◇ Chinese civilization is famous for its openness and tolerance since ancient times. It has an eclectic and all-encompassing broad mind, which has both a "inclusive" mind and a "tolerant" wisdom.
◇ The idea of "one country under heaven, harmonious society and all nations" is an important element of Chinese excellent traditional culture, which profoundly embodies Chinese’s view of the world and the world, and shows the open and inclusive pattern and big mind of Chinese civilization.
◇ To further stimulate the inclusive characteristics of Chinese civilization, we should persist in focusing on ourselves, connecting ancient and modern times and integrating Chinese and foreign countries, actively absorb and learn from all outstanding achievements of ancient and modern Chinese and foreign civilizations, constantly create new glories of Chinese culture and build a modern civilization of the Chinese nation.
Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu Province (photo taken on April 25, 2023) Photo taken by Chen Bin/this magazine.
On June 2, 2023, at the symposium on cultural inheritance and development, General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out that "Chinese civilization has outstanding inclusiveness" and made a profound exposition. This points out the direction for us to understand the inclusive characteristics of Chinese civilization.
Tolerance is the virtue of heaven and earth in Chinese’s mind, a kind of mind and wisdom. Through the word "Bao" and "Rong", we can deeply understand the inclusive characteristics of Chinese civilization.
"Bao" is all-encompassing, embracing the world, embodying the broad mind of Chinese civilization, highlighting the civilized state and pattern of Chinese civilization with extensive content and rich connotation, as well as the civilized mentality of opening to the outside world.
"Tolerance" embodies the superb tolerance wisdom of Chinese civilization, and highlights that Chinese civilization correctly handles differences, resolves conflicts and realizes integration on the basis of all parties, so that all parties can live in harmony and develop together.
The reason why Chinese civilization can last for a long time and is deeply rooted lies in its unparalleled inclusiveness and absorption, with both a "inclusive" mind and a "tolerant" wisdom.
The mind of "Bao"
Chinese civilization has been famous for its openness and tolerance since ancient times, and it has an eclectic and all-encompassing broad mind.
Including the diversity of all ethnic groups. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "A history of China is a history in which all ethnic groups blend and converge into a pluralistic Chinese nation".
China is a unified multi-ethnic country, and the Chinese nation is gradually formed in the exchanges between various ethnic groups on the land of China. Since ancient times, there have been many ethnic groups on the land of China. After a long period of ethnic migration and ethnic integration, the Chinese nation with 56 ethnic groups has been formed, showing a pluralistic and integrated pattern.
"Pluralism" means that all ethnic groups have their own personnel groups, lifestyles, customs and habits, have created their own distinctive cultural traditions, and have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages and religious beliefs.
"Integration" means that all ethnic groups belong to the Chinese nation, jointly explore China’s vast territory, jointly write China’s long history, and jointly create China’s splendid culture, forming a national community with staggered distribution, eclectic culture, economic interdependence and emotional closeness. You have me, I have you, and no one can live without anyone, and building a common spiritual home for the Chinese nation.
Chinese civilization is a civilization jointly created by the big family of the Chinese nation, and Chinese culture is the epitome of all ethnic cultures. From Zhao Wuling Wang Hu Fu riding and shooting to the localization reform of Emperor Xiaowen in the Northern Wei Dynasty; From "Everyone in Luoyang learns Hu Le" to "Qiang people in Wan Li do their best to sing Chinese songs"; From the frontier ethnic groups’ habit of "clothes under the clothes" and "elegant songs and Confucian clothes" to the prevalence of "clothes under the pants" in the Central Plains, Hu Yi Hu Mao, and the lion dance, Hu Qin and cheongsam that can be seen everywhere today, all show the mutual learning and integration of national cultures.
Including different ideas, let a hundred flowers blossom. The General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "We should adhere to the policy of letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend, promote academic democracy and artistic democracy, create a positive, healthy, relaxed and harmonious atmosphere, advocate full discussion of different viewpoints and schools, advocate full development of genres, themes, forms and means, and promote the exchange of ideas, contents, styles and schools."
Ideological culture is the core content of China traditional culture. Chinese ideology and culture are developing in multiple directions, including various ideas and academic schools.
