Abstract
Today, I would like to share my views with you on the features and the fundamental spirit of Chinese culture. The Chinese nation is still in the process of rejuvenation, and there are several pre-requisites of realizing the “Chinese dream”, one of which is understanding the value and meaning of Chinese culture since our cultural heritage is the soil for our ideals to grow. To achieve it, we need to recognize, understand and have confidence in our culture.
This is a speech transcript of the author delivered at China Central Institute for Culture and History on Apr. 14, 2015.
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Notes
- 1.
Translator’s note: clan-leased farmstead means leased farmstead with rental allocated for the relief of the needy among one’s own clan.
- 2.
Translator’s note: “land-rent funded schools” refer to schools funded by rent from public land.
- 3.
Translator’s note: “the system of official’s appointment” refers to the enlisting of officials through issuance of imperial edicts or public notices by senior officials.
- 4.
Translator’s note: “selection” means selecting officials after evaluating qualifications.
- 5.
Translator’s note: The Three Departments and Six Ministries system was the main central administrative system adopted in ancient China.
- 6.
Translator’s note: The phrase scholar-farmer-artisan-merchant (士农工商, shi-nong-gong-shang) is well-known in China and other Confucian countries. These were the four broad classes of people in ancient/medieval China. The ordering of the phrase is popularly taken to mean that the four classes were ranked in the following order: Scholars/gentry; Farmers; Artisans/craftsmen; Merchants/traders.
- 7.
Qian (1962), p. 7.
- 8.
Translator’s note: The way of man refers to the code of conduct that people must observe and also the relations and norms that keep human society on the right track. The way of man stands in contrast to the way of heaven. When Western culture was introduced to China in modern times, the term gained the meaning of respect and care for people’s lives, well-being, dignity, freedom, and individuality.
- 9.
Qian (1962), p. 66.
- 10.
Qian (1962), p. 69.
- 11.
Translator’s note: Generally speaking, the Five Classics refers to the collective name of the Confucian classics The Book of Songs, The Book of History, The Book of Rites, The Book of Changes, and The Spring and Autumn Annals.
- 12.
- 13.
Qian (1985); ** since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held. It was formally put forward on November 29, 2012. ** defined the “Chinese dream” as “the greatest dream of the Chinese nation since modern times” and said it “can definitely come true.”.
- 17.
Translator’s note: Su Shi was a famous writer, calligrapher, gourmet and painter in the Northern Song Dynasty (960 A.D.—1127 A.D.). He was a leading literary figure in the middle of the Northern Song Dynasty. He made great achievements in poetry, lyrics, prose, calligraphy and painting.
References
Qian M (1962) Ethnic and culture. New Asia College
Qian M (1964) The spirit of Chinese history, p 136
Qian M (1984) A general introduction to Chinese academic. Taiwan Student Book Press, pp 2–6
Qian M (1985) History of Chinese thoughts. Taiwan Student Book Press, p 171
Qian M (1988) Introduction to the history of Chinese culture. SDX Joint Publishing Company, pp 19, 120
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Guo, Q. (2022). The Characteristics of Chinese Cultural Spirit. In: The Characteristics of Chinese Cultural Spirit. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4847-2_1
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