Loyal to his queen
After the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, he pledged his loyalty to the Qing Dynasty. Giving up all his official duties, he went to Beijing. In 1915, he was appointed as a professor lecturing English Literature at Peking University.
Being a conservative, he advocated Confucianism and Taoism. Beginning in 1924, he lived in Japan for three years as a guest lecturer in Oriental cultures. Then he returned to live in Beijing until his death in 1928.
His literary works were mostly written in English and his proficiency in the English language reached such a height that even the British admired him greatly. Gu was the first man to translate the ancient Chinese book "The Analects" to English and German in 1898. He remained an advocate of monarchy and Confucian values, preserving his queue even after the overthrow of Qing Dynasty. Throughout his life, Gu opened a door for foreign countries to better know China's culture.
Spreading Chinese culture
In his own book, "The Spirit of the Chinese People," published in 1915, Gu introduced Chinese culture, including Chinese women, language, scholarship, and some famous Sinologues in China. The book aroused heated discussion in Germany, inspiring people to learn about Chinese culture.
Though, the views on this man vary, it is undeniable that he did a lot to spread Chinese culture. Many sayings and anecdotes have been attributed to him, few of which can be attested. Although, he often criticized Western culture, literary figures as diverse as Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, Somerset Maugham, and Rabindranath Tagorewere were all drawn to visit him when they were in China.
