute of History and Language is to seek the evolution of Chinese civilization and reshape the new pattern of Chinese civilization. In that storm, "the Chinese who have experienced chaos are willing to believe that there is always a civilization on the Eastern land that can go hand in hand with the West or even surpass the West. From the "Beijing people" era hundreds of thousands of years ago, to the Neolithic Age represented by the culture of Yangshao and Longshan culture, to the Shang Dynasty, all of which are." Chinese archaeology, as the discovery of human secrets, was closely linked to national consciousness, cultural identity, and national sovereignty from the very beginning. Fu Sinian believes that in the third generation and before, there may have existed two systems in China at the same time, including Yi, Shang, Xia and Zhou. This statement strongly countered the "Western" of Chinese culture in Antesen , and made a very pioneering explanation of ancient Chinese history. Liang Siyong's archaeological excavation report and a large number of unearthed cultural relics prove that , the three northeastern provinces, , has been China's territory since ancient times.It can be seen that archaeologists are looking for the origin of the Chinese nation among the textures of oracle bones, pottery and bronzes, historians are looking for national history in archives written in Manchu, Mongolian, Tibetan and Chinese in the cabinet. Behind the "organization of national past" wave of Tsinghua National Academy is the passion of nationalism. The search for ancient buildings in Shanye Village and Town by colleagues of the Chinese Creation Society restores a Chinese architecture that is very different from the Western architecture system. Undoubtedly, whether it is excavating paleontology and ancient human fossils, or finding the remains of Chinese civilization and ancient architecture, they are manifestations of national strength and a microcosm of the reshaping of the national image.
Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin surveying and mapping data pictures in Beiling, Shenyang
Academics reflect a country's economic strength, political orientation, values, cultural trends and national interests. In the 1920s, the Geological Survey Institute explored the Gansu earthquake and found the earthquake laws. It took many years to publish the "New Map of China's Sub-province Provinces", Weng Wenhao's "On the Regional Minerals in China", Ding Wenjiang compiled "Fifty Years of Mining in China", and in 1930, Xie Jiarong, , , published China's first monograph on petroleum research. While geologists are exploring the history of national civilization, they are also committed to coal mines, metals, and petroleum exploration, trying to change the state of poverty and weakness in the country. In 1934, Yanchang Oilfield in northern Shaanxi was the first to produce oil, and in 1939, Yumen Oilfield was exploited. In 1930, Weng Wenhao applied for funds to build the first earthquake platform in China's independent construction management - Beijing Jiufeng earthquake platform. Students seek out the secrets of the earth through scientific methods, blending documents on paper and underground cultural relics, and resonating with the construction of modern China in the same frequency and symbiosis in the same direction. Undoubtedly, modern China is deeply rooted in the splendid fertile soil of the Chinese nation for five thousand years. This generation of scholars intervened in the historical trend of nation-state construction with their academic research.
Stories in the depths of history and style of archaeologists
The story told by "The Master in the Wilderness" deeply touches us: "There is no golden age. It has always been a brave and persevering person who set off a ray of light in the deep valley and opened up the golden age of Chinese archaeology." It can be said that every scholar's style vividly restores the excavation site and historical context at that time, and every excavation story truly hides the profound national cultural nature.
The author starts with a unique and unique story of coal digging by Lu Xun, a great modern Chinese writer, telling the past scenes of his co-authoring "China Minerals Journal". Obviously, this is the life choice of Chinese intellectuals in an era, and it is also a reflection of the spirit of the times when the curtain of modern China is opened, and the people's expectation of a prosperous country and a strong people. Beijing Douyacai Hutong No. 5 and Bingmasi Hutong No. 9 are the centers where geologists, paleontologists, anthropologists and geographers gather; Zhoukoudian, which excavated the Peking Man's skull , is called the author's place where the dragon hides the dragon. "The head in the quilt" tells us the tortuous process of archaeological excavation and protection of Beijing Man's skull fossils. Zhang Quan's delicate brushstrokes restored the archaeological excavation site at that time, and his sincere emotions reflected the complexity of history. That was the intervention of local warlords, bureaucrats and antique dealers during the excavation of Yinxu in Anyang, which forced the third excavation of Yinxu was suspended for three weeks; that was the Institute of History and Culture bought the archives of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Chen Yinke often took a car to Dagao Palace to read Military Affairs Office files, translated Manchu documents into Chinese, and went to Dongjiaomin Lane every Saturday to find the sinologist Gang and Tai to learn Sanskrit , or read Buddhist scriptures together, discuss the differences in translations between ancient and modern times, China and foreign countries, and the Qianlong period, and distinguish the authenticity of the past; that was Zhao Yuan Ren took his assistant Yang Shifeng to Guangdong and Guangxi for investigation, but accidentally fell and injured his right hand. He was unable to write an investigation report and told the recorder. It was the scene when Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin first saw the thousand-year-old wooden tower in Yingxian County, Shanxi. Thousands of bats flapped their wings and drove them away. Tens of thousands of bed bugs scattered from the beams in the darkness. There were also the memories of the excavation site scattered on the 31 cities and counties they personally measured during their inspection in Sichuan, 107 important ancient buildings, stone carvings and other cultural relics. The footprints of Buddhas scattered on the land of China.
