介绍:
Currently an associate professor at Nankai University, Xiong Peiyun is one of the most recognized columnists in China. Best known for his humanistic spirit, prudential attitude, and moderate yet penetrating insights, this multi-award winning writer has delved into the twists and turns that China has experienced in its transition period.
But recently, this prolific author has taken a shocking turn, by publishing a book on Japan.
"When I was in France, I was really impressed by the reconciliation between France and Germany. So I was wondering whether China and Japan could reach a settlement like they did. Particularly in recent years, people have witnessed a growing tension between these two Asian countries. So as an intellectual, I believe that I am obliged to reveal the real situation in Japan to Chinese readers. At the same time, I think outbound travel could help me understand my motherland better. "
In his diary-like book, "Gone with the Western Wind", or in Chinese, "Xi Feng Dong Tu", Xiong meticulously documents his reflections and experiences as a visiting researcher at the University of Tokyo. Riding on his shoulders, readers could skip through the fragments of the author's daily life, listen to some of the most interesting and thought-provoking dialogues, and step into a time machine to sort through the tremendous shifts that Japan has went through since the start of the Meiji Restoration.
But the book is by no means a self-searching travelogue or tedious history thesis. As a captious and neutral inquirer, the writer initiates conversations with nearly a hundred interviewees, ranging from housewives, Chinese expats, to former invaders and right-wingers. Exploring both the smallness of personal moments and the grandness of the past, the book offers its many readers a magnifier to observe many nooks and crannies of Japanese society, such as its suicide issue, social integrity, and constitutional reform.
By exploring how the modern Japan came into being, the author hopes that China could learn from its neighbour's experience.
"In my mind, Japan is like a medicine to China. On one hand, it could be our remedy. Nation-wise, we could learn from them about how to build social construction, develop social mentality and preserve traditions. Individual-wise, we could learn from the Japanese about how to undertake social duties. But on the other hand, this medicine could turn out to be a poison. China is averse to Japanese right-wing organizations. But these groups are in the minority. If we exaggerate their strength and thus adjust our foreign policies, the consequence could be harmful. "
But the discussion doesn't stop right there. Undoubtedly an acute and perceptual observer, Xiong Peiyun also tries to find out that, beside the impact of media, why China and Japan haven't reached an accommodation like France and Germany did.
"I think the main reason that the Sino-Japanese relation deteriorated was due to the alienation of Japan towards China. In their minds, China represented another being, which need to be conquered and excluded. If we really want to accommodate each other, citizens from both China and Japan should stop emphasizing their respective nationalities. Instead, they should simply acknowledge each other as human beings. Only when we reach this agreement, we could understand each other's pain, history, and frustration."
So, could China and Japan transform from "arch enemies" to global partners in the future?
The quote that Xiong puts in the preface seems giving out the answer.
"American poet Henry Longfellow once said: 'If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.' It may sound idealistic, but it doesn't matter. Because human beings always moves forward from one ideal to another. Gradually, we become better."
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