Dialogue on Views on Civilization ｜ Fan Hong
The fundamental characteristics of Chinese civilization and its unique contributions to the world
The important discourse of the General Secretary provides fundamental guidance for telling the story of Chinese civilization and promoting the international dissemination of its achievements, based on the land of China. The rich cultural resources contained within Chinese civilization are an organic component of the world's diverse cultures.
With the profound changes in the global political, economic and cultural development patterns of the 21st century, the collision and exchange among different civilizations have become increasingly close, promoting the international dissemination of the achievements of Chinese civilization. This not only demonstrates the cultural awareness and confidence of the Chinese nation but also reflects China's role as an ancient civilization in promoting the development of world civilization.
Therefore, it is necessary for us to clarify the fundamental characteristics of Chinese civilization, based on the global significance of Chinese civilization, and strengthen the international dissemination of its achievements through multiple levels, paths and subjects.
The fundamental characteristics of Chinese civilization are continuity, inclusiveness and innovation.
In its 5,000 years of long evolutionary history, Chinese civilization has exhibited unique manifestations, inherent logic and spiritual qualities. Through continuous innovation and multidimensional expansion of these forms, logic and qualities, it continues to play an irreplaceable role and significance in the overall development of human civilization. Particularly remarkable are its characteristics of continuity based on stable value paradigms, integration generated in an inclusive and open environment, and creativity arising from cultural prosperity and development.
From the perspective of world history, Chinese civilization is indeed the only indigenous civilization that has never been interrupted, demonstrating strong continuity. Hegel once said, "If we compare the destinies of these countries mentioned above, only the Chinese empire through which the Yellow River and the Yangtze River flow is the only enduring nation in the world, and conquest cannot affect such an empire." The relationship between river culture and Chinese civilization, as exemplified by the Yellow River—the mother river of the Chinese nation—gives ample evidence of the vibrant and uninterrupted nature of Chinese civilization. Renowned British historian Toynbee also believes that in the nearly 6,000 years of human history, there have been 26 forms of civilization, and only the cultural system of China is the unique one that has persisted and never been interrupted. When observing the changes in world history and the changes in Chinese civilization, several major world civilizations that emerged during the same period have all experienced interruptions, mainly due to wars that led to the interruption of different forms of civilization. For example, ancient Greek and Roman culture was interrupted by the Germanic tribes, ancient Egyptian civilization was interrupted by the Alexandrian Empire, and ancient Indian culture was interrupted by the Aryans.
However, when looking at the development of Chinese civilization, despite enduring hardships, it has progressed continuously from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age, experiencing over two thousand years of development and decline in feudal society while maintaining a remarkably stable and steady progress. The overall historical evidence shows that not only has Chinese civilization not been interrupted but it also occupies a leading position in the world. For a considerable period of time, the ever-growing and splendid Chinese civilization has extended to the present day. The reasons for this can be attributed to two factors.
On one hand, Chinese civilization has developed a productive system that possesses outstanding integration and creativity across various aspects, including artifacts, institutions, and spirituality. On the other hand, it has formed a productive system with strong centripetal and sustaining forces. This ensures that Chinese civilization can always revolve around an independent and distinct entity, continuously absorbing the positive elements brought by the development of the times and exchanges with other cultures within a relatively stable social structure, and constantly achieving self-extension and self-adjustment. The coexistence of diversity, inclusiveness and openness are important characteristics that embody the integrative nature of Chinese civilization. This is manifested not only in the digestion and understanding of its own indigenous culture but also in the blending and mutual learning with foreign cultures. The integrative nature of Chinese civilization encompasses the following three dimensions: the integration of social and cultural development, the integration of diverse ethnic cultures into a cohesive whole, and the integration of cultural exchanges with the outside world. Based on this, Chinese civilization possesses a strong ability to integrate and innovate both internal and external cultures.
It has also formed a "unity in diversity" cultural landscape through the mutual exchange of diverse ethnic cultures, continuously enriching itself with the development of society. When examining the development of Chinese civilization from the perspective of the history of civilization, the cultural landscapes and achievements presented in different periods reflect the innovativeness of Chinese civilization. From a historical perspective, focusing on the grand trajectory of historical development, the development of Chinese civilization can be summarized into five glorious periods, from its origins to its continuous growth, containing the powerful and unique cultural genes of the Chinese nation, which have laid a solid foundation for the creativity of the Chinese people and the innovativeness of Chinese culture. In terms of social structure, the historical environment has provided space for the creativity of Chinese civilization, allowing the active thoughts of ancient Chinese intellectuals and the emergence of folk creativity to flourish, resulting in a cultural phenomenon rarely seen in later times, known as the "Hundred Flowers Blossoming".
