Essence is a kind of essence of things, so what is the essence of Chinese traditional culture? Let's get to know each other.

what is the essence of traditional culture

China's traditional culture has a long history, extensive knowledge and a long history. Only by grasping the essence of China traditional culture can we grasp the true face of China traditional culture. However, there are many controversies about the essence of China's traditional culture. In particular, some commentators only take one of China's traditional culture and don't take the other, ignoring that traditional culture is the unity of one and many, which will inevitably lead to a situation of generalizing and ignoring everything. The reason why this situation exists is that, first, it is because of what is it? Essence? There is ambiguity in understanding, and second, because some commentators follow? Take what you need? The principle of "the essence of traditional culture" is discussed in a macro way. What kind of academic attitude should we take towards the essence of traditional culture, what kind of connotation the essence of traditional culture has, what specific contents the essence of traditional culture contains, and so on, all of which need further exploration. If we are not sure about the essence of traditional culture in theory, it will definitely affect the absorption, inheritance, promotion and development of traditional culture in real life practice. Therefore, this paper, apart from the school disputes involved in China's traditional culture, only summarizes the understanding and connotation of the essence of traditional culture, with a view to attracting more attention.

first, how to understand the essence of traditional culture

to understand the essence of traditional culture, we need to briefly distinguish several related concepts: first, what is it? Culture? What is the second? Traditional culture? Third, what content can be called? Essence? , that is? Essence? What it should be.

first of all? Culture? The original meaning of the word in Chinese refers to? Humanities? 、? Into the world? Meaning. ? Text? The original meaning of ""refers to the interlaced texture of various colors. Change? Its original meaning refers to change, generation and nature. With the development of social practice, Text? With? Change? Words have more extended meanings. At first, Text? With? Change? It was always used separately until the Western Han Dynasty. Text? With? Change? It was often used together, and then gradually solidified into a word. But at this time, what people often use in the modern sense did not appear? Culture? The word. According to the understanding of the ancients, Culture? Is it? Cultural education? . In modern times, people began to borrow China's inherent? Civilization? 、? Culture? And other words, and give it a new meaning, resulting in what we usually understand and use today? Culture? The word. But China's? Culture? The word is more focused on the spiritual field? Civilization and enlightenment? And? Civilization? The word is compatible with material creation and spiritual creation.

　? Text? With? Change? Combined to form? Culture? The word means that people transform the whole world with unnatural products and means such as various instruments, systems, morality, knowledge, scientific skills, customs, religious beliefs, languages and ideas, so as to make? People? Different from things, and make the world meet people's goals and needs at a certain level and significance. In this sense, culture also refers to the transformation of nature and the world by human beings and its results, that is, the world's? Humanized? . For? Culture? Concept, British anthropologist Taylor made a systematic explanation in his book Primitive Culture in 1871. He said? Culture or civilization, in its broad national sense, is a complex whole including knowledge, belief, art, morality, law, customs and the abilities and habits acquired by anyone as a member of society. ? [1] Taylor emphasized the basic meaning of culture as a comprehensive whole of spiritual culture, which had an important impact on later generations. Therefore, from the broad sense of culture, culture refers to all human activities and their results related to people and activities, and culture has obtained all the connotations of the word civilization here. By understanding culture in this way, we can divide culture into material culture and spiritual culture. The culture mentioned in this paper is mainly understood and applied from the narrow sense of culture, that is, the traditional culture of China is mainly analyzed and discussed from the value level of spiritual culture.

