..., many years later, I became much interested in Chinese philosophy, especially in Chuang-tse, and after living and travelling in China for eight months I felt that I had many sympathetic Chinese friends and I greatly admired the Chinese. When the Communist Revolution took place in China, I felt desolated, though I saw nothing good to uphold in Chiang Kai-shek.
Source: Bertrand Russell: Common Sense and Nuclear Warfare, 1959, pp. 41-42.
More info.： https://russell-j.com/cool/60T_3FUNSO-01.HTM
* a brief comment:
In October 1920, Russell, accompanied by Dora Black (note: they married after returning home), visited China. For about eight months, he was based at Peking University, traveling throughout the country and giving lectures. At the time of Russell's visit, China was still the "good old China" before the Communist Revolution, and he was able to immerse himself in the exotic atmosphere and fully enjoy his experience in the country.
In contrast, during his approximately two-week stopover in Japan on his way back home, although he found certain aspects interesting, he had many unpleasant experiences.
Chuang-tse (also spelled Chuang-tzu) was a thinker from the Warring States period in China and is known as the author of Zhuangzi. Incidentally, Mr. Tsutomu Makino has mistranslated it as "Laozi."
* Amazon Gift Card
