In the late 19th century, in the town of Banzi in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province, there was a notable figure named Lin Zhicheng. A priest by vocation, Lin was often seen ascending to the top of the church. There, he would raise the cross a little higher using steel bars imported from the U.S. Or, at dusk, locals would see him energetically approach clusters of chatting farmers, softly proclaiming: “Jesus loves you.” The priest was a jack-of-all-trades, with both Chinese and foreign affairs being his area of expertise. His jovial nature, paired with his work ethic, made him popular among the locals. He was a father to nine children, the fifth of whom was affectionately nicknamed Hele, who later became known as Lin Yutang.
“Come down from the church roof, Hele!” family members would call. The boy would then scramble down, entering the house through a rooftop window. Hele cherished these childhood memories, feeling that during those moments, he was especially close to God. He believed that the Almighty watched over him from just inches above, preventing him from acting too recklessly. Inside the house, Hele would join his siblings, absorbing tales from his father: “In 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion, many believers in God lost their lives, even priests. Hele, you were just five then.”
Western university life meets Beijing’s temples and palaces
October 10, 1895, marked Hele’s date of birth. Years later, he went to Shanghai to attend St. John’s University. There, he became more recognized than even his priest father. Hele inherited his father’s talent, humor, and dexterity. Over time, he gained more fame and adopted the name Lin Yutang.
St. John’s University introduced Lin Yutang to various Western activities, including tennis, baseball, and rowing. He embraced all these with open arms, excelling in every field. However, to his bewilderment, he always ranked second in examinations. After graduation, Lin went on to teach English at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
The clear blue skies of Beijing, its magnificent temples and palaces, and the serene Buddha at the Western Hills suddenly awakened Lin Yutang. How different were these from the church roofs he climbed as a child? It is the ideal of Chinese people to worship their ancestors, strive to uphold virtuous conduct, and continuously make progress, or they will dishonor their ancestors. In addition to the Western influences Lin Yutang absorbed at St. John’s University, might there exist another path, one that offers both philosophical depth and practical guidance, reflecting the unique essence and traditions of Chinese living?
Lin Yutang pondered whether Chinese Christians, while embracing the great spirit of Christ, had distanced themselves from their traditional culture.
Encounters that shaped his perspective
The talented Lin Yutang soon met two influential figures: Hu Shi, who, as a graduate student at Columbia University in New York, announced the start of the Chinese New Culture Movement; and Chen Duxiu, a newspaper editor and communist-believing professor. Both directed Chinese intellectuals to break from the past.
While Lin Yutang admired their talents, they weren’t his idols. He eventually found his inspiration in Chinese traditional culture in the form of Gu Hongming — a man educated in Berlin, Edinburgh, and Oxford, who wrote in English, but whose mind was deeply rooted in Chinese Confucianism.
Embracing Chinese traditional culture
Gu’s perspective on the relationship between several Western cultures and Chinese culture resonated with Lin Yutang. According to Gu, Americans would gain depth from Chinese culture, the British would gain breadth, and the Germans simplicity. By studying Chinese culture, literature, and scripts, people from these countries would acquire a refined spiritual essence.
Having initially been enlightened by Christianity and later deeply influenced by Chinese culture, Lin Yutang embarked on a profound journey. With a solid foundation in Chinese classical literature and impeccable English skills, he penned many essays in Chinese, reflecting his deep classical literary training. His candid nature and sharp and humorous writing style left readers both entertained and deeply moved. Interestingly, the Chinese term for “humor” is a loan word that was translated from English by none other than Lin Yutang. His writings genuinely touched the hearts of many.
Translated by Joseph Wu
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