1. A truly prosperous ancient civilization
British historian Toynbee is the most influential British historian in the 20th century. In his "historical research", he analyzed the existence of world civilization that developed or declined and died out. He said that the truly prosperous civilizations are Western European civilization, American civilization and Eastern China civilization. . It is the only civilization in the world that has never stopped.
Toynbee talked about ancient Babylonian, ancient Egyptian, ancient Greek and Roman civilizations earlier than China. They may gradually decline and die because of external attacks or their own corruption. He once said: Civilization will always meet external challenges. If it can meet this challenge well, it can continue to develop. Or you'll fall to your death. There are many cases of this challenge, and it may also be the destruction of the whole country by powerful foreign races. Or long-term rigid corruption within the country; Or internal division, the people will not survive.
2. "The Chinese nation has reached the most dangerous period."
The Chinese nation has gone through a bumpy road. According to Mr. Jin Yong, the Chinese nation suffered seven foreign invasions and spent seven difficult times: during the turbulent years from the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the Central Plains was attacked on all sides. ; The Qin and Han wars competed with Xiongnu, Wei, Jin, Xianbei and other countries. Wuhu has a history of nearly 400 years after its fall. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it was invaded by Turks and Tubo for about 300 years. The invasion of Khitan, Nuzhen and Xixia in the Five Dynasties and the Song Dynasty was another 400-year unjust imprisonment. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Mongolia and Manchu launched an attack. In modern times, they are trampled by the iron shoes of imperialism. I have to say that the Chinese nation is really troublesome.
3. Traces of historical development
In the whole process, there seems to be a pattern to follow:
First, the country is unified and prosperous, and then it is slow corruption. Successful reform will revive. If the reform fails or it corrupts itself, foreigners will invade. Like the above seven invasions, foreign invasion is another turning point in our country.
Secondly, the historical development is strikingly similar! Our Chinese nation's foreign friendship, assimilation and integration, growth and unity, corruption, decline or division, friendship, the return of foreigners, the re-integration and growth of our nation, and so on.
In addition, if you emigrate to other countries and are invaded by foreign countries, you will have your own position as a winner, otherwise you will end up in the decline of the whole country. If our country is invaded by the enemy, it will usually defeat the foreign enemy. Even if you fail, it is hard to conquer. That's because our Chinese nation has strong resistance and open tolerance!
4. From the world's first per capita income to a gradual decline.
Mr Jin Yong once met a famous scholar from Oxford University. They discussed the future of East Asia, especially the economic development of China. Scholars say that China has developed its economy since ancient times, and China's national strength has been in the leading position in the world for two or three thousand years. By 2020, China's national economic income will remain the first in the world for a long time!
China is not a powerful foreigner, but a country above average. The science and technology in Song Dynasty was particularly advanced, far exceeding that in Europe. These four great inventions are strong evidence, and even the present paper money is the first in the Song Dynasty.
Since the Ming Dynasty, China has been stagnant or even backward. Apart from political dictatorship, ideological control and power concentration; Even the Ming dynasty was consciously unable to resist the Japanese invasion, so it just locked Japan in. As a result, when China closed its doors, it also fell behind the western countries.
5. Historical turning point, the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!
What Mr Jin Yong wants to emphasize is reform and opening up. The vitality of the Chinese nation lies in active internal reform, tolerance and opening to the outside world, and it can advance safely in the storm.
Historian Toynbee believes that the advantages of western civilization and China civilization can be skillfully integrated: one is a dynamic civilization that is constantly invented, pursued and expanded; The other is a dynamic civilization of continuous development, pursuit and expansion. The other is static civilization, which pursues stability, peace and integrity. Therefore, he came to a conclusion in his later years: "The hope of the world lies in the combination of China civilization and western civilization."
At present, human beings are most concerned about how to survive. How to deal with waste of natural resources, environmental pollution and population explosion? This is the reason why more and more western scholars pay attention to China's cultural philosophy in recent years. They place their hopes on China's culture and philosophy, including philosophical thoughts and cultural psychology, such as the harmony of Yin and Yang, the balance of the five elements, and the unity of man and nature. They all think that the key to solving human problems.
According to Mr. Jin Yong's analysis and prediction, the world economic center has changed from London in19th century to new york in the early 20th century, and then to Tokyo in 1970 and 1980 after the war. China is in Beijing or Shanghai, as long as it is in China! China will stand among the nations of the world and will exist forever!