天地之子——林语堂综论(下)

On Lin Yu-tang(Ⅱ)

林语堂在中国现代文学史和文化史上有着不可替代的地位、价值和意义,他足以可与鲁迅、周作人、胡适、老舍等量齐观,但长期以来他却远未得到应有的重视。林语堂最突出的贡献是作为“天地之子”存在的,这不仅表现在他自山乡走来,形成了“高地的文化观”;也表现在他率性自然、天真童稚的个性与情趣;还表现在他与众不同的人生智慧、思维方式及其文化选择。

While Lin Yu-tang has secured irreplaceable position, value and significance in the history of modem Chinese literature and can rank with Lu Xun, Zhou Zuo-ren, Hu Shi, Lao She, etc., he has long been neglected. Lin Yu-tang's greatest contribution lies in his existence as 'the son of the cosmos', which is evident not only in his grand notion of culture but also in his natural, innocent personality and temperament as well as in his unique wisdom, mode of thinking and cultural selection.