Wildfire Collection: Thirty Years Anniversary Edition

Chapter 25 Wildfire 20 Years (4)
Caring for the society, worrying about the country and the people, pleading for the lives of the people, and striving for the survival of the nation, not to mention Tan Sitong, Liang Qichao, Sun Wen, Lu Xun, Chu Anping... those distant historical figures since the end of the Qing Dynasty, Taiwan has been in the past few decades. There are Hu Shi, Lei Zhen, Yin Haiguang... They are all dead and well-known top figures.There are still many intellectuals with the same ambitions who have published countless theories at different times.However, the development of history has twists and turns, and the progress of society has also faltered.Some places have made progress, while others have regressed; some old problems have finally disappeared, but more and more serious new crises have emerged.Reading Chu Anping's political theories and social criticism more than half a century ago, you will feel that they are still applicable today.As a result, some people became silent because of powerlessness, some people retired because of negativity, and some people realized that they should know the current affairs to be a hero and draw close to power.In the past 20 years, we can see the vicissitudes of society, and we can also see many "excellent elements" who have closed their pens and retired, or turned into upstarts.

What is frustrating is that social criticism seems to only cause the constant sacrifice and consumption of intellectuals with a conscience, and it is of no benefit to the progress of the national society.The rule of law, social fairness and justice, and the awakening of the masses seem to be difficult to truly realize in the "Chinese society".Currently, although Taiwan has achieved formal democracy, it is still far from substantive democracy.Now, when Taiwan and the mainland are both Chinese, and whether (should? can?) the people on both sides of the strait have a common vision for the future, the disputes have not yet subsided, and no consensus has been reached; when Taiwan's democracy only values The "election" that can seize power does not hesitate to abandon other precious values ​​​​of democracy, while elections use the tearing of ethnic groups as a means, causing chaos, internal friction, idling, social power is declining rapidly, and the future is at stake. At this time, what Taiwan is facing is Greater and more serious pain and crisis than "Wildfire" criticizes.Twenty years ago, Long Yingtai would never have imagined that the changes in the current situation were so treacherous.

However, although the course of history is indeed tortuous, full of absurdities and paradoxes, and the realization of a beautiful vision will always have twists and turns, I still believe that every effort must bury good causes.Just as we read the social criticisms of Lu Xun and Chu Anping now, "Wildfire Collection" will be a mirror in the future, making all Chinese people feel compassion, vigilance, and reflection.

In 34, as a [-]-year-old "returned scholar", Long Yingtai went to "Central University" as a visiting associate professor.Generally speaking, "returning to China after studying" is mostly just a degree in a certain major.She has only been abroad for eight years, and she has indeed been deeply baptized in Western culture and society, and has in-depth experience and understanding of Chinese and Western cultures.The people in Taiwan, living as a habit, are not as good as Long Yingtai's sharp eyesight, seeing what others don't see, and saying what others don't say.Her social criticism is different from her predecessors.She is a writer as well as a thinker, and she wants to use the pen of literature to provoke the responsibility of social enlightenment thinkers.From life, society to culture, the details, the grand structure, the passion of emotion, the force of analysis, the sincerity of attitude, the charm of writing, the eloquence of eloquence, the so-called enlightenment is not an exaggeration.Her intellect is admirable.

In addition to the critiques of narrowness, conservatism, closeness, low self-esteem, arrogance, numbness, selfishness, ugliness, etc., there is now more social and moral degradation (betel nut beauties, pornographic performances after college graduation as "works", various scams...) , and the ideological incompatibility is the key to the bright or dark future of Taiwanese society.Lung Ying-tai, a social and cultural critic born in Taiwan, is the glory of Taiwan; not only the Taiwanese society, but also the Chinese society, must place more expectations on her.

Long Yingtai's Enlightenment
作家
Linda
I was the same age as Long Yingtai.When Lung Ying-tai lived abroad for ten years and returned to Taiwan to work as a professor while writing her "Wild Fire Collection" one by one, the "Cultural Revolution" in the mainland ended and universities resumed enrollment.After missing middle school and being out of school for more than ten years, I finally had the opportunity to finish college. Mainland China in the 80s was more closed than Taiwan. At that time, my state happened to be in the position where I should be enlightened by Long Yingtai.Years later I immigrated to the United States.After living in the United States for more than ten years, when I look back at China, I have an experience similar to that of Long Yingtai when he returned to Taiwan from abroad.So it's a coincidence that I have such mixed feelings.

Long Yingtai lived in Taiwan since she was a child, and went abroad for nearly ten years. When she returned to settle down for the first time, she became "easy to get angry".This reminds me of my own experience.After leaving the mainland for more than two years, I went back once.More than two years is a short period of time, but everything that was taken for granted before has unexpectedly become unacceptable.I was very surprised: China is still the same, what happened to me?I later realized that if two civilizations with different origins choose to collide with a small person, what happens may be called a tragedy.However, Long Yingtai is turning it into a positive force.