In the pre-Qin period, there was a prosperous situation in which hundred schools of thought contended. Later, from the pre-Qin Confucianism, Confucian Classics in Han Dynasty, metaphysics in Wei and Jin Dynasties to Buddhism in Sui and Tang Dynasties, the confluence of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, and Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties, Chinese ideology and culture experienced several periods of academic prosperity, resulting in various theories such as Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Mohism, Fame, Legalism, Yin and Yang, Agriculture, Miscellany and Military, and Laozi, Confucius, Zhuangzi, Mencius and Xunzi emerged.
In the historical process, although Confucianism has been in a dominant position for a long time, it has always been different from other theories, opposing and unifying, competing with each other and learning from each other. These thoughts and theories are changing with time and changing with things. They are constantly developing and updating in line with the requirements of China’s economic and social development and the advancement of the times, and have long-term vitality. Let a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend is the historical trend and basic law of the long-term development and evolution of Chinese ideology and culture, and it is also the basic policy that must be adhered to to to continue to promote the prosperity and development of Chinese ideology and culture.
Many religions coexist harmoniously in Baona. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "The law of the development of religion lies in ‘ And ’ " .
China is a country where many religions coexist, including local Taoism, foreign Buddhism, Islam, Catholicism, etc., forming a harmonious pattern in which various religious beliefs coexist in diversity. Historically, Chinese civilization has tolerated and accepted different religions. On the one hand, we recognize the existence of different religious beliefs, allow the healthy activities and development of religions, and give full play to their positive roles; On the other hand, efforts should be made to guide religions to adapt to China society and integrate with Chinese culture, and actively promote the localization of religions. For example, Buddhism originated in ancient India, but after it was introduced to China, after a long-term evolution, Buddhism merged with Confucianism and Taoism in China, forming a unique Buddhist theory.
Including all countries’ civilizations and nations. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "Since ancient times, the Chinese nation has taken ‘ The world is one ’ 、‘ Concord Wanbang ’ Broad-minded, confident and generous to carry out ethnic exchanges and cultural exchanges with other countries. "
Chinese civilization is an open system. Shang Shu Yao Dian records the situation of "harmony among all nations" in the era of Emperor Yao. More than 100 years BC, China began to open up the Silk Road to the Western Regions. In the Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian made two missions to the Western Regions, and China’s fleet arrived in India and Sri Lanka to exchange goods. Foreign exchanges were very active in the Tang Dynasty, with more than 70 countries making good contacts. The Song Dynasty actively opened up overseas trade, which played a great role in promoting economic development. The Yuan Dynasty established direct contact with Eurasia and promulgated a series of policies to encourage foreign trade. Zheng He, a famous navigator in Ming Dynasty, made seven ocean voyages and reached Africa. In the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, Chinese actively studied modern scientific and technological knowledge, and European knowledge of astronomy, medicine and mathematics was introduced into China.
Since modern times, exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations have been more frequent. In particular, Marxism was introduced into China, deeply integrated with Chinese civilization, and inspired new vitality of Chinese civilization with the light of truth. The exchange and blending of Chinese and foreign civilizations has greatly promoted the spread of Chinese culture to the world, and also greatly promoted the introduction of cultures and products from various countries into China. The idea of "one country under heaven, harmonious society and all nations" is an important element of Chinese excellent traditional culture, which profoundly embodies Chinese’s view of the universe and the world, and shows the broad pattern and broad mind of Chinese civilization’s eclecticism, openness and tolerance to world civilization.
The wisdom of "tolerance"
Treating different nationalities, ideas, religious beliefs and national civilizations, Chinese civilization is good at resolving conflicts, building consensus and achieving integration on the basis of respecting differences and pluralism, and has superb wisdom of "tolerance".
Treat each other as equals. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "Civilization is equal, and human civilization has the premise of exchange and mutual learning because of equality."
The premise of tolerance is equality, which means that all parties concerned respect each other and treat each other as equals on the same status. Chinese traditional culture contains rich ideas of equality. For example, Laozi’s "Heaven’s Way can make up for the deficiency", Confucius advocates "teaching without distinction", and Buddhism emphasizes "equality of all beings", and so on.
From the perspective of the integration and development of the Chinese nation, the reason why the Chinese nation can form a national unity with strong vitality is precisely because it has achieved national unity and mutual assistance on the basis of equality and respect among ethnic groups, and all ethnic groups have jointly created national history and resisted external risks.
