神交古人 Communicate with the Historical Figures

上星期在三聯打書釘時，翻看了一下前中大校長金耀基教授的新書《敦煌語絲》，裡面有一篇關於錢穆先生的文章。金先生問錢穆先生如果有機會的話，最想和哪幾位中國古人對談。不知各位有沒有想問這個問題？大家猜猜錢先生舉了哪幾位？

答案是：陶淵明、朱熹和曾國藩。

文章裡好像沒提到為什麼錢先生選了這三位，我看過錢先生一些著作，我估計對錢先生而言陶淵明代表的是傳統中國藝術化的人生情態，朱子代表中國博大精深的文化(偏向理智化的一面)，反倒是錢先生選了曾國蕃倒令我有點意外。是曾國藩平定太平天國的事功呢還是他的為官為人？

坦白說我自己以前沒想過希望和哪位古人神交，倒是記得當年高考中國文學科時的作文題目是屈原寫了封電郵給我們，要我們回電郵給他，答覆他自殺值不值得的問題。我天馬行空，靈感如泉湧，從項羽寫起，再寫岳飛、文天祥，直到六四學生(想來我當時是初生之犢，竟敢在公開試寫六四)，痛痛快快寫了篇自己認為中學幾年裡最好的作文(可惜原文不能拿回來)。

各位有沒有自己想神交的古人呢？

I read an essay collection written by the former president of CUHK, Prof. Ambrose King, at a bookshop. Prof. King interviewed the master historian Prof. Chien Mu, whom be asked which historical figures he wanted to talk with if possible.

Tao Yuan-ming of the Jin Dynasty, Zhuxi of the Song Dynasty and Zeng Guo-fan of the Qing Dynasty. Prof.Chien answered. The last choice surprised me actually.

I remember the composition topic of my high school open examination was that the famous pre-Ching Dynasty poet Qu Yuan wrote an email to us and demanded a reply to answer his question that whether his suicide was valuable. I remembered that I wrote the best composition in my secondary school time. So, may be it will be interesting to communicate with him if possible.

So, my dear friend, who will be your choice?