The world is big.The openness of information makes it easier to integrate with international standards.Gradually know yourself and the enemy, and you will naturally make adjustments, and you will no longer feel nervous when facing the outside world.This is a critical step.The excessive inferiority complex and self-esteem I once had stemmed from being unfamiliar with the world.Therefore, I believe that some topics that surprised Long Yingtai back then have become common sense in Taiwan today.However, I also believe that people still need to understand the world behind Long Yingtai's topic and what she is conveying.This is one of the reasons why Long Yingtai will never be outdated.

Taiwan's democratic political system and modern social norms today are actually transplanted from other cultures.Such a system has also experienced thousands of years of tempering in its original place, and experienced the continuous interaction of social culture and political system, which is a long process of advancing with history.The transplantation of this kind of system in the Chinese cultural circle is "once implemented", and it is difficult to take root immediately.Therefore, someone like Lung Ying-tai, who has a strong appetite to digest foreign cultures and is familiar with the local culture, is needed to act as a bridge for the transition.

We often see that concepts like democracy can become very strange things.Although it is a term that is familiar to everyone and is frequently used in discussions, it does not mean that everyone is talking about the same thing.Between democracy and democracy, liberty and liberty, and party to party, there can be big cognitive differences.Therefore, when arguing, sometimes the chicken talks about the chicken, and the duck talks about the duck. It seems that they are using the same language and nouns, but they are actually talking about different things.

First, the concept comes from foreign cultures.When it introduces Chinese culture and uses "Chinese characters" to express, these "characters" carry its original soul, and also inject some foreign blood, and start to express itself with a new look.Then, a fixed impression is formed in our minds to form a new round of concepts.They may not be exactly the same as the original intent.Just like the concept of political parties in modern politics, when entering Chinese culture, there will often be a sense of organizational oppression of co-existence and loyalty, but in its original place, it is a choice of personal viewpoints that can be easily switched at will. Its basis is again the personal orientation of cultural values.That kind of looseness and alienation is completely different from the close connection of traditional families and small groups in Chinese culture.And those discrete individuals, due to the influence of religion in Western culture, combined with the tradition from citizen to citizen, formed a social cell structure with civic responsibility, civil rights, public morality, self-reflection, and self-restraint.Such a free society under the rule of law, at first glance, seems to be a mess, but in fact there are rules and regulations.This is the basis of democracy.

In the 80s, most of the remaining centralized systems in the world have come to an end.It is no longer necessary for a scholar to have the ability to understand and point out the irrationality of the centralized system.However, it is not easy to give early warning of difficulties in social adaptation after system changes.Launching an opposition party seems important in a totalitarian society.However, at the moment of the birth of a democratic society, the problems facing the society are quite different.People will find that the survival of the opposition party no longer needs appeals. Instead, it may be that a hundred political parties that suddenly appear are at a loss as to how to coexist.The new politicians, including the academics themselves, also face an immediate learning process.How to shape yourself as an ordinary citizen in a democratic society and balance your civil rights and responsibilities; how to resist the temptation of power and live equally in a civil society.Everyone born out of a centralized society may have to go through a period of time before they can gradually learn.However, only when the equal exchange of different viewpoints becomes the norm in society, can different political parties get rid of the life-and-death fighting culture and become a channel for the normal expression of various public opinions.Only when the people become individual citizens with good qualities and independent consciousness, will they not be easily mobilized by politicians and become tools for arbitrary manipulation in their hands.

The publication of "Wild Fire Collection" caused a shock in Taiwan at that time.It was the eve of a qualitative change in society, and it was a time when many years of stagnation had yet to be unraveled.After Taiwan's democratization, people recalled the whirlwind brought by Long Yingtai, and saw more clearly that those social criticisms were actually a driving force for institutional change.This also makes some people read "Wildfire Collection", and often take it for granted that Long Yingtai is simply interpreted as "a fighter who burns wildfire to the dictatorship".The timing of Long Yingtai's appearance is an advantage and a pointer that can be easily misunderstood.Lung Ying-tai's criticality has become an impressive appearance, so people may ignore the underlying foundation to support it.

Under a centralized system that has not yet been "unbanned", Lung Ying-tai not only directly criticizes the centralized system as other intellectuals have done, but more directly criticizes the de-citizenization of society, that is, the lack of the characteristics of civil society , referring directly to the weak civic awareness of every individual.At the heart of her critique of Taiwan's education is the point that education is not preparing for civil society.Long Yingtai's vision was ahead of his time.Based on his own understanding of the world and Taiwan, Lung Ying-tai may have foreseen the disintegration of Taiwan's centralized system at that time, which was not so difficult and far away.However, Long Yingtai must have known that after its disintegration, a transplanted system would immediately face the weak foundation of civil society and the deep-rooted obstacles.Long Yingtai did not simply attack the centralized government and promote its deconstruction, but let the people understand in advance that democracy is not only a political system, but also a way of life.Sticking to many old concepts of the traditional society in the Chinese cultural circle is not conducive to the survival and growth of this system.Criticism in this direction actually requires greater wisdom and courage.

