Keywords to Understand China: Chinese Philosophy – Origins and Contemporary Relevance

This booklet， Keywords to Understand China: Chinese Philosophy – Origins and Contemporary Relevance， has been compiled to tell stories about Chinese civilization and help a global audience better understand its development under socialism. It has selected 80 keyword entries covering “self-cultivation，” “people-centered philosophy，” “good governance，” and “relations with other nations” to present China’s philosophy of benevolence， people-orientation， honesty， justice， concordance， and universal harmony， and the classical allusions behind contemporary governance.

Keywords to Understand China: Chinese Philosophy – Origins and Contemporary Relevance

China International Communications Group， Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies， and China Academy of Translation

New World Press

March 2023

68.00 (CNY)

China International Communications Group

China International Communications Group (CICG) is China’s publisher with an international focus. Spanning all continents， its business covers translation， publishing， printing， distribution， and Internet and multimedia content. It also engages in research on issues related to cross-cultural communication.

Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies

As indicated by its name， the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS) is a national think tank dedicated to research and policy planning focusing on contemporary China and the rest of the world. In addition to exploring effective ways to make China’s stories reach an international audience， it also studies translation and interpretation， international discourse， cross-cultural communication， and global media opinions. It is affiliated with the China International Communications Group.

China Academy of Translation

China Academy of Translation (CATL) is a national think tank devoted to the study of translation， interpretation， and international discourse. Its mission is to conduct research on China’s translation capacity and on the role of translation in cultural exchanges， coordinate national translation projects， organize advanced translator training， and promote cross-cultural communication and cooperation. It is affiliated with the China International Communications Group.

Studying the Nature of Things to Acquire Knowledge

This is a quotation from The Great Learning. It is an important concept in traditional Chinese culture， meaning that one should conduct a full investigation of a certain issue to get a complete understanding. “Studying the nature of things， acquiring knowledge， making one’s purpose sincere， adjusting one’s thoughts， cultivating oneself， managing family， governing the state， and bringing peace to all under heaven，” these are collectively known as the “eight essential principles” of ancient Chinese political philosophy.

This quotation indicates that one needs to use knowledge already acquired to analyze and judge the surrounding people and objects in order to build a clear outlook on the world， life and values. The extended meaning is that one should learn to tell right and wrong and discern truth from 1hood， get to know oneself through interaction with other people and surrounding objects， and find one’s own position in society.

At the seminar in Peking University in May 2014， President Xi Jinping pointed out: Since ancient times， the Chinese people have developed our country through studying the nature of things to acquire knowledge， correcting thoughts with sincerity， cultivating the moral self， managing the family， governing the state， and bringing peace to all under heaven.

Unity of Knowing and Doing

This phrase implies the close relationship between what one knows and what one does. “Knowing” refers to one’s perception of the objects， and “doing” refers to one’s actual deeds.

The unity of knowing and doing does not mean that knowing is doing and knowing can replace doing， or vice versa. It actually means that one should understand things correctly and act accordingly. Knowing is the premise， while doing is putting knowledge to work. The relationship between the two is an ancient Chinese philosophical topic. It is believed that one’s conduct is controlled by one’s conscience， and one will act properly on one’s own initiative only if the true purpose is to do good.

President Xi Jinping has emphasized the unity of knowing and doing on a number of occasions. He demands that officials and members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) lead others in theoretical study and apply their knowledge in concrete actions.

Addressing a training program for young officials at the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance)， opened in March 2019， he said: Party officials， especially younger ones like you， should have a thorough understanding and good command of theories and strengthen your ideals and convictions through study. You should remain true to the Party’s original aspiration and founding mission as Party members， improve yourselves through self-reflection， and take responsibility while applying what you have learned in your work.

Great Virtue Is like Water

This comes from Dao De Jing (Classic of the Way and Virtue)， also known as Lao Zi (The Book of Lao Zi). It means that the greatest virtue is like water， nourishing all things without competing with them.

Lao Zi (dates unknown)， or Li Er， a thinker of the Spring and Autumn Period (770BCE--476 BCE) and the founder of philosophical Daoism， used this simile to advocate that a virtuous ruler should govern with the gentle and accommodating qualities displayed by water. He should assist and provide for the people just as water does， rather than competing with them for resources. Later this term came to mean that one should act as water does in nourishing all things and do one’s best to help others without seeking fame or profit. It also implies virtues such as endurance and modesty.

Addressing the welcome dinner of the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Beijing in November 2014， President Xi Jinping said: Over 2，000 years ago， Chinese philosopher Lao Zi noted that “The great virtue is like water， which benefits all of creation without trying to compete with them.” True， water nourishes all things under heaven. We， APEC member economies， are brought together by the water of the Pacific Ocean. We have a shared responsibility to make the Pacific an ocean of peace， friendship and cooperation， an ocean that brings harmony， development， prosperity， and progress to the Asia-Pacific region.

