East-West Questions·View on China | Liu Yuejin: Sometimes strong and weak, why has China remained "unity" for thousands of years?

(Essential Questions·View on China) Liu Yuejin: Sometimes strong and weak, why does China stay "unity" for thousands of years?

　　China news agency, Beijing, October 24 -

　　China News Agency reporter Li Jingze and Liang Xiaohui

　　Chinese civilization has contributed a unique concept of "great unification" to human civilization, and this concept has lasted for more than 3,000 years.

Looking back at history, China maintained its "great unification" even when its national power was weak, and did not engage in foreign aggression and colonization during the period of strong development.

　　Strong and weak sometimes, why has China been able to remain "unity" after a thousand years?

How does the Chinese civilization with "great unification" as its essence affect contemporary China, and what enlightenment does it provide for building a diverse and inclusive world order?

　　Professor Liu Yuejin, a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Service on "Question of East and West" to interpret the code of "unification" of Chinese civilization.

Data map: On October 1, 2021, the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the National Day Flag Raising Ceremony was held at Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Sheng Jiapeng

The summary of the interview record is as follows:

China News Agency reporter: Chinese civilization is the only civilization in the world that has never been interrupted in the form of a country. What role does the "great unification" view play in it?

Liu Yuejin:

The term "great unification" first appeared in the literature when it appeared in the "Chunqiu Gongyang Biography·Yin AD".

Gong Yang Gao was a disciple of Confucius, the son of Xia, and he should have been from the beginning of the Warring States Period.

Gong Yanggao's proposal of "Great Unification" is closely related to Confucius' "Spring and Autumn".

The three biography of "The Spring and Autumn" have their own emphasis. They generally believe that Confucius's "The Spring and Autumn" is to respect the king and eliminate the barbarians and restore the orthodox.

"The Story of Gongyang" more from the perspective of orthodoxy, digging into the "small words and great meaning" of "Spring and Autumn".

　　Speaking of "The Story of Gongyang", Dong Zhongshu has to mention it.

During the period of Emperor Wu Che of the Han Dynasty, Dong Zhongshu made a systematic interpretation of the "Great Unification" view of "Spring and Autumn" based on the actual situation at that time.

In Dong Zhongshu’s thoughts, “great unification” has such a logical relationship, that is, from “great unification” to orthodoxy, from orthodoxy to the concept of unity of nature and man, from unity of heaven and man to the concept of monarch power and deity, and from monarch power and deity to The concept of the world.

Ultimately, the world will be unified.

In this ideological system, the "orthodox view" is the logical starting point of the "great unification" view.

　　After the orthodoxy concept was established, how to maintain orthodoxy became the focus of attention of thinkers at that time.

Sima Qian once asked and learned from Dong Zhongshu, and based on "Spring and Autumn", he compiled a "Historical Records" that explored the changes between the ancient and the modern while studying the nature and human beings, and comprehensively and systematically outlined the "infinite lines of Chinese civilization since the Five Emperors". "The pedigree of civilization.

　　With the idea of ​​"great unification" and its own civilized pedigree, no matter how dynasties change, any emerging dynasty must recognize its ancestors and integrate into the Chinese civilization system if it wants to gain a foothold in the land of China.

It can be said that Dong Zhongshu, Sima Qian and others have jointly built a solid foundation for the "great unification" thought.

　　The so-called "big" has the meaning of dignity and beauty. In other words, it can also be said that unification is the greatest.

The so-called "unification", with the unification of the Qin and Han Dynasties, thinkers finally merged the doctrines of the various schools of thought, highlighting Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism also occupy an important position, forming an influence in China for more than two thousand years. The ruling ideological system of foreign Confucianism and internal law.

Data Map: On September 28, 2021, the Confucius Ceremony of the Xin Chounian Memorial Ceremony was held in the Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Sheng Jiapeng

China News Agency reporter: Why can "great unification" become a reality and grow stronger in China?

What kind of influence did the Chinese civilization, with "great unification" as its essence, have on the world?