At the end of the totalitarian society, stand on the standpoint of the people and point the finger at the autocratic government. Although it is not tolerated by the government, you have the support of thousands of people behind you.From the very beginning, Long Yingtai gave up the favorable terrain and chose to stand in an isolated position.It not only criticizes the government, but also sharply stabs everyone's heart: Are you ready for a democratic civil society, and are you a qualified citizen?If not, change yourself first.In the face of the Chinese cultural circle, Lung Ying-tai does not shy away from the source of her ideological resources in other cultures; in the face of the public, she relentlessly points out everyone's weaknesses and unfulfilled civic responsibilities:
"Several levels of people will lead to such levels of government, such levels of society, and such levels of environment", it is thrilling to read so far.

Such sharpness is not only a test of Long Yingtai's courage, but also a test of the level of most Taiwanese people at that time, whether they can digest a dose of heavy medicine and stimulate the ability of self-examination. 20 years passed quickly.That old Taiwan has become a distant story.However, the forward-looking connotation of "Wildfire Collection" and some political criticisms connected with the special era background have become outdated, and "Wildfire Collection" is still full of vitality.It's not just a historical record, it's a wildfire that's still burning.Because Long Yingtai's prediction has become a reality in today's Taiwan.

But Long Yingtai's sharpness does not tend to be condescending.In addition to personal qualities, it is also the result of long-term acceptance of subtle influences in an equal society.You feel equal and she is a citizen just like you.This sense of proportion is often difficult for an intellectual who spreads fire.Coming out of the Chinese cultural circle, many people can achieve beautiful writing, correct content, and strict logic. However, perhaps we are used to the special position of "scholar" in this culture. The adjustment will often still "open low and go high".When criticizing society, one forgets that one is also a member of society.The greater the intensity of the criticism, the status of the self will continue to rise, and it will not be possible to maintain equality in dialogue with readers.Because in this culture, there has always been a lack of the concept of equality.For us, our own "low key" is still a product of reason, not an instinctive reaction.

Compared with 20 years ago, intellectuals in the Chinese cultural circle have a bigger stage to express themselves.However, in order to leave behind a text that not only shocks the time, but also has a long-lasting aftertaste and far-reaching influence, it requires not only solid writing skills, strength of thought, but also many other things.Long Yingtai is giving us enlightenment.Reading Long Yingtai, I often think that the sharp ice peak piercing the calm water may only show a corner, but you can always find a steady mountain seat under the water.

Looking forward to Long Yingtai in Singapore?
Assistant Professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Ke Siren
In [-], the year when the wildfire started by Lung Ying-tai burned into a prairie fire in Taiwan, I was a Singaporean who had studied in Taiwan for two years.

When I left home in 20, Singapore, which is one of the four Asian tigers along with Taiwan, has achieved economic prosperity, social stability, law and order, and good law and order after [-] years of birth and development.Back then, I grew up in such an environment and enjoyed all kinds of rich material conditions. I even went to study in Taiwan under the public funding system of the Singapore government to attract talents to join the public service system; Like most Singaporeans, I didn't realize the difference between what I got and what I deserved and didn't get.

When I came to Taiwan, I was guided by professors to tour the world of ancient classics and modern literature in the classroom of National Taiwan University College of Arts; I read Zhang Dachun’s novels and Jiang Xun’s poems, watched Hou Xiaoxian and Yang Dechang’s movies, and listened to Luo Dayou and Su Rui’s songs; I started reading and collecting "United Literature" from the first issue; I was running between Lin Huaimin's dance and Lai Shengchuan's theater; I was busy listening to speeches, organizing publications, participating in clubs, and preparing for performances, just like any college student in Taiwan.Enjoying a rich and active cultural life may be a matter of course for my Taiwanese classmates, but if I hadn't come to Taiwan, all these cultural experiences generated from the native land would not have appeared in my imagination.

One day in [-], I started to read the "Wildfire Collection" I just bought. Long Yingtai's provocative words and sharp criticism deeply touched me, but I was not too shocked or surprised.All kinds of cultural nourishment absorbed in the past two years have begun to reveal hidden deep meanings.I suddenly understood why Taiwan's cultural environment is so wonderful, why I felt fulfilled and happy like never before, and why I began to have a strong experience of self-awareness and introspection at this time.

Many of the cultural creations I encountered in Taiwan, in fact, all contain the reflections and criticisms of intellectuals similar to "Wild Fire Collection" on culture, land, and self.Many writers, poets, and directors in Taiwan reproduce their deep reflections and heavy criticisms through their works, often restrained and euphemistic.What makes Long Yingtai different is that she uses combative writing to directly declare war.

(End of this chapter)