Understand the Defining Characteristics of Chinese Civilization

Understand the Defining Characteristics of Chinese Civilization*

June 2, 2023

China’s traditional culture encompasses a multitude of significant concepts, including social ideals of pursuing the common good for all and achieving universal peace; governance principles of regarding the people as the foundations of the state and governing by virtue; traditions of striving for great unity in the country by promoting unified governance over all regions and ensuring unity amid diversity; values of dedication to self-cultivation, family management, state governance, and peace for all, and shouldering one’s duties to secure the future of the nation; aspirations of embracing the world with virtue and cultivating integrity; economic principles of enriching the people and improving their lives and pursuing the greater good and shared interests; eco-environmental ideas of promoting harmony between humanity and nature and the coexistence of all living things; philosophical ideas of seeking truth from facts and combining knowledge with action; the mindset of understanding multiple perspectives and achieving harmony through the middle way; and communication approaches of acting in good faith and being friendly to others. These concepts collectively shape the defining characteristics of Chinese civilization.

Chinese civilization is distinguished by its continuity. It is the only uninterrupted great civilization that continues to this day in a state form. This unequivocally affirms the cultural identity and robust vitality of Chinese civilization as it has responded to challenges and broken new ground through self-development. The Chinese people’s deep love for the motherland and profound sense of history buttress popular support for upholding great unity and provide spiritual support for guiding the Chinese nation through countless hardships on the path to national rejuvenation. This continuity inherently dictates that the Chinese nation will follow its own path. If not through the prism of its extensive history of continuity, one would not be able to understand ancient China or contemporary China, far less the China of the future.

Chinese civilization is distinguished by its creativity. It places emphasis on discarding the outdated in favor of the new and making progress on a daily basis. It embodies both profound depth and dynamic forward surges. Continuity does not mean being stagnant or inflexible; on the contrary, it represents a history marked by creativity-driven progress. The Chinese nation embraces the ethos of self-renewal — as an ancient saying goes, “Improve yourself each day, do so from day to day, and there will be daily improvement.” This spirit propels the Chinese nation’s sustained material, cultural-ethical and political progress, allowing it to stand tall and firm as one of the most prosperous and powerful civilizations throughout a long historical period. The creativity of Chinese civilization determines that it upholds tradition without clinging to the past and respects ancient wisdom without reverting to archaic thinking. It also determines that the Chinese nation is fearless in facing new challenges and embracing new things.

Chinese civilization is distinguished by its unity. China’s long­standing tradition of great unity underpins its commitment to upholding unity amid diversity and maintaining solidarity through centrality. The internal cohesion of maintaining unity is both a prerequisite for and a result of Chinese civilization’s continuity. Through bitter experience, Chinese people have learned that unity and solidarity bring prosperity, whereas national fragmentation and turmoil breed adversity. The unity of Chinese civilization has seen its various ethnic cultures coming together to create a cohesive whole and remaining tight-knit even in the face of serious setbacks. It shapes a common belief that China’s territorial integrity must always be preserved, the country must never be allowed to descend into turmoil, the nation must always remain united, and the civilization must never be interrupted. It firmly underscores the idea that national unity always remains at the core of national interests and that a robust, unified nation is essential to the future of all the Chinese people.

Chinese civilization is distinguished by its inclusiveness. Rather than replacing diverse cultures with a single monoculture, Chinese civilization endeavors to integrate various cultures into a shared tapestry, resolving conflicts and forging consensus. By transcending regional disparities, kinship ties, and religious beliefs, Chinese cultural identity has successfully transformed our vast nation into one that cherishes unity amid diversity. The more inclusive a civilization becomes, the more favor and support it garners, and the longer it endures. The inclusiveness of Chinese civilization determines the Chinese nation’s direction towards interactions, exchanges and integration, as well as the harmonious coexistence of diverse religious beliefs in the country. It also defines the open-mindedness of Chinese culture to embrace and draw on other cultures.

Chinese civilization is distinguished by its peacefulness. Over five millennia, Chinese civilization has always upheld peace, amity and harmony. It advocates applying moral principles to create a world where the common good and individual interests harmoniously coexist, as well as prioritizing others in self-other relationships. It stands against isolation and in favor of interaction, advocates coexistence and shared progress, opposes coercion, advocates peace through harmony, and rejects the law of the jungle. The intrinsic peaceful nature of Chinese civilization determines that China will always work to safeguard world peace, contribute to global development, and uphold international order. China remains committed to promoting exchanges and mutual learning among diverse civilizations without ever seeking cultural hegemony. China will not impose its values and political system upon others. It is committed to cooperation rather than confrontation, and it will never form exclusive blocs against others.

* Part of the speech at a meeting on cultural inheritance and development

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