Liu Yuejin:

The reason why China's "great unification" can become a reality and last for a long time is closely related to our cultural traditions.

Historical experience tells us that in major historical events, cultural choices can often affect the development direction of a nation.

　　Many dynasties in Chinese history have common characteristics: first, they replaced the declining previous dynasties with force to win the world; second, they inherited the previous system and resolved various contradictions; third, they gradually shifted from martial arts to the rule of culture, and then headed for prosperity.

Of these three points, the last one is particularly important.

It is the most basic principle to gain the world immediately, but not to rule the world immediately.

After martial arts, the rule of culture is needed, and all dynasties in history have devoted themselves to the realization of ideological and cultural "unity."

This is an important historical experience.

　　The various ethnic groups in China have gone through more than 5,000 years of historical changes, and have maintained exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations, and finally jointly formed the Chinese nation community.

The sense of community of the Chinese nation is the root of our nation's long history and time-honored development.

Every national integration has promoted the country's "great unification" and the great development of Chinese civilization.

　　Historical experience has shown that problems and differences are often resolved by the wisdom of civilization and culture, and the goal of being a cultural man and a cultural world can be achieved through a civilized method.

This is the cultural gene that has allowed the concept of "great unification" to take root and develop in the land of China.

　　Chinese culture built on the basis of "great unification" has a strong cultural appeal in the exchanges of various civilizations.

While fully absorbing foreign cultures and creating the glorious Chinese civilization, the Chinese nation is also actively and confidently spreading Chinese culture, which not only nurtures Chinese children, but also exerts an important influence on neighboring countries and even Europe and the United States, becoming a treasure house of world civilization. An important part of a very distinctive feature.

　　For example, the excellent Chinese traditional culture has been spread to Europe long ago through the Silk Road.

The "History of Chinese Culture Spreading to Europe in the West" compiled by France's Yasuda Park shows that since the 17th century, libraries in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and other countries have collected a large number of Chinese classics.

During this period, some allusions and even some works in many Chinese classics attracted the attention of Western scholars.

Many people of insight in the West have discovered that Eastern culture can internalize national spiritual will, national cultural ideas, social responsibility awareness, and moral pursuits into individual self-consciousness, which helps to eliminate the barriers between people, society, and nature. , Opposition, bridging the differences between country and country, race and family, family and family, has an important role in resolving conflicts and crises and integrating social forces.

This proves once again that the core of the Chinese humanistic spirit is to culture the world, make the best of everything, and do the best of people, instead of resorting to force to solve problems.

Data map: Beijing "The Power of Truth-Thematic Exhibition Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of Marx's Birth" site.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Jia Tianyong

China News Agency reporter: The Communist Party of China clearly proposed to promote the integration of the basic principles of Marxism with the excellent traditional Chinese culture.

How should this "combination" of the new era advance with the times?

Liu Yuejin:

Marxism was introduced to China in the early 20th century as a brand-new thought, not only because it is the most scientific objective truth so far, but also because it can communicate with China on a cultural level and has specific practical dialogues and exchanges. Gradually take root, blossom and bear fruit in the ancient eastern land.

　　For a hundred years, the Chinese Communists have persisted in combining Marxism with China's specific reality, using the power of scientific communism to activate the cultural genes of the Chinese nation that have been passed down from generation to generation, and the Chinese civilization once again burst out with a powerful spiritual force.

The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has made comprehensive arrangements for a series of major issues in China's future development. Promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of China's excellent traditional culture is an important part of it.

　　In the process of advancing the integration of the basic principles of Marxism with the excellent traditional Chinese culture, we must strengthen our cultural self-confidence. We must neither eat the past nor change it from the foreign, nor look up or down on Western culture, let alone look forward to the head of the West; Walk one's own way, return to tradition, maintain integrity and innovation, and at the same time have a mindset of "inclusive of all rivers, tolerance is great", tolerate a variety of methods; follow the principle of "creative transformation, innovative development" and face the world , Facing the future, sublate inheritance.

