If there’s anyone in the early 20th century Chinese intellectual world who embodies the character of Huang Yaoshi from Jin Yong’s Legend of the Condor Heroes, it would undoubtedly be Gu Hongming. Known for his sharp intellect and rebellious spirit, Gu’s life was as fascinating as any martial arts legend.

Much like Huang Yaoshi, who excelled in astronomy, geography, and the arts while maintaining a devil-may-care attitude, Gu Hongming was a polymath, fluent in nine languages, including English, French, German, and Latin. His education was impeccable, earning him 13 Ph.D. degrees, and his ability to navigate both Eastern and Western cultures made him a true intellectual powerhouse of his time. However, like Huang Yaoshi, Gu’s eccentric personality and often controversial behavior made him a figure of both admiration and scandal.

An Unlikely Scholar: Born in the West, Loved the East

Gu Hongming’s story begins in an unlikely setting—an exotic rubber plantation on the Malay Peninsula in 1897, where he was born to a mixed Chinese-Portuguese family. His skin was pale, his hair tinged with a faint yellow hue, and his eyes, a rare sight in his family, were blue. Raised in a well-off family, he soon became the adopted son of a British couple, moving to England at the age of ten. There, he received an excellent education, studying in both England and Germany, and became renowned for his linguistic talents. At one point, he could recite John Milton’s Paradise Lost in one month and memorize Goethe’s Faust in just six months.

His intellectual journey was nothing short of extraordinary. Gu Hongming quickly gained recognition for his linguistic prowess, delivering impromptu speeches in German, composing Latin poetry, and impressing scholars from all over the world. In fact, when famous figures like Cai Yuanpei and Lin Yutang arrived at Leipzig University decades later, Gu’s works were already a staple of the curriculum.

But despite his Western training, Gu’s heart eventually turned toward Chinese culture. After meeting with Ma Jianzhong, a well-known scholar and diplomat, he underwent a dramatic shift in his worldview. Gu resigned from his job in the British colonial government in Singapore and dedicated himself to studying Confucianism, which would become the cornerstone of his life’s work.

The Rebel Scholar: Defying Western Ideas

Although Gu Hongming became a prominent scholar of Confucianism, his career was not without controversy. He was known for his acerbic tongue and penchant for making enemies. His relationship with the likes of Yuan Shikai and Hu Shi was famously contentious. At one point, Gu mocked Yuan’s dismissal of intellectual pursuits with a biting comment, saying that if a task were as menial as cleaning a toilet, then intellectuals would be of no use. As for Hu Shi, the two clashed repeatedly, especially when Gu criticized Hu’s use of English, accusing him of poor pronunciation.

Yet, despite his sharp criticisms of Western ideas, Gu was deeply respected by those who appreciated his commitment to traditional Chinese values, particularly by Cai Yuanpei, who recognized his intellectual depth. In a world where the younger generation was eager to embrace Western modernity, Gu Hongming was a staunch advocate for Confucianism and traditional Chinese culture.

A Walk on the Wild Side: The Curious Case of Gu’s Personal Beliefs

Gu’s personal life was just as unconventional as his intellectual pursuits. Despite being educated in the West and living among modern thinkers, Gu retained many old-fashioned beliefs that would be considered strange by today’s standards. Perhaps most notably, he was an ardent supporter of foot-binding, a practice that had long been abandoned by progressive reformers. He also championed polygamy, believing that men were like teapots, and women were the teacups—one teapot could be paired with several cups, a logic that was as confusing as it was controversial.

His love for tradition extended to his appearance, as Gu proudly wore a long braid, a symbol of the Qing Dynasty, even when most of his peers had adopted the modern Western style. He was a relic of the past, clinging to outdated symbols while advocating for the preservation of Chinese culture in an increasingly modern world.

The Legacy of Gu Hongming: Rebel, Intellectual, Legend

Gu Hongming’s legacy is as complex and contradictory as his life. On the one hand, he was a brilliant scholar who bridged the gap between East and West, advocating for Chinese culture with unmatched zeal. On the other hand, his archaic views and combative personality made him a polarizing figure. To some, he was a hero—a defender of tradition in a world that seemed determined to abandon it. To others, he was a relic—a man who refused to embrace the winds of change.

In the end, Gu Hongming was the quintessential intellectual rebel, a man who carved out his own path, regardless of what the world expected of him. His life serves as a reminder that true genius is often accompanied by eccentricity, and that sometimes, the most brilliant minds are the ones most willing to challenge the status quo.

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that Gu Hongming—like Huang Yaoshi—was a legend in his own right. And like any true legend, his story is far from ordinary.