Beijing, China / TimesNewswire / July 1, 2023 – An immense and ancient land, with one of the oldest and most diverse cultures in the world, always leaves people to wonder: how did Chinese civilization begin? And what can the past tell us about where China is today, and where it’s going in the future? CGTN launches a special episode on ‘The Flame of Civilization’ to probe into this splendid civilization that features continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness and peace.
American scholar Daniel Kulp II wrote in 1930, “one cannot travel in China today, from Shanghai to a small village in the most rural region, without wonder at the age-old devices, at the antiquity of the proverbs, the ceremonies and the rituals — without feeling that he walks through the ages.” The sense of the past and the tradition of keeping records contribute to the continuity of Chinese civilization, which allows people from thousands of years later to see China’s path in a complete manner.
This longevity springs from a spirit of innovation that resides deep in the DNA of thousands of years of Chinese culture. From the famous four great inventions to Traditional Chinese medicine, China has made countless unique contributions in technology, philosophy, literature, art, and other fields. “We’ve gone from an ancient situation when China was outward-looking, the period of history where China was inward looking. Now we’ve returned to a position where China is looking at the rest of the world, trying to learn and trying to teach,” said David Ferguson, honorary chief English editor from the Foreign Languages Press CICG.
Another feature attributed to the long history of Chinese civilization is its unifying nature. From Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s unification of all the kingdoms to Zheng Chenggong’s recovery Taiwan, the common roots have united the people and various cultural elements into a unified civilization that encompasses an extraordinary mixture of ethnic groups, religions, languages and traditions.
China also accommodates different forms of belief and spirituality. Today, this commitment to inclusiveness is embodied in China’s vision of a shared future for mankind. Apart from that, there is another side of Chinese culture that has shaped its place in history: its commitment to peace and non-aggression. China is one of the largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping missions and has never sought expansion.
Through 5,000 years of Chinese history, these virtues have been unwavering. History has cultivated a strong sense of belonging on this piece of land unseen in any other culture that drives its people to set aside differences and unite for the collective good. If we view the world as a collective human civilization rather than a battlefield of differences, then we can succeed in building a mutually beneficial future for not only China, but also the world as whole.
Source:
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-06-30/Live-The-Flame-of-Civilization-1l34snEfCOA/index.html
