Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
be both unnecessary and beyond my power. As a scholar of the historical geography,
the question I would like to put forth for discussion is exactly the one which I posed
at the conclusion of my last lecture. I shall repeat it here.
How do we transform an imperial capital which was once planned and designed
for the benefi t of feudal emperors in the past into a people's capital of the socialist
new era? Or rather, in contrast with the theme of glorifying the supremacy of feudal
monarchs as illustrated in the city planning of the old Beijing, what new theme
should we adopt for the city planning of today's Beijing serving as a people's capital
and how can such a theme be effectually materialised?
This problem is not merely one of engineering technology, but above all, one of
great signifi cance to the development of history and culture. In China today, with the
transformation of social system, the values of an age-old tradition are also undergo-
ing unprecedented changes. We could never imagine that a new socialist culture
would drop from the sky, nor could it be transplanted from a certain foreign land. It
can only grow up out of its native soil. For instance, isn't the Renaissance, which had
its root in ancient Greek and Roman culture, and which, in turn, with a completely
new mental outlook, created a great new epoch in European culture of the middle
ages, such a shining precedent?
In China today, people have also been discussing and looking forward to the
advent of a great new era of renaissance, sprouting out of its native soil. Consequently,
how to regard one's own historical and cultural heritage becomes a problem of con-
siderable importance.
Our basic principle is critical inheritance. During the long period of feudal soci-
ety, the Chinese people have created a magnifi cent ancient culture, which, however,
also contains some feudal dregs. It is wrong to accept ancient culture without dis-
crimination, and equally wrong to reject it altogether; the only correct attitude, of
course, is to assimilate its essence and discard its dregs, to make the past serve the
present and weed through the old to bring forth the new, so as to create a new culture
characteristic of the epoch, on the basis formed in the course of history. Naturally,
during this process of creating a new culture, it is necessary for us to endeavour to
absorb all that is advanced from other countries to serve our own purpose, to use a
catch-phrase, “To make foreign things serve China.”
So far, we have only touched upon abstract principles. But I've already digressed
too far from the point in question. So let us return to it now.
In fact, the old city of Beijing which has been kept intact all through is part of
China's historical and cultural legacy. The reconstruction of the city shall also be
carried on under the guidance of the principle of critical inheritance. First of all, we
should keep one thing in mind; that is, as a people's capital of the socialist new era,
it must adopt a theme for its city planning in praise of the people, of their strength,
their dignity, of the truth: “The people, and the people alone, are the motive force
in the creation of the world.” It should not only demonstrate the great creations of
the people in the past, but also embody the stark reality that the people have become
masters of their country. The fulfi llment of this new theme shall serve as a thor-
ough criticism of the old theme centred upon the eulogy of the supremacy of the
feudal monarchy.
