林语堂对五四新文化的贡献

A Study on Lin Yutang's Contribution to the May Fourth New Culture

林语堂与五四新文化的关系,长期以来并未引起研究者足够重视。学界往往倾向从西方文化与中国传统文化角度研究林语堂,忽略林语堂对五四新文化的贡献。林语堂以现代语言学推动五四新文化发展,既具有填补空白作用,也是他与胡适一样切近语言革命的关键。除了激进的文化思想,林语堂还具有包容心和兼容性,这主要表现在与五四新文化倡导者有不同认识,对其反对派采取欣赏、继承和发展的态度。林语堂的贡献有助于为五四新文化重新定位和增殖,对一体化理解和创造性转换西方文化、中国传统文化大传统与五四新文化小传统,也不无启示作用。

In most cases, studies on Lin Yutang adopt such perspectives as western culture and traditional Chinese culture. His contribution to the May Fourth New Culture, however, has long been ignored by domestic scholars, thus never carrying due weight. Lin, through his taking advantage of modern linguistics, filled the gap in pushing forward the emerging culture and fulfilled his aspiration, like Hu Shi, one pioneer, to serve for the revolution in the classical Chinese. In addition to his radical thoughts on culture, Lin also bore the traits of tolerance and inclusiveness told by his critical attitudes towards viewpoints and positions of his oppositions, though he had divided opinions with those who took the lead in the May Fourth New Culture Movement. A study on Lin’s contribution, therefore, helps relocate and thus enrich the May Fourth New culture, which will further shed light on our all-round interpretation and strategic conversion of western culture, traditional Chinese culture and profile of the May Fourth New Culture.