Promoting the Development and Progress of Human Civilization through Exchange and Mutual Learning (Part 1)
Chapter 1: A Historical Review of Exchange and Mutual Learning among Civilizations
In today’s piece, we are briefing you on the Chapter 1 of our report, “Promoting the Development and Progress of Human Civilization through Exchange and Mutual Learning.” We would love to answer any questions you might have so make sure to drop a like, comment, and subscribe for more!
Chinese civilization has been renowned for its openness and inclusiveness since ancient times, embodying a broad-mindedness that embraces all. It excels in drawing on the strengths of others, integrating diverse elements, and synthesizing them into a harmonious whole, thereby forging a glorious history. The history of human civilization is long and eventful, with different civilizations jointly painting a series of brilliant and dazzling pictures through mutual communication, interaction, and learning. Both Chinese and foreign histories have shown us that the prosperity of civilizations and the progress of humanity depend on seeking common ground while reserving differences, embracing diversity, and fostering exchange and mutual learning among civilizations.
Interaction, Exchange, and Integration: Forging the Glorious History of Chinese Civilization
Chinese civilization, with its long history and profound essence, has served as a rich source of nourishment for the enduring vitality and growth of the Chinese nation, as well as the bedrock of confidence that enables China to stand proudly among the nations of the world. Spanning over five thousand years, this long history has nurtured a profound cultural and civilizational heritage, embedding the cultural genes passed down through generations. This legacy ensures that Chinese civilization always engages in dialogue, exchange, and integration with other civilizations in an open and inclusive manner, with a broad- mindedness that embraces all. It showcases vibrant vitality by drawing on diverse strengths and achieves inheritance and innovation through exchange and mutual learning.
• Harmony without Uniformity and Harmonious Coexistence
Harmony without uniformity and harmonious coexistence are the values cherished by Chinese civilization in its interaction, exchange, and integration with other civilizations. In Chinese civilization, cultural differences have never been seen as sources of confrontation and conflict. Instead, the impact and integration of various diverse cultures have shaped a value system that increasingly respects the diversity and equality of different civilizations. As recorded in "The Doctrine of the Mean" in The Book of Rites, "The ways run parallel without interfering with one another; all living things grow side by side without harming one another." Chinese historian Qian Mu noted, "The Chinese people have always held a grand ideal of the unity of man and nature, believing that all the strange and new things seen and encountered from the outside can be integrated, coordinated, and harmonized into one." The mainstream ideology of the Chinese nation has always advocated harmony without uniformity, working together with one heart, and harmonious coexistence.
Sima Xiangru's "harmonious integration" in "opening up the southwestern ethnic groups" in the Western Han dynasty and the "peace-promoting marriage" when Princess Wencheng was married far away to Xizang in the Tang dynasty reflect the Chinese nation's long-cherished values of harmony, peace, and integration. During the heyday of the Tang dynasty, envoys, international students, and merchants from all directions came to China, where foreign civilizations collided and blended, complementing and enriching each other. Throughout its long historical development, the Chinese nation has embraced the principle of "harmony without uniformity" to resolve conflicts and bridge differences and the philosophy of harmonious coexistence to promote the harmonious and mutually enhancing coexistence of different civilizations.
• Openness and Inclusiveness in Embracing Diversity
The grandeur of Chinese civilization lies in its ability to embrace diversity and harmonize with all nations. Throughout thousands of years of historical development, the fine cultures of various ethnic groups and regions have competed, collided, interacted, integrated, and sublimated, forming an organic whole of Chinese culture that is diverse yet integrated and interconnected. From the establishment of the Zhou rituals to the unification of the Qin and Han dynasties, Chinese culture gradually took shape and developed into a pattern of "the people of the five cardinal directions (east, south, west, north, and the center) jointly inhabit and share the world." From King Wuling of Zhao's adoption of exotic dress and mounted archery to Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei's Sinicization reforms, from "every household in Luoyang learning exotic music" to "songs in Han language resounding across vast Qiang lands," from ethnic minorities in border areas adopting "elegant songs and Confucian attire" to the prevalence of "exotic clothing and hats" in Central Plains, through the grand process of ethnic integration, the diverse cultures of various ethnic groups have merged into the long history of Chinese civilization through extensive exchanges, interactions, and integration.