From the perspective of different civilizations, all kinds of human civilizations are equal in value, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The development history of human civilization shows that it is foolish in understanding and disastrous in practice to think that one’s own race and civilization are superior and insist on transforming or even replacing other civilizations. It is precisely because we treat other civilizations with equality, modesty and respect, and learn from the achievements of different civilizations that Chinese civilization has always been enduring in eclecticism.
Exchange and learn from each other. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "Civilization is colorful because of communication, and civilization is enriched because of mutual learning."
On the basis of equality and respect, mutual exchange, mutual learning and mutual learning are the fundamental ways to achieve tolerance and integration. The history of mankind is a magnificent picture of the exchange, mutual learning and integration of different civilizations. "The Analects of Confucius" begins by saying, "It’s better to learn from time to time, isn’t it? Isn’t it a pleasure to have friends coming from afar? " This profoundly reflects the civilized character of the Chinese nation, which loves learning, is good at communication and advocates communication. The 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization fully shows that all species, technologies, resources, people, and even ideas and cultures are developing and progressing through continuous communication, exchange and interaction.
In the long-term evolution process, Chinese civilization has gained rich nutrition from exchanges with other civilizations, and has also made important contributions to the progress of human civilization. The opening of the Silk Road, the dispatch of a large number of Tang envoys from Sui Dynasty to China, Fa Xian and Xuan Zang’s journey to the west to learn from the scriptures, Zheng He’s seven trips to the ocean, and so on are all vivid examples of exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations.
To learn from external civilization, we must uphold two attitudes: we must actively learn from the strengths of external civilization, persist in learning from each other’s strengths, and choose the good and follow; We should also proceed from the reality of our country and nation, and persist in removing the rough and selecting the fine, removing the false and retaining the true.
Seek common ground while reserving differences. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "Civilized coexistence requires the spirit of harmony but difference."
"The beauty of harmony lies in the similarities and differences." The key to the exchange and integration of civilizations is to handle the differences between different civilizations. "Things are not uniform, and the feelings of things are also." Difference and diversity are the basic characteristics and inherent attributes of human civilization.
How to treat and deal with differences? Chinese civilization emphasizes seeking common ground while reserving differences, and grasps the relationship between similarities and differences, me and him, and one and many. On the one hand, seeking common ground. He is good at seeking commonality and consistency in differences, finding the greatest common divisor and drawing the greatest concentric circle. Human civilizations are common in essential attributes. "Every civilization is the crystallization of beauty, and it shows the beauty of creation. All good things are connected. " In this sense, there is no conflict between civilizations.
On the other hand, reserving differences. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "Like-minded people are partners. Seeking common ground while reserving differences is also a partner. " While seeking agreement, we should acknowledge differences, fully respect diversity, fully realize the uniqueness of each country and nation’s civilization, rationally handle the differences of civilizations, and adhere to the attitude of tolerance while reserving differences.
China’s traditional culture, such as "When in Rome, do as the Romans do", profoundly reflects Chinese’s character and wisdom of seeking common ground while reserving differences.
Harmony and symbiosis. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "Harmony and symbiosis are the historical genes of the Chinese nation and the essence of oriental civilization."
Different civilizations exchange and learn from each other, persist in seeking common ground while reserving differences, learn from each other’s strengths, and ultimately achieve harmonious coexistence, harmony and symbiosis. The Book of Rites, The Doctrine of the Mean, puts forward that "all things coexist without harming each other, and the Tao is parallel without contradicting each other", which profoundly embodies the truth that Chinese civilization pursues harmony and symbiosis.
The development history of human civilization shows that to promote the prosperity and progress of human civilization, different types of civilizations must live in harmony, complement each other and shine together, and jointly weave colorful pictures. To pursue harmony and symbiosis, we should establish the consciousness of "common destiny" and realize that human beings are a whole and the earth is a home. In the face of common challenges, no one, no country or any civilization can be immune. To form the concept of "one family under the world", every country and nation should uphold the concept of unity, cooperation and common development and take the road of joint construction, sharing and win-win; To carry forward the spirit of "self-interest", the leading countries should sincerely help other countries to develop, not only to make their own civilization full of vitality, but also to create conditions for the development of other countries’ civilizations.
