Hunan is blocked by the Great Lakes in the north, surrounded by mountains in the southeast and west on three sides, and forms a horseshoe basin in the north. Dongting Lake accepts four waters from Hunan, Guizhou, Yuan and Li, and swallows the Yangtze River. China's topography is high in the west and low in the east, which makes many rivers roll eastward and flow into the sea, while Hunan's topography is high in the south and low in the north, which makes Xiangjiang River go north. In this terrain, the cold wave in winter and spring goes from north to south, directly driving the whole province; However, due to the barrier of Wuling, it is difficult for Hunan to benefit more from the warm and humid airflow in the south; It also caused inconvenient transportation and blocked news, which made the early Hunan scholars conservative and difficult to accept the influence of foreign thoughts.
Early Hunan has been a multi-ethnic mixed place since ancient times. The Warring States period belongs to Chu and belongs to the category of Chu culture. Although it changed later, there are still many similarities. Because it is far from the political and cultural center of the country, it is regarded as a barbarian land. Hunan was called "the land of four blockades" and "the wild land" in ancient times. Many famous people in history were exiled to Hunan, which is considered as the sad place of Qu family and the hometown of Liu. Chu Feng believes in witchcraft. Qu Yuan's "Nine Songs" has a very detailed description of the ancient etiquette system of Chu State. When offering sacrifices to the gods, we should choose the most auspicious day, greet them with the most advanced band, choose the most beautiful and intelligent witch, put on the most beautiful clothes, and have colorful songs and dances, so that the gods will be "happy in Le Kang". China has a saying that "Hunan women are affectionate". Due to the prevalence of open witchcraft culture among the three townships and four waters, it is a custom handed down from ancient times in Huxiang that men and women freely fall in love, communicate openly, meet lovers, sing love songs, say love words and be tender as water.
The history of social development divides the process of human evolution into stages such as gathering, fishing and hunting, agriculture, industry and information. If food is the standard, water is the main agriculture and rice is the main crop in southern China; Dry farming is dominant in the north, and millet and wheat are the main crops. If divided by the relationship between supply and demand, there are self-sufficient economic forms and market economic forms with circulation as the production purpose. In the agricultural era, Hunan has long been in the stage of self-sufficient small-scale peasant economy, and rice cultivation is at the leading level at home and abroad.
Hunan is known as the "land of plenty", and the proverb "the lake is vast and ripe, and the world is full" can testify. Archaeological findings show that Hunan is the earliest birthplace of rice culture in the world. Up to now, the earliest artificially cultivated rice, namely12,500 years ago, was found in Yuchanyan, Daoxian County, Yongzhou, and large-scale rice cultivation was carried out in Lixian County, Dongting Lake 8,500 years ago, rewriting the conclusion that "China rice was introduced from India 7000 years ago". Coincidentally, from the 1970s, Yuan Longping, the father of hybrid rice in the world, and his assistants used wild rice and cultivated rice to cross into hybrid rice and super rice. 100 mu or more, the yield per mu of large-scale experiments reached more than 830 kg, and that of small-scale experiments reached more than 1 100 kg, which made Hunan in a leading position in the second rice revolution in the world. During the Westernization Movement, Hunan people supported the earliest establishment of modern industries along the coast, but Hunan's local industries were 40 years behind. While the new industrial revolution, the wave of informationization and the huge waves of market economy are beating the land of China, Hunan has not kept pace with the times quickly.
Geographical culturology holds that the surface not only directly affects human production and life, but also affects climate, traffic and other factors, which comprehensively forms regional cultural differences. For example, most people in the Gobi grassland in the northwest are rough and heroic, while those in the southeast water town are weak and quiet; Bad environmental conditions make people strong and forge ahead, while good environmental conditions make people happy and unrestrained. A Russian philosopher once said: "Water is not only an active factor in nature, but also a real driving force of history. It is a force that stimulates the development of culture, stimulating the transition of culture from the river system area to the inland sea coast and from the inland sea to the ocean. " The unique geographical environment has created a unique group personality. There are often generous and sad people on the hillside, and literati and poets gather on the shore of green water. The natural environment has a subtle influence on the growth of talents. The cultures or civilizations created by human beings in different regions and countries are closely related to the geographical environment. As Hegel said, "Mountains separate people and water unites them." Ordinary land and plain rivers can bind human beings to a vast land, making people feel infinite attachment to the land, while the ocean can call people beyond the limitations of nature, so that people will not only think about relying on the land to survive.
