钱穆论气候与文化的关系

QIAN Mu on the Relationship between Climate and Culture

钱穆是近现代著名的学通四部的文化学者。在论述不同文化特质的过程中,钱穆喜欢从自然地理环境入手,阐发自然地理环境包括气候条件与人类文化的关系。在他看来,中国所处的自然地理条件得天独厚,“北温带”“大平原”“大小河流交错”的生存环境特点对中国文化特质产生了重要影响,中国文化的大一统趋向、中国人勤奋耐劳的品格等都与所处自然地理环境密切相关。钱穆重视自然地理环境在文化中的基础性作用,但不能因此说钱穆的文化观是“地理环境决定论”。

QIAN Mu is a famous modern cultural scholar who has learnt all four parts of culture.In the process of discussing different cultural qualities,QIAN Mu likes to start from the natural geographic environment and explain the relationship between the natural geographic environment,including climatic conditions,and human culture.In his view,the natural geographical conditions in which China is situated are unique,and the environmental characteristics of the‘northern temperate zone’‘great plains’and‘intermingled rivers of various sizes’have had a significant impact on the characteristics of Chinese culture.The unifying tendency of Chinese culture and the diligent and hardworking character of Chinese people are closely related to the natural geographical environment.QIAN Mu attaches importance to the fundamental role of natural geographic environment in culture,but it cannot be said that QIAN Mu's view of culture is‘geographic environment determinism’.