The General Secretary of the Supreme Leader proposed to build a community of human destiny and "three global initiatives", which showed a broad global vision and a strong mission, provided China’s plan to meet the common challenges faced by mankind, contributed China’s wisdom, and fully demonstrated the great pattern and wisdom of contemporary China in seeking harmony and symbiosis.
Further stimulate the inclusive characteristics of Chinese civilization
Bao and Rong are dialectical unity. Chinese civilization, with its profound connotation, both mind and wisdom, has achieved the unity of "package" and "capacity", showing its distinctive tolerance characteristics in the long-term historical accumulation. Inclusiveness has played a great role in the long-term survival, development and prosperity of the Chinese nation, and shaped the unique image and temperament of Chinese civilization standing in the forest of world civilization. To further stimulate the inclusive characteristics of Chinese civilization, we must persist in focusing on ourselves, connecting ancient and modern times, and integrating Chinese and foreign countries, and actively absorb and learn from all outstanding achievements of civilizations in ancient and modern times and at home and abroad, and constantly create new glories of Chinese culture and build a modern civilization of the Chinese nation.
Give priority to me and stick to the position and self-confidence of Chinese civilization. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader stressed: "Only a confident civilization can tolerate, learn from and absorb different civilizations while maintaining its own national characteristics."
After thousands of years, Chinese civilization has been endless and enduring, which is a miracle of human civilization and our confidence. Independence is the soul of the Chinese nation’s spirit and provides a powerful force for the development and prosperity of Chinese civilization. To stimulate the inclusive characteristics of Chinese civilization, we must first be confident and self-reliant, adhere to the position of Chinese civilization, consolidate the subjectivity of Chinese civilization, and be independent in spirit and mentality. Insist on taking me as the main factor, firmly take root in our own soil, always look at, examine and tolerate all civilizations from the standpoint of Chinese civilization, and absorb and learn from the outstanding achievements that contribute to the development of Chinese civilization based on China’s own history, reality and needs.
Through ancient and modern times, we will promote the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese excellent traditional culture. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader stressed: "We should handle the relationship between inheritance and creative development, and focus on creative transformation and innovative development."
Chinese excellent traditional culture is the crystallization and essence of Chinese civilization, the root and soul of the Chinese nation, and the foundation for us to gain a firm foothold in the agitation of world culture. To stimulate the inclusive characteristics of Chinese civilization, we must integrate ancient and modern times, fully explore the treasure house and rich mines of Chinese excellent traditional culture, and fully activate the vitality of Chinese excellent traditional culture. The key is to make the past serve the present and bring forth the new, so that the traditional culture can be integrated with the real culture and do a good job in creative transformation and innovative development.
Creative transformation is to transform those connotations and old expressions that still have reference value, endow them with new connotations and modern expressions and activate their vitality according to the characteristics and requirements of the times. Innovative development is to supplement, expand and improve the connotation of Chinese excellent traditional culture and enhance its influence and appeal according to the progress of the times.
Integrate China and foreign countries, and extensively absorb and learn from the achievements of outstanding civilizations in the world. All kinds of civilizations created by human beings are the crystallization of labor and wisdom, and each civilization has its unique charm, is the spiritual treasure of human beings, and has its merits.
Chinese civilization is so splendid and profound that it benefits from continuous exchanges and integration with other civilizations and actively absorbs and integrates the achievements of other civilizations. To stimulate the inclusive characteristics of Chinese civilization, we must integrate Chinese and foreign countries, absorb the outstanding achievements of civilizations in the world more actively, draw nutrients from the "sum of human knowledge", and be eclectic and learn from others. It is necessary to strengthen dialogue, exchanges and cooperation with other civilizations, enrich the contents of exchanges, expand channels of cooperation, maintain an open and modest attitude, and learn from them extensively.
At the same time, we should actively promote Chinese civilization to the world, not only to promote the localization of foreign cultures, but also to promote the internationalization of Chinese culture, so that Chinese civilization can continue to prosper and maintain its vitality in the process of deep interaction with the world and deep opening to the world.   (Wen Yi Xu Shuai Biao Author: the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Institute of Party History and Literature)
(Outlook, No.12, 2024)