Unique Contributions of Chinese Civilization to the World: Great Unity, Valuing Harmony and Benevolence
Chinese civilization, with its long history and grand system, has showcased to the world a civilization characterized by continuity, integration and innovation. It has also contributed to the world with unique, diverse and irreplaceable achievements represented by the excellent traditional culture of China. The values of "Great Unity", "Valuing Harmony" and "Benevolence" not only continue the spiritual essence of the Chinese nation but also shape the Chinese people with a unique temperament and charm. These values contribute to the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity, promote exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations, facilitate communication, cooperation and understanding among countries, and provide deep historical accumulation and significant intellectual resources.
To this day, they continue to exert a wide-ranging influence and possess tremendous potential for dissemination. Great Unity: Constructing a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity. The ancient Chinese concept of "Great Unity" provides a key to understanding the historical accumulation and intellectual origins of the idea of a community with a shared future for humanity. It was first mentioned in the "Book of Rites - The Record of Rites and Destiny", which states: "When the great Way prevails, the world becomes a commonwealth. Select the virtuous and capable, practice sincerity and foster harmony. Thus, people will not only be affectionate towards their own relatives and children but also ensure that the elderly have a place to live out their lives. This is called Great Unity." It represents the highest aspiration of ancient people for an ideal society and expresses the pursuit of harmonious coexistence among human beings, society and all things. The envisioned state of "Great Unity" pursued by the ancients is an ideal state of diversity and coexistence. It requires individuals to begin with themselves and, through others, society, all things, and ultimately "harmonize their virtues with the heavens and the earth," thus creating a vibrant community. It embodies the cultural concept of "harmony in diversity," the diplomatic concept of "a shared world for all nations", and the distribution concept of "not fearing scarcity but fearing unevenness".
These concepts continue to play a positive role in the process of modernization and globalization, representing and carrying the common values of all humanity, and ultimately innovating and expanding into the construction and practice of a community with a shared future for humanity. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity is not about replacing one system with another, or one civilization with another. It is about countries with different social systems, ideologies, historical cultures and development levels coexisting, sharing rights and responsibilities in international affairs, and forming the greatest common denominator for building a better world."
The contemporary concept of "Great Unity" is based on a clear understanding of the overall trend of global development. It recognizes that only by managing the relationship between China and the world, building a world economic community, a community with a shared future for humanity, and even a community with a shared future between humans and nature, can we establish a solid situation of win-win cooperation and common prosperity. Valuing Harmony: Promoting Exchange and Mutual Learning of World Civilizations. "Harmony" is an important value concept in Chinese civilization. The Analects of Confucius states, "The use of rituals lies in valuing harmony. This was the beauty of the way of the ancient kings." It outlines a relationship that connects nature and society.
On the natural level, over two thousand years ago, the Chinese proposed the concept of "harmony in diversity." It recognizes that the universe and all things consist of different elements and factors, existing as a unified entity (or a common body) through certain relationships. The universe and all things are based on harmony and exist in a state of harmony. The world is a harmonious one with all things in harmony.
On the social level, the Chinese place great emphasis on harmonious relationships among people. They consider treating others with sincerity, kindness, empathy and benevolence as important aspects of cultivating moral character. In the Western context, the concept of "harmony" also has deep roots and widespread influence. The Pythagorean school of ancient Greece first proposed the category of "harmony". They believed that there is a proportional relationship between numbers, and it is this proportional relationship that creates harmony. As time progressed, the category of "harmony" gradually extended to various fields such as politics, culture and daily life. It can be seen that "harmony" is a cross-cultural and universal pursuit of values, providing important value consensus for the exchange and mutual learning of world civilizations. In particular, the concept of "harmony in diversity" in China offers a new perspective and approach to promoting the construction of a harmonious world and advancing global governance. It emphasizes that true harmony can only be achieved by allowing and accommodating different cultures and civilizations.
This concept also demonstrates that Chinese civilization is committed to promoting the common development of all peoples worldwide and advocating for a diverse yet harmonious coexistence of civilizations. It holds indispensable cultural value in shaping a trustworthy, lovable and respectable image of China and constructing an internationally influential discourse system with Chinese characteristics. The benevolence: Promoting Communication, Cooperation and Understanding among Nations. The concept of "Benevolence" plays a fundamental and dominant role in shaping the character and temperament of the Chinese nation. It continues to demonstrate remarkable vitality and appeal. In the Analects of Confucius, Yan Yuan recorded a conversation where Fan Chi asked about benevolence, and Confucius replied, "Love others." Mencius proposed that "a noble person cultivates benevolence and practices ritual propriety. The benevolent person loves others, and the person who practices ritual propriety respects others. When one loves others, others will constantly love them; when one respects others, others will constantly respect them." In addition to Confucianism, other ancient philosophers such as Mozi and Zhuangzi also discussed the concept of "benevolence" and its association with "loving others" and "benefiting others." They all anchored "benevolence" to the value concept of "loving others." In Chinese culture, "benevolence" (ren) is synonymous with "humanity" (ren), and both are essential characteristics that define human beings. "The benevolent person is a human being. In general terms, it is the Way." (Mencius, Jinxin Part II) "Benevolence" originates from the "empathetic heart" or "sympathy" formed through shared human experiences, particularly within the context of familial relationships. Therefore, the core of "benevolence" is loving others, and filial piety and sibling respect are its fundamental principles.
