(W. E. Talk) How does traditional Chinese culture demonstrate contemporary significance amid globalization?

By Wang Gaofei, Zhao Li

（ECNS）— More than 100 scholars from around the world gathered at the Wuyi Forum to explore how traditional Chinese wisdom could be revitalized to address contemporary challenges from Friday to Sunday in Nanping, a city in Southeast China’s Fujian Province.

During the forum, China News Network raised a key question: how does traditional Chinese culture demonstrate contemporary significance amid globalization?

In the latest W.E. Talk, Yang Huilin, former vice president of Renmin University of China, and Robert Chard, retired professor at St Anne’s College, Oxford University, and guest chair professor at the Department of History, Peking University, shared their insights with us.

Solutions to global issues　

From Confucius to Zhuangzi, and Confucianism to Daoism, these ancient philosophies have withstood the test time. Yet can they offer solutions to today’s global challenges, such as international conflicts, geopolitical tensions, and climate change?

“Very likely,” Chard responded. With years of experience studying Chinese history and culture, he explained, “Chinese ethics do not originate from God or any supernatural entity. The concept of ‘harmony between heaven and humanity’ is essentially ‘harmony between nature and humanity’—a form of respect for the world and the Earth.”

This perspective differs from Western ethics. According to Chard, Western legal and ethical systems have weakened over time because they are rooted in religious faith. As religious belief declines, respect for law and ethics also diminishes. Furthermore, many Western scholars of law and ethics have their own religious affiliations, which may create barriers for those of different faiths. In contrast, Chinese ethics are independent of religion, making their values and principles more universally accessible.

Yang agreed with the idea that traditional Chinese thought has greater universality and acceptance. “When faced with societal issues, Chinese people tend to approach them in two ways: by looking back into their own history for answers or by seeking solutions outside their own framework. Many fundamental concepts in traditional Chinese thought are useful for the world today. For instance, ‘Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire’ and ‘One should help others achieve success just as one seeks success for oneself’ have equivalents in the Bible. However, as Chard noted, religious differences often create barriers among different faith communities.”

To address global challenges, the universal values embedded in traditional Chinese culture and philosophy are particularly important. Chard emphasized that the Chinese concept of “courtesy begets reciprocity” is a form of wisdom that China offers to the world—”One must acknowledge the presence of others.” Yang added that in times of crisis and conflict, it is crucial to understand the Confucian concepts of “coexistence” and “mutuality.” “Learning to move forward together despite differences is essential, or else conflicts between civilizations will remain difficult to resolve.”

Solutions to contemporary issues

Spanning millennia, from the ancient concept of “harmony between heaven and humanity” to the modern vision of a “community with a shared future for mankind” and the new form of human civilization, Chard sees a consistent spiritual core: the principle of “reciprocity.” This principle, applicable from individuals to nations, aligns with the idea of “civilizational mutual reflection.”

Yang explained that “mutual learning” is akin to mutual reflection. “It is not just about civilizations learning from each other but also about deepening self-awareness and understanding of others through comparison and reflection.” As Zhuangzi wrote in Autumn Floods, “A noble person does not use water as a mirror but uses others as a mirror,” conveying the idea of self-reflection through observing others.

“Reciprocity” and “using others as a mirror” are key to eliminating barriers and resolving conflicts. These ancient Chinese wisdoms offer answers for contemporary issues.

“Civilizational conflicts arise from a lack of mutual understanding,” Chard observed. He noted that many Chinese students have a far deeper understanding of Western civilization than Western students have of China. Chinese students often know more about Western history and philosophy than their Western counterparts. In contrast, Western students’ knowledge of China remains limited.

How to address this imbalance? Chard suggested, “I often think about how to share my understanding of China with a broader Western audience, to show them the many fascinating aspects of Chinese culture. Films like Ne Zha and games like Black Myth: Wukong have been very successful. We need such non-traditional channels to tell Chinese stories. For example, the chivalric spirit in Louis Cha’s novels can be integrated into films, games, and literature, allowing audiences to naturally absorb these values rather than being lectured. This is the first step.

Yang agreed, “Louis Cha’s novels indeed contain many traditional Chinese wisdom. For instance, ‘winning through no technique’ 　reflects the spirit of ‘being empty yet inexhaustible’, and phrases like ‘putting oneself last, yet coming out first’ 　and ‘because he does not contend, no one can contend against him’ 　are all present in his works. Young people may not read Laozi, but they know these ideas through novels. This is also part of the Chinese wisdom of ‘non-action’, which does not mean doing nothing but acting without deliberate intent, letting things follow their natural course. This aligns with Professor Chard’s point.”

“From the perspective of Chinese scholars to globalize traditional Chinese culture and sustain its vitality, we must engage in dialogic research rather than monologues. Only through genuine dialogue can we achieve effective communication,” Yang said.