Enduring and having a long history: Why did Chinese civilization inherit the same lineage? (Below) Country | Chinese Nation | Chinese Civilization
Dao Zhonghua: What is the reason why Chinese civilization is able to maintain its continuity and remain fresh over time?
Zheng Dahua: Firstly, it is related to the pattern of "diversity and unity" of the Chinese nation. China has been a unified multi-ethnic country since ancient times. Although before the 20th century, the Chinese nation was still a "free" nation and did not form the concept of "Chinese nation", since ancient times, both Han and ethnic minorities have regarded themselves as Chinese, and the dynasties and regimes they established are all Chinese dynasties and regimes.
An interesting phenomenon occurred during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period: the ethnic minority regime in the Northern Dynasties referred to themselves as "China" and the Han regime in the Southern Dynasties as "Island Barbarians", while the Han regime in the Southern Dynasties also referred to themselves as "China" and referred to the ethnic minority regime in the Northern Dynasties as "Suolu". Because both the Han and ethnic minorities consider themselves to be Chinese, they did not start a new dynasty and regime, but innovated on the basis of inheriting the previous dynasty's system. This provides a guarantee for the continuous development of Chinese civilization.
Secondly, it is related to the political concept and practice of "great unity". The political concept and practice of "great unity" have played a crucial role in maintaining the continuity and renewal of Chinese civilization.
As early as the pre Qin period, the idea of "great unity" had already emerged. During the Qin and Han dynasties, the idea of "great unity" was transformed from a political concept to political practice. Emperor Qin Shi Huang abolished the enfeoffment and implemented a "unified" policy of "vehicles on the same track, books on the same text, quantity on the same scale, and conduct on the same ethics". Emperor Wu of Han adopted Dong Zhongshu's suggestion to "depose the Hundred Schools of Thought and solely respect Confucianism", with a unified ideology. Afterwards, the concept of "great unity" continued to develop in the process of the diverse and integrated pattern of the Chinese nation.
The connotation of the concept of "great unity" is to establish a unified political power of "six contract styles and one country," ultimately realizing the human ideal of "universal unity". Specifically, it includes political unity with a centralized court as the core, territorial unity with the goal of "all under heaven, nothing but the royal land", national unity with the pursuit of "the Chinese and foreign families", and ideological unity with the aim of "respecting Confucianism alone". These propositions are not only deeply ingrained in the historical memory of the Chinese nation, but also provide solid guarantees for the continuous development of Chinese civilization.
Finally, it is related to the innovation, inclusiveness, and peace of Chinese civilization. The Chinese civilization is ancient and constantly new, and innovation provides inexhaustible impetus for the continuous development of Chinese civilization. Taking the changes in the national governance system after the unification of China by the Qin Dynasty as an example, the system of selecting officials has gone through changes from the Chaju system in the Han Dynasty to the Zhongzheng system in the ninth grade of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, and then to the imperial examination system after the Sui and Tang Dynasties; The central government system has also undergone changes from the Qin and Han dynasties with three dukes and nine ministers, to the Tang and Song dynasties with three provinces and six ministries, and then to the Ming and Qing dynasties with cabinet and military departments... These changes are all significant innovations in the national governance system, reflecting to varying degrees the innovative idea of "flexibility" in Chinese civilization.
Chinese civilization has been known for its openness and inclusiveness since ancient times. It is precisely because of this inclusiveness that Chinese civilization adheres to opening up to the outside world, drawing on the strengths of others, and incorporating the beneficial achievements of other civilizations. Such as the opening of the Silk Road in the Han Dynasty, foreign exchanges in the Tang Dynasty, the prosperity of the Maritime Silk Road in the Song Dynasty, Zheng He's voyages to the West in the Ming Dynasty, and so on. These are all examples of ancient China's openness and inclusiveness, which not only spread Chinese culture abroad, but also brought foreign cultures to China, adding new content to the continuous development of Chinese civilization.
The Chinese nation loves peace, and "peacefulness" is another characteristic of Chinese civilization. China has always had the motto "although a country is large, it will perish if it is belligerent". China was once one of the most powerful countries in the world for a long time in history, but there is no record of colonization or aggression against other countries. It is precisely because the Chinese nation loves peace and is not belligerent that Chinese civilization can achieve continuous development in a peaceful environment, without being interrupted due to the warlike downfall of some countries.
Dao Zhonghua: Compared to the faults of other ancient civilizations, what valuable heritage has the continuous development of Chinese civilization left us?
Zheng Dahua: The continuous development of Chinese civilization has left us with stable cultural genes. Chinese culture is the worldview, outlook on life, values, aesthetic views, etc. that the Chinese nation has formed and passed down through generations of production and life, among which the core content has become the most basic cultural gene of the Chinese nation. The ideological and cultural heritage accumulated during the long evolution of civilization is the most unique spiritual symbol of the Chinese nation, the source of cohesion and creativity of the Chinese nation, and an important support for national development and national self-improvement, making the Chinese nation truly an organic and unified cultural life entity.
The continuous development of Chinese civilization has left us with outstanding national spirit and civilized vision. The Chinese nation has accumulated outstanding national spirit and a broad vision of civilization through thousands of years of trials and tribulations. It is precisely this spirit and vision that have enabled the Chinese nation to transcend countless mountains and valleys, stand tall in the face of civilization's hardships, maintain stability and achieve change, and uphold righteousness and innovation.
Today, facing the vast world trend and based on the cultural characteristics left by the continuous development of Chinese civilization, we are able to stand firm on the turbulent world stage, clarify China's development situation and new historical orientation, consciously strengthen the political value of independence and autonomy, and lay a solid ideological foundation for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
The continuous development of Chinese civilization has left us with a profound cultural heritage and fertile soil. A country lacking independence and clear values often becomes a "helpless country", losing its international status and great power aspirations. As the only uninterrupted primitive civilization in the world, the continuous development of Chinese civilization has left us with cultural resources, providing strong cultural strength to inspire people of all ethnic groups in the country to move forward bravely.
Dao Zhonghua: Chinese civilization has outstanding continuity, which fundamentally determines that the Chinese nation must follow its own path. What does this road mean for both Chinese civilization itself and human civilization?
Zheng Dahua: Only by standing on the magnificent 5000 year history of Chinese civilization can we truly understand the historical inevitability, cultural connotations, and unique advantages of China's path. For thousands of years, the Chinese nation has embarked on a development path that is different from other civilizations. This determines that revolution and construction in China cannot simply copy the experiences of others, but must be rooted in the long-standing historical continuity of Chinese civilization and follow its own path according to its own history and national conditions.
The key to the success of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics lies in the fact that the CPC people have combined the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific reality and excellent traditional Chinese culture, and realized the sinicization of Marxism and the modernization of excellent traditional Chinese culture.
The modern civilization of the Chinese nation has significant differences from the capitalist civilization forms created by Western countries, and has many characteristics and advantages that capitalist civilization forms do not possess. It provides valuable experience and beneficial inspiration for the development and civilization creation of other ethnic groups in the world.
British historian Toynbee once made a bold prediction: "The Chinese people have proven in their long history that relying on the power of culture and civilization can organize billions of people in a country based on cultural and emotional ties, with cosmopolitanism and cosmopolitanism as the benchmark of civilization." It can be said that modern Chinese civilization stands on the high ground of truth and morality, abandons Western civilization, and reflects the overall trend and requirements of human civilization progress and international social development, guiding and promoting the overall progress of human civilization.
Interviewee profile:
Zheng Dahua is a researcher at the Institute of Modern History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
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