中国文明是在大致上与美国田纳西州和地中海的克里特岛相仿水准的大平原上形成的。西面的黄河源自喜马拉雅山下,滔滔不绝地向东流往与太平洋相接的大海。这一平原冬季时寒冷而又满是尘土,夏季时则反复无常地下雨,有惊有险。它从来算不上是一片乐土。另一方面,它也绝不 The Chinese civilization was formed on the Great Plains, which roughly resembled the states of Tennessee and the Crete in the Mediterranean. The Yellow River west of the Himalayas originates from the east to the sea to the Pacific Ocean. The plain is cold and full of dust in the winter, and erratic in summer. It has never been a piece of paradise. On the other hand, it is by no means