玄奘到印度取经，看似着眼于佛经文本，实际上更重要的是深入佛教发生地这么一个重要的文化现场，这使全部佛教文本都具备了充足的母体依据。
Xuanzang (602–664), for instance, went on a pilgrimage to India for Buddhist sutras, implying much more profound meanings than simply learning the texts; his was an exploration into the cradle of Buddhism.
The journey itself sufficiently substantialized the scriptures.
在十八世纪，当中华文明和欧洲文明终于有规模地狭路相逢的时候，互相都不理解，但相比之下，欧洲对中国文化现场的深入，更为主动也更为提前，这只要读一读法国耶稣会传教士留下的通信和英国马嘎尔尼留下的日记就可明白，因此在后来两种文明的冲撞中他们也就有利得多，而中国方面，对欧洲的了解则长期处于“海客谈瀛洲”的状态，光凭着可笑的臆想和推断与对方交涉，自然处处被动，笑话连连。
Historically, European civilizations prevailed over their Chinese counterpart when the two strange opponents unavoidably confronted one another in the 18th Century, very much owing to the Europeans’ due diligence on Chinese cultural sites, which handed them the high ground in unequal exchanges.
On the other hand, having indulged in talking only about alien legends, the Chinese barely had any knowledge about their counterparts except ludicrous conjectures, and were trapped in a laughably passive position.
One would know this well from reading the correspondence or diaries left by French Jesuit missionaries and the Englishman George Macartney respectively.
不管是东方还是西方，哪一个真正的大文化人不是为了人类的和平、友好而东奔西走、四处游说的？
As a matter of fact, whether in the East or West, isn’t it true that all great intellectuals, everywhere they go, especially in times of turmoil and chaos, always preach peace and harmony in their speeches, lectures and writings?
世事荒乱，文化人的学园、讲坛一次次构建着有可能的和谐；人心浮动，文化人的著作、演说又努力抚平着社会躁动的神经，使之安定。
They spare no efforts to smooth the popular mood, calm social nerves and tranquilize communities.
文化人也有争论，争论的最终归向也无非是用何种方法才能更有效地使社会和谐和安定。
Certainly there are controversies among different cultures’ advocates.
直到二十一世纪，文化的至高层次都仍然是如此。
The goal of their debates, however, is nothing more than searching for better ways to achieve social harmony and stability, which has always been the ultimate objective of culture even in today’s twenty-first Century.
记得第二次世界大战刚刚结束，在欧洲那些满目瓦砾、遍地废墟的城市里，音乐会已经开始，衣衫褴褛、伤痕累累、家破人亡的人们走进尚未整修的音乐厅，在神圣洁净的乐声中，精神立即获得修补，当他们走出音乐厅时，不再是一群疲惫的可怜人，很快，由于他们，欧洲也渐渐地恢复了元气。
The thing that impressed me most happened in the aftermath of World War II in Europe.
In ruined cities, the scarred survivors, members of torn families, clad in rags, walked into unrenovated concert halls.
这件事让我一直难以忘怀，因为它使文化在战争的余烬中又一次展现了自己的原始使命。
Immersed in holy and pure music, their wounded souls had been comforted, their anxiety eased and their egos transformed when they came out of the halls.
Before long, the whole Europe recovered and was rejuvenated.
Once again, culture carried out its primary mission even in the ashes of war.
文化，永久地寻求和祈祷着世间的无伤害，而一旦伤害形成，它又挺身而出进行治疗。
Culture perpetually inspires and empowers people to pursue and pray for something harmless.
治疗好了还要继续追访、善后，预防伤害的再次产生。
And once people are harmed, culture always emerges as a remedy to cure, rehabilitate and immunize them.