Liang Shuming’s Rural Reconstruction And Controversy

The1920s and1930s, as the rural crisis continues to increase, the rise of therural reconstruction movement thing on a massive land and spread north and south.By Liang Shuming, James Yen, Tao Xingzhi, Lu Zuofu as the representatives of themany factions of rural construction, although the name and content are different,they are all cherished same aspirations for national salvation, want to save the villagethrough the revitalization of China’s rural crisis and refreshed China’s political, so asto realize the modernization of China society. Among the many rural constructionexperiments, because systematic theory to guide and the comprehensive nature of thespecific practice, adhere to the traditional culture, Liang Shuming’s Zoupingexperiment of rural reconstruction is so unique.Liang Shuming is a thinker, but also a doer, his theory and practice of ruralreconstruction is an attempt to revival of Chinese traditional culture and to integratetraditional Chinese and western modern concept. Although a variety of reasonsLiang Shuming’s Zouping experiment of rural reconstruction is ultimately fail, andfrom the thirties of last century to the fifties suffered a mild or severe criticism, butat the exploration of national modernization, his spiritual struggle is made almost. Ina sense, his questions are more important than to solve the problem, and give usmany useful theoretical and empirical reference about how to understand today’sissues in rural areas.Based on the review of the formation process of Liang Shuming’s ruralreconstruction theory and practice, we can clearly feel that during the theory buildingand practice, Liang Shu-ming is standing on a special position that because highdegree of positive human values and human spirit generated by the national disaster.He attempted to base on the human values and morality of traditional culture, toexplore the unique path of political development in China, so while maintainingtraditional values, but also learning Western science and technology, not only toobtain material benefits of modernization, but also to avoid the negative effects ofmodernization on human reason. Undeniable, in that precarious and rapids surgingChinese society, Liang Shuming’s hard trying inevitable to set itself an unsolvable theory and practice dilemma. The existence of these difficulties and problems, Liangand his followers of course has its own unique understanding and vision, but, from acontroversial perspective to research, no doubt for today our understanding provide abroader and objective perspective, as well as more detailed lessons.This paper attempts to led us from another point of view to think the problem ofmodernization of agriculture and rural through the controversial research of LiangShuming’s rural reconstruction theory and practice. Liang Shuming’s ruralreconstruction theory and practice is to build awareness on village-based, to someextent it is the ideological basis of the mode of modernization with Chinesecharacteristics, clear unique path to the Chinese community, especially themodernization of China’s agricultural and rural. It is true that the theoretical basisand practice of Liang Shuming’s rural reconstruction not perfection, and because ofpersonal limitations and historical conditions ultimately failed, but objectivelyspeaking, Liang Shuming’s rural reform idea is still based on traditional agriculturalcountry how to modernize, is still his own independent thinking based onembracement and acceptance of the modern trends, rather than resistance andexclusion. From the controversial research of Liang Shuming’s rural reconstructiontheory and practice, maybe help us to clarify the main path of the modernization ofrural society and provide a more comprehensive perspective.As the time goes away, the rapid development of the times and great wealth ofmaterial to force us to seek deep cultural values and accumulation of culturalpsychology., through the controversial research of Liang Shuming’s ruralreconstruction theory and practice, not only for our analysis to provide a moreimpartial judge attitude and approach, but also for the new rural construction andrural governance to provide a useful reflection and learning, and to guide ourpractice,to achieve the great rejuvenation and permanent glory of our nation.