中国传统文化中的民主元素

Elements of Democracy in the Chinese Traditional Culture

1969年5月3日,应美国圣约翰大学中国文化学院的邀请,赛珍珠在第二届中国文化研究会议的午餐会上发表演讲。她认为,在中国传统文化中存在民主元素,包括领袖和皇帝出现的方式、由科举考试所维持的文官制度以及以长幼关系为基础的家庭制度。尽管朝代更迭,这些民主元素始终不变,并维护了国家和政府的稳定;革命之后的中国受到西方国家的影响,推翻了传统的政府体系,建立了新制度,但传统的民主元素能否保留并影响中国,仍有待时间的检验。

At the invitation of Institute of Chinese Culture,St.John＇s University,Pearl S.Buck delivered a luncheon address titled＂Elements of Democracy in the Chinese Traditional Culture＂at the Second Conference on Chinese Culture on May 3,1969.In the speech,she talked about such democratic elements in the traditional Chinese culture as quality and mode of Chinese leadership,the Imperial Examinations and their roles in Chinese governing,civil service and family system among others;meanwhile,she laments over the loss of some of these elements and expects their return and recovery.