On the Duality of China's Traditional Mode of Thought and the Difficulty of Transforming It

Chinese intellectuals, as they are perched at the intersection of history and reality, often have a tremendous sense of bewilderment and perplexity: Why and how did China, before the Ming dynasty, create such a resplendent scientific culture and stand at the forefront in the world? And why, then, has she fallen far behind the West in modern times? Why is it that she is beset with difficulty and hesitation every step of the way along the road to modernization, seemingly unable to take even the slightest step ahead without tremendous hardship?