The People Are the Foundation of a State.

This idea comes from The Book of History. As the people are the foundation of a state， the state will have peace only when the people all lead a happy， stable life. This people-centered philosophy reminds rulers to value the people， exercise benevolent governance， and take the people’s wellbeing as their priority.

As the ruling party， the CPC believes that “The country is its people， and the people are the country.” Therefore it always serves the people whole-heartedly and relies on them to make progress.

President Xi Jinping has on more than one occasion elaborated on the political dictum that “The people are the foundation of a state， and the state will have peace when the foundation is solid.” This reflects his people-centered philosophy on governance and his commitment to exercising power for the people.

He cited “The people are the foundation of a state” as the first of the many quotations from ancient classics to share with the teachers and students at the seminar in Peking University in May 2014.

The Country Enjoys Prosperity， and the People Live in Peace.

This phrase comes from Meng Liang Lu (Records of the Capital) by Wu Zimu (dates unknown)， a scholar of the Song Dynasty (960--1279). It depicts a state of peace in the country， harmony in society， and contentment among the people. This has been an ideal pursued by almost every ruler since ancient times. It is also an aspiration shared by the populace. Peace and stability benefit both the state and the people， and this again proves the value of the Chinese pursuit of peace.

In his New Year addresses for 2021， 2022 and 2023， President Xi Jinping concluded his remarks with the same wish， “May our country enjoy prosperity and our people live in peace!” This is a sincere wish for the country on its journey ahead and reflects Xi’s genuine concern for the interests of all Chinese people.

The Way Follows Nature

This idea first appeared in the Classic of the Way and Virtue. Dao， or the Way， creates and nurtures everything， yet it does not command anything， but follows and accommodates the natural conditions of all things. This is the Daoist interpretation of the common feature of the entire universe: All things between heaven and earth must follow and operate in accordance with their natural conditions.

In political philosophy， the relationship between the Way and natural things implies that between the ruler and the people. The ruler should follow the natural requirements of the Way， place limits on his power， and govern by means of non-interference to allow the people to take their own natural course.

Ideas such as “the Way follows nature” and “harmony between humanity and nature” are the underlying philosophy of Chinese culture， which embody the Chinese wisdom to pursue coexistence of humanity with nature.

Speaking at the UN Summit on Biodiversity in September 2020， President Xi Jinping said: From traditional Chinese wisdom the laws of nature govern all things and man must seek harmony with nature， to the new development philosophy emphasizing innovative， coordinated， green， and open development for all， China has always prioritized eco-environmental progress and embedded it in every dimension and phase of its economic and social development. The goal is to seek a kind of modernization that promotes harmonious coexistence of humanity with nature.

Harmony Is Invaluable

This term comes from The Analects of Confucius. The original text says， “In conducting the rituals， the principle of harmony is the most valuable.” Here， the rituals are used to help maintain harmonious relations among people. This reflects the Confucian advocacy of harmony and also shows the Chinese nation’s love for peace.

Harmony has been part of the Chinese people’s DNA since ancient times， and the culture of harmony has a long history. The pursuit of peace， amity and harmony is an integral part of the Chinese character that runs deep in the blood of the Chinese people.

In his speech at the UN Office at Geneva in January 2017， President Xi Jinping said: Peace is cherished in Chinese culture. We Chinese firmly believe that peace and stability are the only way to development and prosperity. China has grown from a poor and weak country to the second largest economy not through military expansion or colonial plunder， but through the hard work of its people and their efforts to uphold peace. China will never waver in its pursuit of peaceful development.

The Ocean Is Vast Because It Admits All Rivers

This maxim is a motto of Lin Zexu (1785--1850)， an official of the Qing Dynasty well-known for his efforts to ban imported opium. It encourages people to be open-minded， generous， and tolerant， just like the vast ocean that admits all rivers.

It reflects the moral sense of adjusting relations between oneself and other people to achieve social harmony， while recognizing and respecting individual and social differences. But it is not simply tolerance or compromise without principle. It reminds people， officials in particular， to be open to diverse opinions and treat all things kindly， like an ocean that embraces big rivers and small streams. This will help one shape a generous character and achieve great success.

In his speech at the UN Office at Geneva in January 2017， President Xi Jinping said: The ocean is vast because it admits all rivers. He emphasized that the international community should advance democracy in international relations and reject dominance by just one or several countries. All countries should jointly shape the future of the world， write international rules， manage global affairs， and ensure that development outcomes are shared by all.