"I suggest that the fable of the fool moving mountains be removed from the textbook!"
The famous poet Xi Murong actually said these words in public, and his reason was even more shocking.
He believes that Yugong is destroying the environment and violating nature.
In this way, is Jingwei reclamation also contrary to the laws of nature?
So should Yugong Yishan be deleted from the textbook?
The source of this article is from the official media [China Youth Daily] [Xinhua News Agency] and others (the link is attached at the end of the article). In order to improve the readability of the article, there may be polishing of the details, please read sensibly, for reference only!
It's terrible for Yugong to move mountains
In 2014, the famous Taiwan poet Xi Murong was invited to give a lecture at Nankai University, and the theme of this speech was the value of invisibility.
Xi Murong was wearing plain clothes, and he analyzed this issue very profoundly, winning bursts of applause.
However, just when everyone thought it would be a bland literary lecture, the unexpected happened.
Xi Murong suddenly changed his words, "Do you still have the story of "The Fool Moves the Mountain" in your current Chinese textbooks?"
The students were stunned for a moment, then nodded their heads.
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Xi Murong said casually: "I think this story should be deleted from the textbook." "
This sentence instantly aroused the anger of the students.
After all, "The Fool Moves the Mountain" is an inspirational story that they have been familiar with since childhood, how could it be suggested to be deleted?
Unexpectedly, in the face of the students' reactions, Xi Murong raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and then further explained:
"The story is horrible. It encourages people to change the natural environment at all costs. If everyone were like Yugong, what would our planet become?"
These words once again ignited the anger of the students, and the story of Yugong moving mountains was obviously an inspirational story, but how could it become a challenge to nature.
A history student couldn't bear it anymore and immediately stood up to refute him.
Unexpectedly, Xi Murong raised his voice: "I know this point of view may be controversial, but I hope everyone can think about it seriously." We can even vote on whether we should leave the story in the textbook or not. "
This suggestion undoubtedly added another fire to the otherwise calm literary lectures.
If we talk about destroying the environment, human beings started with slash-and-burn farming, can we avoid destroying the environment by simply deleting an article?
Surprisingly, however, Xi Murong's views did not come out of nowhere, as Professor Jin Kemu of Peking University had expressed a similar view.
He believes that the approach of "The Fool Moves the Mountain" is only to pass on the problem to others, which is not advisable.
For a time, the discussion about whether to remove the story of Yugong moving mountains from the textbook caused widespread controversy in society.
There is no end to children and grandchildren
To be honest, the story of Yugong moving mountains is not as superficial as simply telling an old man moving mountains.
In ancient times, mountains like blocking the road and flooding fields were a major obstacle to people's survival.
Therefore, Yugong wants to move mountains, which is actually a manifestation of the ancients' desire to change the living environment.
What's more, the mountain that Yugong wants to move can be any difficulty we encounter in life.
Yugong's unyielding strength in the face of the mountains is what this story wants to tell us.
The famous writer Yu Qiuyu even published an article on the modern significance of "Yugong Moves Mountains".
Even the always serious official media have published articles pointing out that the spirit represented by "Yu Gong Moves Mountains" is a precious wealth of the Chinese nation, but we also need to keep pace with the times and interpret this ancient fable with new perspectives.
And in contemporary times, there are still characters with foolish formulas.
Contemporary Yugong
In the early 80s of the last century, the Babu Sand Forest Farm in Gulang County, Gansu Province, was raging, seriously threatening the survival of local residents.
In order to defend their homeland, Guo Chaoming and six other farmers voluntarily contracted the desert and began the arduous cause of sand control and afforestation.
Their sons, including Guo Wangang, inherited their father's business and became the second generation of sand controlrs.
For decades, they have endured harsh living conditions in the sandstorms and relentlessly planted trees in the desert.
They use simple tools such as trenching plows to carry out "grass grid sand pressing" operations, and plant drought-tolerant plants such as elms and caragana.
Despite the hardships and even wavering, they always held fast to their beliefs. Today, what was once a desert has been transformed into an oasis and an important ecological security barrier.
This story is the inheritance and development of the spirit of "Yugong Moving Mountains" in ecological construction.
But as a famous poet, Xi Murong did not talk about these beneficial effects at all, but one-sidedly proposed to delete Yugong Yishan from the textbook, which was obviously inappropriate.
However, it is not uncommon to see cases like this where traditional articles have to be removed from textbooks.
Hua Tuo practiced medicine illegally? Zhu Ziqing's father violated traffic rules?
In 2020, some experts even proposed to delete the introduction of Hua Tuo from the textbook.
They believe that the description of Hua Tuo's medical skills in the existing textbooks is seriously exaggerated and deified, such as "Hua Tuo scraped Guan Yu's bones to cure poison", etc., which lack reliable historical basis.
Some people even say that Hua Tuo is practicing medicine illegally, which is really ridiculous!
What's more, some professors suggested that Zhu Ziqing's "Back" be deleted, and the reason was even more absurd, they even thought that the father climbed over the guardrail to buy oranges for his son, violated traffic rules, and would teach young people badly.
Mother-in-law's tattooing is easy to mislead students
In early 2018, Zheng Yefu, a well-known professor in the Department of Sociology at Peking University, went so far as to suggest that "The Biography of Yue Fei" be removed from middle school history textbooks.
He argues that his mother-in-law's tattooing may mislead students and foster a narrow-minded, extreme nationalist sentiment.
As soon as this idea was proposed, it immediately sparked a huge repercussion among the academic community and the public.
A retired history teacher posted a lengthy post on social media denouncing the suggestion as "forgetting one's ancestors."
Some middle school principals have also publicly stated that even if the textbook really deletes "The Biography of Yue Fei", they will find a way to make up for this lesson for students outside of class.
In the face of the surging doubts, Professor Zheng Yefu emphasized that he did not deny Yue Fei's historical status, but hoped to look at historical figures with a more objective and rational attitude.
In the end, "The Biography of Yue Fei" remained in the textbook, but the controversy left a far-reaching impact.
Zheng He's Western and Mulan Ci are too beautified
In 2015, Professor Ge proposed that the textbook should be deleted or modified about Zheng He's voyage to the West.
Professor Ge pointed out that although Zheng He's voyage to the West was large-scale, its essence was more of a political and military action than a simple peaceful and friendly visit.
He believes that over-embellishing this period of history may mislead students and affect their objective perception of history.
Unexpectedly, four years later, Professor Ge once again suggested that "Mulan Ci" be deleted from the Chinese textbook.
Professor Ge believes that this well-known ancient poem lacks a solid historical basis and is not suitable as material for patriotic education.
Professor Ge worries that using a character who may not exist as a model may affect students' correct understanding of history.
In any case, many people have different views on some articles, and we have to look at these issues rationally.
Epilogue:
Although some of the suggestions may seem ridiculous or unreasonable, they also have a positive side.
They have stimulated the attention and reflection of the whole society on education, which is itself a valuable educational resource.
We should cherish this atmosphere of rational discussion and continue to work together to improve the quality of education and cultivate well-rounded human resources.
It reminds us that we need to be in awe and critical thinking in the face of history and tradition, and to constantly strive for a more authentic and comprehensive understanding.
This may be the goal that true cultural self-confidence and cultural inheritance should pursue.
Bibliography:
[Xinhuanet] close-up shot丨"You are the contemporary Yugong and the model of the times"2022-06-07
【China Youth Daily】Xi Murong: Poetry Saved My Lonely Student Days2014-05-19
Why should classic poems be deleted from textbooks?2014-09-19