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What does civilization mean?
The word "civilization stops" comes from a famous saying in the Book of Changes: "Combining rigidity with softness is also astronomical; When civilization stops, so does human nature. Observing astronomy is to observe the changes of time; Look at humanity and turn it into the world. " The so-called "astronomy" refers to the natural change process and law of alternating yin and yang, and "humanity" refers to the ritual and music system formulated by human beings and its normative and educational effects on human behavior.

From the symmetry between "humanity" and "astronomy", we can see that "humanity" is not separated from "astronomy" and forms opposition, which can best show the uniqueness of the Chinese nation's "humanity" consciousness and spirit. In other words, for the governance of the world, people who govern the country and level the world should not only "observe astronomy to observe the changes in time series", but also "observe human nature to turn it into a human being".

The two should use each other, not neglect one thing. It can be said that although the Chinese nation attaches importance to and emphasizes "benevolence" to transform the world, its "benevolence" consciousness is not based on going against the sky or dominating nature. On the contrary, astronomy or the natural laws of heaven are the objects that human beings should emulate, while imitating astronomy or the natural laws of heaven is aimed at human culture.

The word "civilization" appeared six times in Yi Zhuan, once in Gan Classical Chinese and three times in Xun Zhuan. The author of Xun Zhuan reveals and expounds a concept of "civilization" with the characteristics of "China", and the statement that "civilization should stop" deserves our attention.

The so-called "stop with civilization" means that if a person's virtue (especially the virtue of the ruler) can be as open and aboveboard as the heaven, the earth, the sun and the moon, and educate the world with rites and music, then people all over the world will be inspired and guided by his bright virtue, and even do what should be done and stop what should be done.