Traditional Reconstruction Towards Classical Spirit

During the war of resistance against Japan,Li Changzhi proposed his thoughts of “China?s Renaissance”,which was named “Renaissance theory” in this paper..Oncoming of Renaissance in China is exactly the core text of his thinking on this issue.The paper tries to analyze the sophisticated relation between Li Changzhi?s “Renaissance theory”and German thoughts,and reveals how Li Changzhi applied the “Renaissance theory” to his explanation of traditional Chinese culture and his criticism for May fourth Movement.and provides a new perspective for the comprehension about Li Changzhi?s “Renaissance theory” during the war of resistance against Japan.The first part introduces Li Changzhi?s writing about his “renaissance” theory during the war of resistance against Japan.In a specific sense,“renaissance” here does not refer to the ideological movement which ended in the middle ages and began in modern times,but refers to the “humanism” thoughts created by modern western countries based on the “regeneration” of Greek culture.This “humanism” thoughts was closely related to the historical process of modern European civilization,including protestant reformation,enlightenment movement,and romanticism movement.It was in accordance with this standard that Li Changzhi concluded that May fourth cultural Movement was not “renaissance” but simply an “enlightenment movement”.The second part will explain that the theoretical foundation of such peculiar “renaissance” view is “German classical spirits” preached by Li Changzhi.Its core is still German classical aesthetics,but Li?s goal was the “perfect man” which could unify emotion and reason.Finally,the paper investigates the relation between Li Changzhi?s interpretation of traditional culture and his “renaissance” theory.In accordance with “German classical spirits”,Li Changzhi reinterpreted traditional Chinese culture,especially the “Confucianism of Confucius and Mencius” which was regarded as the essence of traditional Chinese culture.Confucius was worshiped as the forerunner of “classical spirits”,while Mencius and Qu Yuan were thought to be representatives of “romanticism”.From the perspective of the “renaissance” theory,Li Changzhi?s cultural imagination during the war of resistance against Japan showed an opening attitude towards different cultures.It not only attached importance to a thorough understanding about traditional cultural spirits,but also paid attention to the creativity and initiative of cultural subjects..In this sense,“renaissance” theory in its nature was a cultural and political conception which endeavored to shape the “perfect man” ideal that could integrate emotion and reason through aesthetic education.Therefore,it had a very strong aesthetic meaning...