Secondly, traditional culture is not the past that has passed, but the present that connects the past and the present that is heading for the future. In terms of time, Tradition Generally with? Modern? Or? Contemporary? Corresponding, that is to say, Traditional culture? Is it with? Modern culture? Or? Contemporary culture? Corresponding. Although just? Tradition With? Modern? There are some controversies about the division, but at least it is certain that the division is based on the Opium War? Tradition With? Modern? Or most people's * * * knowledge and widely used. Therefore, we also put it here? Traditional culture? As the traditional culture of China before the Opium War.

thirdly, what is the essence of traditional culture. In Modern Chinese Dictionary,? Essence? Be interpreted as? Metaphor essence? , the so-called? Essence? Is interpreted as? The most important and best part of (something); (book) Guanghua; Brilliant. ? From? Essence? It can be seen from its connotation that the essence of traditional culture is not only a fact judgment, but also a value judgment, which is a combination of the two, but the value judgment ultimately depends on the intrinsic value and vitality of traditional culture itself. Therefore, for the question of what is the essence of traditional culture, we should not only look at the internal tension of the content of traditional culture itself, but also look at the contemporary value generated by its influence on real life and practice. Although we sometimes inevitably follow in life practice? Take what you need? However, it is obviously inappropriate to discuss the essence of traditional culture in a general way in academic theory.

As we all know, how to treat traditional culture has been the focus of intense debate since modern times, and it is also a hot issue that people pay close attention to in today's social and cultural salons. The discussion around the same issue has resulted in two different choices: cultural nihilism and cultural revivalism. Among them, cultural nihilism advocates? Completely westernized? In essence, it is a cultural trend of thought that negates the national cultural tradition and advocates westernization. Cultural revivalism is a kind of cultural narcissism, which holds that China's traditional culture is the best in the world? The greatest? 、? The most brilliant? Culture, and even put the hope of the future of mankind in? On the revival of Confucian culture? . Both of these views are wrong in theory and harmful in practice. The root cause is that the above two extreme attitudes towards traditional culture are the inevitable result of not accurately and comprehensively grasping the essence of China traditional culture.

second, the essence of traditional culture

China's traditional culture has a long history. As early as more than 2, years ago, Confucianism represented by Confucius and Mencius and Taoism represented by Laozi and Zhuangzi, as well as many other doctrines or schools that played an important role in the history of China thought. In particular, Confucian culture represented by Confucius can be said to be one of the sources of human civilization, especially eastern civilization. It has not only had a great influence in history, but also plays a role today. The essence of China traditional culture can be summarized from two aspects: scientific skills and ethical values. From the perspective of science and technology, the essence of traditional culture mainly includes diet culture, costume culture, garden architecture culture, arts and crafts culture, entertainment culture such as drama, dance and crosstalk, sports culture such as martial arts fitness and health preservation, astronomical calendar, inventions and theories of traditional Chinese medicine. From the perspective of ethical value, the essence of China traditional culture can be summarized as gentleman culture, Shang Xian culture, strategy culture, shame culture, etiquette culture, loyalty and filial piety culture, patriotism and humanitarian spirit. This paper only briefly discusses the essence of traditional culture from the perspective of ethical value. Gentleman's culture integrates China's traditional culture with self-cultivation and philosophy of dealing with people, which makes China's traditional culture show a unique side in the world culture. Advocating and cultivating gentleman's personality has always been one of the important themes of China culture. Gentleman's personality reflects China people's world outlook, outlook on life, values, outlook on honor and disgrace, outlook on justice and benefit, and outlook on morality. As we all know, the core content of China culture is to be a man before doing things, and being a man is the premise and foundation of doing things. Therefore, gentleman culture is to educate people to be a gentleman rather than a villain. As we know, one of the important characteristics of China's traditional culture is to replace the religious tradition with moral education, and the shaping and pursuit of the ideal gentleman's personality just reflects this tradition. Gentleman's personality is integrated with gentleness, courtesy and frugality, and he has a sense of self-caution. The philosophy of life that a gentleman values a monk, is good at understanding and accommodating, and that a gentleman values virtue and carries things, and the tolerant character of harmony but difference is reflected in the ideal gentleman personality. Therefore, many wise sayings of Confucius are still familiar terms today, such as? An upright man is open and poised while a petty man is anxious and worried.? 、? A gentleman is fond of virtue, but a villain is fond of soil? [2] and so on, these thoughts and words that people relish all show the powerful charm of the gentleman's personality, and guide generations of China people to pursue the gentleman's personality as one of the standards of personal self-cultivation and one of the ways of dealing with people.