Chinese civilization originated on the vast land of China, yet it has been shaped and enriched through continuous exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations. It is an actively open system of civilization.
In the Han dynasty, Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions opened the Silk Road, creating a gateway for exchanges between China and the outside world to the west. During the Tang dynasty, Xuanzang's pilgrimage to India facilitated the in-depth dissemination of Buddhism in China. In the Song dynasty, active overseas trade promoted economic development in neighboring countries. The Ming dynasty saw Zheng He's seven voyages to the Western Seas, which expanded trade and cultural exchanges across vast areas in Southeast Asia and Africa. In modern times, the spread of Western knowledge to the East, the New Culture Movement, and the introduction of Marxism into China exemplified this legacy.
Since ancient times, the Chinese nation, with its broad-mindedness that embraces all and harmonizes with all nations, has widely absorbed and drawn from the essence of external civilizations. This legacy of openness and inclusiveness has allowed Chinese civilization to thrive and renew itself through continuous integration and mutual learning.
• All Achieving Harmonious Coexistence and Great Unity All Under Heaven: The Ultimate Goal of Chinese Civilization in Promoting Cultural Exchange and Mutual Learning
“Each appreciating its own beauty, as well as the beauty of others; all achieving harmonious coexistence and ultimately Great Unity all under heaven.” This principle of coexistence among different civilizations was proposed by Chinese sociologist Fei Xiaotong.
"Each appreciating its own beauty" means that different nations and ethnic groups should promote and celebrate their own civilizations. "Appreciating the beauty of others" refers to the broad appreciation and learning from the strengths of other civilizations. "All achieving harmonious coexistence" suggests that different nations and ethnic groups should respect and embrace each other, thereby fostering the common prosperity of human civilization.
The concept of "Great Unity" originates from the Confucian classic, The Book of Rites: The Evolution of Rites. It paints a beautiful vision of an ideal society for humanity cherished by the Chinese nation. Over thousands of years of historical practice, Chinese civilization has been created and perpetuated with a sentiment of "All under heaven" and the ideal of "Great Unity."
"Great Unity All Under Heaven" represents the loftiest political ideal in traditional Chinese culture. It embodies the profound concern of the Chinese civilization for the destiny of humanity and also the ultimate goal of the Chinese nation in promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.
Mutual Communication, Interaction, and Learning: Creating a Brilliant Tapestry of World Civilizations
No civilization exists as an isolated island, cut off from others. Instead, every civilization is in constant contact, exchange, and interaction with others. Throughout world history, different civilizations have only been able to evolve and progress through exchanges, mutual learning, and drawing on each other's strengths.
• Connectivity Broadens the Horizons of Human Civilization
Encounters initiated the exchange and mutual learning among human civilizations. Ancient trade routes such as the Silk Road, the Tea Road, and the Spice Road facilitated the interconnection of civilized countries across the Eurasian continent, propelling the global popularity of silk, tea, ceramics, and spices. The Amber Road connected the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean, linking the north and south of Europe and extending eastward, fostering material and cultural exchanges between European countries and between the two continents. The Age of Great Voyages ushered in an era of unprecedented global connectivity. Rapid advancements in technology and the sweeping process of globalization have significantly shortened the distances between different geographical units, accelerating the evolution of global civilization.
• Interaction Expands New Horizons for Human Civilization
Throughout their development, civilizations have inevitably enriched, enhanced, and refined themselves through interactions, exchanges, and competitions with others. In the history of human civilization, such interactions have often marked significant milestones of progress. The Byzantine civilization inherited the traditions of ancient Greece and Rome and innovated in many fields, including architecture, medicine, and art. Modern European civilization combined the legacies of ancient Greece, Rome, and the medieval period, creating a new industrialized civilization through breakthroughs in politics, economics, society, and technology. The interaction of civilizations fosters progress, creating ripples of significant events throughout history and making the tapestry of world civilization more vibrant and diverse.