Liu Dunzhen's investigation data picture of Zhihua Temple
China's modern academic studies are opened up in the deep social unrest and national humiliation. A generation of scholars have successively faced an environment of opening up the country's doors, invasion of foreign enemies, war and separation, dislocation, and leaving their hometowns. During the investigation of the geological investigation in Yunnan, Zhao Zengya was shot dead by bandits to protect the fossils; Ding Wenjiang died in Zhongjiao Gas in Hunan a year later; Xu Deyou, Chen Kang and Ma Yisi died while investigating geology in Guizhou; Liang Siyong was marching in the ice and snow and cold during the investigation of Heilongjiang in Northeast China. The 10th excavation hole of Yinxu suddenly collapsed, two workers died, and tomb robbers flocked to dig 35 robbers; and during the 13th archaeological excavation of Yinxu in Anyang, archaeologists cut the entire block of soil wrapped in layers of oracle bones and transported it back to Nanjing. Finally, 17,096 oracle bones with characters were unearthed, restoring the miracle story of the fourth version of the Big Turtle and the seventh version of the Big Turtle.
The war caused large-scale social unrest and people's displacement. In the migration of higher education institutions and scientific research institutions from the most prosperous economic areas in eastern China to the inland hinterland, there were too many touching legends and sad stories. "The Master in the Wilderness" truly and informatively describes the dilemma of the academic community during the War of Resistance Against Japan. Not only was there a lack of books and equipment, it was also difficult for scholars to make a living, but it was also reflected in the migration and resettlement of the four major research institutions during the war. Kunming, as a major cultural center in China during the war, welcomed the Institute of History and Language, and settled in Southwest Associated University , Peking University , Tsinghua University and Nankai University . When he was hiding in Kunming, Japanese planes bombed like shadows, and the migration forced Chinese scholars to temporarily return to their study from field archaeology. Li Ji, Longtou Village in the suburbs of Kunming, sorted out nearly 250,000 pottery pieces unearthed from Yin Ruins. Liang Siyong was attracted by the ceramics, black copper and goldware made by the Kunming people and set up a "Tiangong Academy". The historical and cultural relics transported countless Chinese and Western books and materials in the war, preserving the cultural spark for the nation.
Chinese intellectuals in exile are scattered like dandelions on the land of China. Lizhuang, on the south bank of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, is a village with a history of 1,400 years, immigrants from east to west, east, south and north, merchants gathered in waterways and docks, and many ancient temples, theaters, and streets. Liang Sicheng once praised: "The excellent structure of beams and pillars is quite proud of the world's works." During the Anti-Japanese War, scholars gathered, and teaching and academic research activities made Little Lizhuang a wartime Chinese cultural center as famous as Chongqing, Kunming and Chengdu. A poem by Weng Wang Lin from the Qing Dynasty said: "I still sail at night when entering the country, and the most crowded people are in Lijiazhuang." The Chinese academic institutions and their scholars survived and fought tenaciously in the wartime Chinese cultural history, and created a tall pillar for the road to national rejuvenation.
However, the brilliant stars shining against the galaxy will eventually disappear in the night sky. This generation of scholars respect science and empiricality, and open up a new world in adversity. Now a hundred years have passed. The years that once stormy and the brilliant civilization created by the "Masters in the Wilderness" have always illuminated the journey of the Chinese nation, making us never forget the brilliant galaxy and the archaeological excavations in the golden age.
" Guangming Daily " (11th edition, June 23, 2022)
Source: Guangming.com-"Guangming Daily"