As the Analects states, "Filial piety and sibling respect are the roots of benevolence." (Analects, Xue Er) Although the concept of "benevolent love" is unique to China, its basic connotation of "loving others" aligns with the universal pursuit of "love" in various civilizations worldwide. "Benevolent love" is a key concept in Confucian cultural tradition, while the idea of "universal love" is a core value in Western Christian cultural tradition. Although they differ in background, orientation and connotations, they share common ground in terms of the underlying emotions they rely on and the action goals they strive for. Therefore, "benevolent love" can serve as an important bond for fostering communication, cooperation and understanding among nations, thereby reducing cultural barriers and minimizing ideological disputes.
The International Dissemination Path of Chinese Civilization Achievements
Given the fundamental characteristics of Chinese civilization and its unique contributions to world civilization, our country should strengthen the international dissemination of Chinese civilization's achievements.
On the one hand, we should engage in diverse forms of cultural exchange activities to promote cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between our country and other nations. On the other hand, we should comprehensively enhance the effectiveness of international communication and explore ways to integrate Chinese and foreign cultures, as well as bridge the past and the present. By leveraging emerging forms of communication, we can ensure that traditional cultural elements are compatible with modern society, bringing ancient texts from books, artifacts from museums, and works of art to life in the practical lives of present and future generations. Through unique and subtle approaches that are "silent and gentle in nurturing", we can foster a concrete perception of Chinese civilization among people from different countries. This will help systematically build channels of communication between Chinese civilization, Chinese wisdom and the world, facilitating dialogue and exchanges. Based on content optimization for international communication, the first step is to systematically sort out and summarize the dissemination content of Chinese civilization achievements. Chinese traditional culture has a long history and profound depth, but it requires professionals to organize and summarize it from the perspective of international communication, selecting appropriate content for dissemination. Secondly, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the international audience for traditional culture. Without understanding the overseas audience, if we simply disseminate the content we want to convey, the ultimate communication effect will be greatly diminished, or even backfire. Furthermore, emphasis should be placed on evaluating the international communication effect.
At the initial stage of top-level design, the final communication effect should be taken into consideration. Based on the desired communication effect, suitable communication strategies and channels should be chosen to effectively enhance the international communication power of Chinese traditional culture. Redefining the International Communication Paradigm based on Emerging Media. In the era of new media, it is important to establish an "audience-centric" communication philosophy, conduct in-depth research on the differences in thinking habits, cultural awareness and values between China and foreign countries, and further optimize the ways of expressing ideas. With numerous new media platforms and diverse forms of communication, each with its own rules and characteristics, they are significantly influencing the global youth. Utilizing new media effectively, especially leveraging globally influential social media clusters, is crucial in telling China's story, spreading China's voice, and showcasing a three-dimensional, authentic and comprehensive portrayal of China. This requires continuous learning and exploration.
By closely integrating the theories of international communication with China's practical experience in foreign communication, we can vividly present China's story, and the intellectual and spiritual strength underlying it, and establish a distinct connection between theory and practice. Cultivating Symbols to Vividly Portray Civilizational Achievements. Cultural symbols are symbolic representations of cultural resources in a particular region and serve as important carriers of civilizational achievements. Extracting representative and highly recognizable symbols from Chinese culture, and coordinating their dissemination paths and paradigms, can effectively enhance the breadth and intensity of international communication regarding their underlying ideas. Taking film and television communication as an example, recent works such as "Operation Red Sea" and "The Wandering Earth" have incorporated the Confucian concept of the "Five Virtues" - benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trustworthiness - showcasing the immortal spirit of patriotism and universal justice. The international communication of Chinese culture should provide a contemporary interpretation and creative representation of these spiritual legacies, presenting the world with the charm of the East, the essence of Chinese culture and the magnificence of a great nation. Nurturing Industries to Promote Innovative Transformation of Civilizational Achievements. Chinese civilization achievements, rooted in profound artifacts, concepts and behaviors, can evoke strong value identification and emotional appeal, providing a fertile ground for cultivating creative design. Through the creative design that borrows, adapts and applies traditional cultural resources, these outstanding civilizational achievements can gain strong expressive and competitive power as unique facets of Chinese discourse.
Therefore, firstly, it is important to promote the complementary and collaborative development of "Cultural China" and "Digital China", fully leveraging China's cutting-edge internet platforms that have a global reach. By integrating internet thinking, updating business models, and reshaping perceptual experiences, cultural products can be digitally marketed to showcase the excellent achievements of traditional culture and demonstrate the brand charm of Cultural China.
Secondly, it is crucial to promote the synergy and resonance between "local consciousness" and "international orientation". By taking advantage of top international events and implementing event marketing strategies, enterprises can utilize their influence in fields such as fashion, design, art and architecture to showcase traditional culture on diverse world stages.