Experts take on Chinese civilization and cultural evolution

Innovation crucial to building modern civilization of nation

By Hui Ming

China has the longest continuous history of any country in the world. Hence, Chinese civilization plays an important role in the history of human society.

From the historical perspective, the origins of Chinese civilization are the foundation on which the Chinese nation has been built and the initial impetus for the integration of disparate ethnic groups into a coherent whole. Over the millennia, Chinese civilization has cultivated remarkable cultural achievements in the fields of science, engineering, and the arts, where there is a remarkable legacy of literature, painting, architecture, music and calligraphy.

Chinese civilization has provided resources to the world and promoted the development of human civilization over thousands of years. Chinese technologies such as the "four great inventions" — the compass, printing, papermaking and gunpowder — were introduced to Europe, bolstering that continent's scientific development and enlightenment, which have in their turn greatly influenced the course of global history, for better and worse.

From a modern perspective, China should have confidence in the value of its traditional culture and the significance of its early civilization. It should make efforts to innovatively employ the elements of its traditional culture to vitalize their contemporary relevance, making them become parts of China's modern civilization. For example, as one of the traditional cultural values prized by Chinese people till now, "honesty" can be adopted in various industries to create a high-quality image for the "Chinese brand". "Learning for self-improvement", as an old saying goes, people today can improve their morality to develop an ideal character that earns respect for their integrity.

Ancient Chinese societies attached great importance to people-focused philosophy, which can be transformed in today's political and legal systems to support socialism with Chinese characteristics. As well as upgrading the country's fine traditional culture, modern Chinese civilization needs to learn from other civilizations to respond to the current problems facing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the development of human civilization.

The integration of Marxism can promote the innovative development of China's traditional culture. Marxism helps Chinese traditional culture transform from "belonging to China" to "belonging to the world" and adds fresh connotations to support the traditional Chinese values. China's modern civilization based on its fine traditional culture and Marxism can become the pioneering culture for the times.

The development of China's traditional culture needs to be driven by innovations in its concepts.

The innovation of its concepts of value can transform the country's fine traditional culture into a vital force for the country's modernization, promote cultural exchanges with other civilizations, cultivate common values and advance the building of a community with a shared future.

The innovation of the academic discourse needs to address current problems and create social sciences with Chinese characteristics, in a bid to establish a vital position for the Chinese discourse in the global development of social sciences.

The innovation of the development path of China's modern civilization requires practical lessons be learned around the world in the fields of politics, economy, society, culture and ecology, so that China can offer its own wisdom and solutions to improve global governance and reduce the trust deficit that is an obstacle to friendly relations.

Efforts should be made to develop China's modern civilization into a reference for other civilizations. As such, China's civilization needs to act as a role model in its response to the environmental and ecological crises confronting humanity. It should adopt a people-centered philosophy and meet the people's aspirations for a better life.

The people-centered philosophy is a typical feature of China's modern civilization. The country's overall plan for building socialism with Chinese characteristics is to promote coordinated progress in the economic, political, cultural, social and eco-environmental fields, strive for scientific development by putting people first and make it comprehensive, balanced and sustainable.

Chinese-style modernization is the modernization of a huge population of common prosperity for all, of material and cultural-ethical advancement, of harmony between humanity and nature and of peaceful development. It develops whole-process people's democracy and enriches the people's cultural lives.

Chinese-style modernization strives to build a human community with a shared future, create a new form of human advancement, and promote the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.

Chinese-style modernization overcomes the historical limitations of Western political, economic, ecological and institutional civilization, which is based on profit-driven capital.

China's inclusive civilization can set a fine model for a global civilization.

The author is a researcher at the China National Center for Cultural Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.