The Traditional Concept Of The Modern Chinese Liberalism (1895-1969)

Liberalism, the dominant social thought since the 17th century in the West, was introduced to China by Yan Fu in the late 19th century, which created Chinese modern liberalism, existing with cultural conservatism and radicalism, had a significant impact on Chinese history of the 20th century. This paper mainly studies Traditional Concept of Chinese modern liberalism(1895-1969),namely views and attitudes from liberals on Chinese tradition. This paper argues that Chinese modern liberalism's Traditional Concept has gone through three obvious phases:Yan Fu criticized the Chinese Tradition with freedom and democracy for the first time, however, the father of Chinese Liberalism, he was influenced deeply by the Chinese Tradition, and was consistent in affirming the tradition partially. The later of Yan Fu confirmed and rethinked the tradition, but he didn't form the systemic cognitive theory on the tradition; Hu Shi was Chinese liberalism leaders in May 4th period, held high the banner of the New Culture Movement, and criticized the inertia of the Chinese tradition. The academic circles thought that its criticism was a simple and whole rejection of tradition and ignored its more deep-seated cultural ideas. This paper think that the Hu Shi's "total Westernization" and "Rearranging the National Heritage" integrated both sides, they are based on the coherence theory of cultural essence. At the same time, this article think that Hu shi was't entirely the product of westernization, it was still deeply influenced by Chinese tradition. Based on "total Westernization" and "Rearranging the National Heritage", Hu shi criticized the Chinese tradition, and for the first time raised some theory programs:" What is the Chinese tradition? How about the future of this tradition?" Obviously, Hu Shi was not able to give this program a profound answer. The co-existence of criticism and attachment was a very obvious tendency. Yin Hai-kuang was the central figure of the Chinese liberalism in the 20th century 60 years, raised the system reflect on his liberal predecessors and himself radical critique of the tradition, so he was the reflective representatives of liberalism. In his later years Yin Hai-kuang proposed the system traditional concept, and answered "What is the tradition?", "What is the Chinese tradition?". He put forward the "empiricist's traditional concept to get out of the fence of traditional and anti-traditional Doctrine, and raised the "metabolism" as the transformation programs of the tradition. His student, Lin Yu-sheng, proposed "creative transformation" programs of Chinese tradition, then, Chinese traditional concept of modern liberalism was formed officially.Chinese traditional concept of modern liberalism, mainly thought these problems "What is tradition?", "The relationship between tradition and freedom", " the modern meaning of Tradition" is gradual evolution, presenting a clear and deep progressive direction. Liberals tend to use free, democracy, and ration to value the Chinese tradition, and severely criticized the feudal despotism etc. In a certain extent, three generations of liberals confirmed the positive value of the Chinese tradition. The later of Yan Fu had a high degree of positive affirmation on Confucius and Mencius.Hu thought that several of Confucian morality were shared by various cultures, but these morality should not be deny. Yin Hai-kuang analysed the Confucius and Mencius thought, affirmed "Kong Ren" and "Meng Yi" positively, but were't those Confucian ethics without changes, and was the new morality not conflicted with free. liberals have also been positive thinking on the modern meanings of the Chinese tradition. Yan Fu Noted for the "Lao'zi" and "Zhuang'zi" with freedom, and democracy, Hu Shi explored the Chinese liberal tradition, Yin Hai-kuang proposed the ideas of reconstruction Chinese culture, those advanced the modern meanings of the Chinese tradition.There is no doubt that the traditional concept of liberalism has its own characteristics, its theory have some errors in different stages,but come up the level of science and rationality eventually. Therefore, we should't think simply that the traditional concept of liberalism is anti-tradition. They had criticized the Chinese tradition, and affirmed; there are anti-traditional stage, but also a rational stage. It is a gradual rational process.