This is an inevitable choice to create a new glorious Chinese civilization.

　　For example, China proposes to forge a sense of the community of the Chinese nation. The innovative development of the community of the Chinese nation in the new era is conducive to further consolidating the foundation of national unity, grasping the foundation of national unity, and gathering more spiritual strength for the country and national rejuvenation.

　　For another example, the concept of "great unification" regards safeguarding the integrity of territorial sovereignty as a basic symbol of national dignity.

Every Chinese son or daughter, no matter when or where he is born, is a member of the big family of the Chinese nation and has a strong identity for national unity and national rejuvenation.

This character has provided inexhaustible impetus for the promotion of national unity and the continuation of the development of Chinese civilization.

Reporter from China News Service: In your opinion, what enlightenment can China's "great unification" offer for mankind to join hands in building a diverse and inclusive world order?

Liu Yuejin:

Exploring, answering, and coping with the complexity of various cultures in the world is an important part of the excellent traditional Chinese culture.

As early as 2005, Xi Jinping, then secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, pointed out: "Our ancestors created an unparalleled culture, and the'hehe' culture is one of the essence of this."

　　The "harmony" culture in the "great unification" idea emphasizes that there is me in you, and you in me. It is impossible to remain independent; the development of human civilization is not an all-or-nothing, evolutionary process of survival of the fittest, and does not follow the law of the jungle. .

Today, the "hehe" culture has brought many enlightenments to jointly build a diverse and inclusive world order.

　　"Harmony" culture, with ethics as the core value, emphasizing pluralism, emphasizing the harmonious coexistence of people and people, people and society, and people and nature; focusing on the overall thinking of things and the close connection of everything; the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty Complete and unified.

The same meaning, in other words, is "the unity of man and nature", let it be.

This is quite different from the fact that modern science pays more attention to "truth" and neglects "good", and pays more attention to reality regardless of the consequences.

　　"Hehe" culture emphasizes the sense of responsibility, dedication, and cooperation concept. This is fundamentally different from Western culture, which takes interest as its core value, emphasizes natural human rights, advocates individualism, and emphasizes the law of competition.

　　"Hehe" culture values ​​the upholding of kindness, the observance of filial piety and the observance of courtesy and justice; it has always encouraged diligence, truth-seeking and innovation; it has always upheld the moral principle of "do not do to others what you do not want it to be"; "Responsible" family and country feelings and so on.

These profound ideas have been integrated into the blood of the Chinese people, and they are still full of vitality.

　　Respect for the diversity of world culture and the uniqueness of other ethnic cultures is an inevitable requirement for realizing the prosperity of world culture. It is also a representative statement of the cultural concept of "harmony", which is worthy of our deep consideration.

　　Looking to the future, Chinese civilization can fully dialogue, collide and blend with other civilizations in the world, especially Western civilization, and contribute to the construction of common values ​​for all mankind.

For some major challenges faced by all mankind, only when Chinese and Western civilizations join hands can they find the correct solutions more effectively.

(over)

About the interviewee:

　　Liu Yuejin is a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, deputy director of the Department of Philosophy and Humanities, and a doctoral supervisor at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Editor-in-chief of "Literature Review" magazine, President of the Chinese Society of Literature and Historical Materials, Vice President of China Modern Culture Research Association, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Chinese Literature Volume 3rd Edition of Encyclopedia of China, Editor-in-Chief of Pre-Qin Volume, Qin-Han Volume, National Social Science Foundation of China Members of the review team.

Published "Qin and Han Literary Geography and Distribution of Literati", "Qin and Han Literary Chronicles", "A Collection of Family and Literature", "Middle Ancient Literature Philology", "Fu to Vicissitudes-An Introduction to Chinese Classical Poetry" and other monographs, "Classical Literature Documents" Collections of articles such as "Manuscripts", "Qin and Han Literary Essays", "Towards Harmony: A Study of Chinese Classical Literature at the Turn of the Century", "Transcendence in Return-Multiple Possibilities in the Study of Literary History".