What are the personality characteristics of Hunan people? What is the spirit of Hunan people? It has attracted the attention of the world and some comments have also appeared. Lin Yutang, a famous scholar, wrote an article "North and South", commenting on the differences in personality, physique and customs among people in different provinces. "Hunan people are famous for their bravery and tenacity. They are a more likable part of the descendants of ancient Chu warriors." Qian Jibo, a famous cultural scholar in modern times, said in his book "A Hundred Years of Study Style in Modern Hunan": "Hunan is a province, with great rivers in the north, thin Wuling in the south, Qianchuan in the west and four blockades. Its land is less and water is more, but there are many mountains, and the mountains overlap, and the beach river is steep, but it is not easy for boats and cars to pass. Stubborn rocks are hard, geology is solid, and human nature is mostly stubborn. It is often blocked by old customs, and it is often untouched by the civilization of the Central Plains. Restraint is also self-created, which can be different from the characters in the Central Plains to be independent. Outstanding people, great scholars, before me, where is the past era? Behind me, where are the future generations? Ambitious and lonely people have a strong and unyielding ambition, regardless of their ideological independence and freedom. Zhan Shen's ancient studies can find their own way and are not embarrassed by ancient studies. He is honest, has a good group, and must be self-sufficient, so as to create a generation of ethos and cover the region. " Liang Qichao once said, "No one can strengthen the world and protect China. Hunan's unique regional culture is called Huxiang culture by scholars at home and abroad. What is the basic spirit of Huxiang culture? The famous writer Tang believes that the soul of Huxiang culture, that is, the soul of Huxiang, can be summarized in eight words: Dare to be the first in the world. Zhou Xingwang, a scholar of Huxiang School, can be summarized in the following four aspects: simplicity and righteousness, bravery, practical application and constant self-improvement. In fact, being pragmatic, loving the country and the people, striving for self-improvement and being the first are not only the basic spirit of Huxiang culture. Just like the 100 meter race, all the contestants run very fast, but the winner is 0.0 1 second faster than the runner-up. Hunan people inherit and carry forward Chinese traditional virtues, but only 0.0 1 second faster than others.
What is the personality gene of Hunan people? On June 10, 2004, when I visited the Middle Ages culture in Hunan, I saw two bright red characters "blood" standing above the school gate of a middle school. This is the motto of Tao Kan Middle School, which was founded in 190 1. It suddenly dawned on people that Hunan people's personality genes have been found. What is bloody? Luo is a patriotic educator who advocates "blood". In his school motto, he said, "Blood should be honest and foolish". Everything in life and work is based on the principle of "blood", which is "true and honest, one is one, the other is two, with a bright heart and aboveboard behavior", and "blood" is "for him" rather than "for himself". Full of the spirit of sacrifice, seeing righteousness before fear, seeing profit before fear, can work hard and be responsible. I can do my best for public affairs and help others when they are in trouble. "It can be seen that blood is a kind of temperament, a kind of spirit, a kind of moral character, a strong and straight spirit, and a fighting spirit of boiling blood and self-improvement. Not far from Tao Kan School, there is a Spring Garden Middle School, which was founded in 1907. The concept of running a school advocates "using living books, learning physics poorly, not empty talk, seeking truth from facts." "Why is central Hunan the birthplace of Xiang, and why are there so many talents in Hunan? How much can Hunan do in the future? In this hot land, people found the answer and saw hope. Hunan's climate is hot, Hunan's blood is hot, Hunan's popularity is prosperous, and Hunan's future is boundless!