Speaking of Gu Jiegang, many people may not have any impression of him, but readers who like to read history books, especially those who like to read academic history, should be no stranger to him.
Gu Jiegang, born in 1893 in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, is a famous historian and folklorist in modern China, the founder of the ancient history school, the pioneer and founder of modern historical geography and folklore.
In 1920, at the age of 27, Gu Jiegang graduated from Peking University and successively served as an assistant professor at Peking University, a professor at Sun Yat-sen University, Yenching University and other famous universities, and the head of the history department.
However, what is the case with such a shining aura that when he was young, he was called a "fool who bought waste paper"?
We know that Gu Jiegang this person loves to read very much, it can be said that "love books like life", he often loves to go to the book market to find books, but unlike other book friends, Gu Jiegang is looking for books, never looking for those rare books, but prefers some wild notes and miscellaneous talks, what "cheap" to look for.
For example, in 1927, when Gu Jiegang went to Jiangnan to collect books on behalf of Sun Yat-sen University, such an interesting little story occurred.
At that time, Gu Jiegang was a professor and director of the Department of History, the director of the Library Chinese Department, and the acting director of the Institute of Language and History at Sun Yat-sen University.
As we all know, the publishing industry in jiangnan at that time was relatively developed, and it was a good place to look for books.
But after arriving in Jiangnan, Gu Jiegang rarely went to those well-known big bookstores to collect books, but was keen on small markets and roadside stalls to "treasure hunt".
Perhaps in Gu Jiegang's view, the real rare books are not in the big bookstore, but on this humble small book stall.
However, in the eyes of many people, Gu Jiegang's vision of buying books is really "poor", those books that are regarded as treasures by booksellers, Gu Jiegang never accepts, but he has a special love for those "road goods" that are clumsy and commonplace.
For example, like the "Three Character Classic", "Thousand Character Text", song books, medical techniques, wild records and miscellaneous talks, etc., even the eight-strand essay examination papers written by Lao Xiucai, the account books, and even the letter manuscripts written by the local old lady who did not understand him also wanted.
In addition, there are books like what to look at, mortgage deeds, wedding and funeral gift lists, etc., he all "laughs".
In this case, the local booksellers and vendors regarded Gu Jiegang as a strange person and pointed out him, but Gu Jiegang was still his own way.
Don't say it was then, even now, when we see such a person, I am afraid that we will think that this person may be a "fool".
One day, Gu Jie was just walking on the street, and behind him came the laughter of "the fool who bought waste paper is coming".
Gu Jiegang's assistant couldn't listen anymore and wanted to reveal his identity to the ridiculed person, and then explain it, but gu Jiegang stopped him and said:
"Those who don't know us, ridicule is inevitable, don't blame them." Besides, if we reveal our identities, will they still take out those 'waste paper' like things and sell them to us in the future? ”
I have to say that Mr. Gu Jiegang is really generous, and if this had been placed on others, he would have jumped over to "duel" with others a long time ago!
But we can't help but ask: What did this Gu Jie just collect so much "waste paper" and go back to? Isn't it fragrant to collect some classic masterpieces, ancient and modern rare books?
In fact, Mr. Gu Jiegang has his own considerations!
Perhaps in the eyes of ordinary people, the books and papers gu jie just received are of little value, but for him personally, it is very useful.
You know, Gu Jiegang is a researcher of history and folk customs, and if you want to improve your research, it is naturally a very important part to collect information from the bottom of the folk.
In the end, the facts also proved that the "waste paper" that Gu Jiegang received did provide great help for his research.
Later, after Gu Jiegang became a well-known historian and folklorist at home and abroad, when someone asked him when he was mistaken for a "fool who collected waste paper", Mr. Gu Jiegang replied:
"The most important thing for a person is not what kind of person he is in the eyes of others, but what he knows what he is doing and what kind of person he wants to be."
Many people try to change themselves in order to live in the eyes of others, even if this makes them feel tired and resentful, they must give everything they can to cater to each other.
Maybe it will elevate your status in the eyes of others, but so what?
Life is our own, we just need to live our own life, take care of our own family, there is no need to accept what you don't like, even hate, for the sake of what others think of you.
Because a lot of times, you have to pay a huge price for this!
So Mr. Gu Jiegang is right: the most important thing about a person is not what kind of person you are in the eyes of others, but what you know what you are doing and what kind of person you want to become.
In fact, in Mr. Gu Jiegang's body, there are many interesting little stories, and these stories can often be thought-provoking.
Mr. Gu Jiegang is worthy of a generation of people, whether it is a work or a person, it is worth our careful reading, and then draw useful nutrition from it.
Of course, although there are many works by Mr. Gu Jiegang, most of them are academic books with strong professionalism, such as "Ancient History Discernment", "Han Dynasty Academic History", "Two Han States Examination" and so on.
Although these works are very good, the reading threshold is still relatively high for many of our readers, especially for many beginners in history.
So, does Teacher Gu Jiegang have a book worth reading for most of our readers? Of course, there are, for example, this book, "Introduction to Chinese Historiography", is a good choice.
Since its publication, the book has been well received by readers, and even a Japanese translation has been published in Japan, and it is said that some people have translated it into English.
This work is the shining crystal of Mr. Gu Jiegang's life's painstaking efforts, showing his profound exploration of the ancient ancestors of the Chinese nation, and also showing the profound knowledge and profundity of Mr. Gu Jiegang.
For our readers who love history, especially for entry-level history buffs, this book is a great choice.
This is the result of some historical materialist historical research, so much so that all talk, even the basic rhetoric, has been carefully scrutinized.
So, this is a good choice for our history buffs!
Readers who like it, you can take advantage of the current double eleven activities, hurry up and start a book to learn it!
"Introduction to Chinese Historiography" by Gu Jiegang ¥22.15 Purchase