• Mutual Learning Cultivates the Fruitful Achievements of Human Civilization
Throughout human history, the development of any influential civilization has inevitably involved absorbing and integrating diverse elements. Starting in the 8th century, the Graeco-Arabic translation movement (9th – 10th centuries), which synthesized Greek, Roman, Persian, and Indian cultures, inaugurated The Islamic Golden Age (8th – 13th centuries) in the Arab world, laying the groundwork for the later European Renaissance. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, Japan dispatched missions to China many times to closely interact with the Chinese civilization and to promote a series of comprehensive political, social and cultural reforms, such as the Taika Reform. In modern times, China has adopted many “Japanese-coined Chinese terms,” with words like revolution, society, philosophy, economy, and capital becoming prevalent in the Chinese language. After World War II, European countries championed the harmonious coexistence and mutual learning of diverse cultures, facilitating European integration while respecting cultural diversity. For millennia, civilizations have engaged in exchanges and mutual learning, collectively enriching the vibrant garden of human civilization.
Exchange and Mutual Learning among Civilizations: Stimulating Inexhaustible Driving Forces for the Progress of Civilization
Various civilizations, through their interactions, blending, and mutual learning, have complemented and enriched each other, collectively writing a splendid chapter of harmonious coexistence and shared progress. Throughout history, the advancement of civilizations through exchange and mutual learning is not a mere coincidence but a general rule dictated by the evolution and inherent nature of civilizations.
• Exchange and Mutual Learning: An Objective Requirement for the Coexistence of Diverse Civilizations
Diverse civilizations are the essence of the world. The development of human civilization is a "symphony" composed of various cultures, not a "solo" of a single one. Historical experience shows that differences in history, culture, and social systems among countries have persisted throughout history. Without diversity, there would be no human civilization. Each nation's and ethnic group's civilization is unique, each with its value for existence. Only by upholding equality and respect and discarding arrogance and prejudice can different civilizations thrive and grow through dialogue and harmonious coexistence.
Civilization is colorful, equal, and inclusive. The premise for exchange and mutual learning among civilizations is equality. Regardless of the size or strength of a country or ethnic group, its thoughts and culture should be acknowledged and respected. Claiming "civilization superiority" and considering one's civilization as superior to others is disrespectful and only hinders the progress of human civilization.
A mature and confident civilization should not feel uncomfortable with differences, nor should it seek to transform, assimilate, or replace them with its own. History has repeatedly shown that any attempt to resolve the differences between civilizations through force will fail and bring disaster to the world.
• Exchange and Mutual Learning: The Underlying Logic for Sustaining the Vitality of Civilizations
The lifeblood of any civilization lies in its exchange and mutual learning with the outside world. Long-term isolation leads to decline. Every civilization, regardless of its origin or the social soil in which it emerged, is fluid and open. This is a key principle in the spread and development of civilizations. Throughout its evolution, Chinese civilization has gained rich nourishment from its interactions with other civilizations, fostering continuous innovation and development while making significant contributions to the progress of human civilization. History teaches us that only by transitioning from internal to external interactions can a nation break free from geographical constraints and expand its global perspective, therefore remaining vibrant and moving forward with confidence in the evolution of human civilization.
•Exchange and Mutual Learning: The Inevitable Path to the Common Prosperity of World Civilizations
Throughout human history, a clear pattern has emerged: enclosure, seclusion, and isolation are often associated with low levels of social productivity, whereas openness, exchange, and cooperation are closely linked to advanced productivity. Great civilizations have emerged along major rivers such as the Nile, the Euphrates, the Tigris, the Ganges, the Yellow River, and the Yangtze River. One reason is that these rivers served as "highways" for early human migration, trade, and communication. Through frequent spiritual and intellectual exchanges, humanity developed ideas, accumulated wisdom, and created cultural forms, laying the common foundation for the flourishing of early civilizations.
Post-World War II, economic globalization deepened the international division of labor, expanded global markets, accelerated technological diffusion, and optimized the allocation of global capital, talent, information, and technology. This led to increasingly close interactions among people and civilizations, propelling human civilization to unprecedented heights.
The exchange and mutual learning among civilizations promote the harmony and common prosperity of world civilizations. This is not only an echo of world civilization history but should also be the common pursuit of all humanity in the 21st century.
Chapter 2&3&4: To be Continued…