Shang Xian culture was once a great tradition respected by the construction of traditional official system in China, and Shang Xian thought guided generations of China people to respect knowledge, ability and talents. In the history of China, the story of Yao and Shun's abdication opened the precedent of Shang Xian culture and has been praised by people. What is the core of Shang Xian culture? Reward talents and enable them? Is to respect and appoint virtuous and talented people. Such as Confucius' idea of honoring the virtuous, Xunzi's idea of rewarding the virtuous and enabling, etc., especially in the pre-Qin period, Mozi made a systematic theoretical comb of Shang Xian's thought, which greatly enriched and developed the traditional Shang Xian culture. Mozi's Shang Xian Thought is a political proposition aimed at the hereditary aristocratic system and the phenomenon of aristocratic officials with few talents and few virtues at that time. Its purpose is to give the virtuous people among ordinary people the opportunity to participate in the management of the country and society. He believes that even ordinary farmers and craftsmen should be recommended and appointed as long as they have certain knowledge, talent and good moral character, and given corresponding power and sufficient salary to serve the country and the people. Mozi thinks that Shang Xian can be? For the foundation of politics? And the sages are? For political purposes? , Juxian is? For political power? . The number of virtuous people in a country, and whether Shang Xian can be enabled or not, is the root of the country's strength or decline, social stability or chaos. He said:? Shang Xian enables to govern. If you catch the chaos in your country and the danger in your country, you don't know what you can do to cure it. ? [3] In his view, a virtuous person advocates morality? Benevolence? , is knowledgeable and eloquent? Wise man? , is the country? Treasure? , is the country? Beams? . In Mozi's mind, a virtuous person is a person with both ability and political integrity who is loyal and knowledgeable in Taoism. If you want to reward the virtuous and enable them, you must break the original hierarchical boundaries of respecting the humble and being close to the distant. Rich, expensive, respectful and reputable? . In fact, as far as Mozi's Shang Xian Thought is concerned, although it has a strong ideal color, its proposition still exerts a subtle influence on the selection of talents in the ancient political life of China.

shame culture is a culture that pays special attention to the evaluation and reaction of others. Ancient China? Shame culture? Special emphasis is placed on external heteronomy, which is mainly manifested in others' reaction and evaluation of the subject's behavior. If a person feels that his behavior is affirmed, admired, admired and obeyed by others or groups, he will feel a sense of honor in his heart; On the other hand, if a person feels that his behavior has been denied, complained, belittled and despised by others or groups, he can't help feeling ashamed. As Mencius said, what are the three pleasures of a gentleman? You are worthy of the sky, but you don't care about the ground? [4], this is a typical performance of shame culture. Therefore, China culture particularly emphasizes? Shame? The importance of and put? Shame? Consciousness is regarded as the basis of morality, as Mencius said: The heart of shame and evil, the end of righteousness? . [4] and the tube? Herdsmen highlights the importance of courtesy, honesty and shame from the height of national governance, pointing out that? Four dimensions of the country, courtesy, justice and shame. If the four dimensions are not open, the country will perish. Four-dimensional Zhang, then the king orders the line, so the province of punishment should be in the prohibition of literary ingenuity, and the degree of defending the country should be decorated in four dimensions. ? [5] Mencius emphasized from the perspective of personal character cultivation:? People should not be shameless, shameless shame, shameless. ? [4] He even thinks,? There is no shame and evil, and it is inhuman. ? [4] Zhu Xi, a famous philosopher in the Song Dynasty, thinks? People who have shame can do something. ? [6] Gong Zizhen in the late Qing Dynasty linked personal shame with the rise and fall of the country and put forward the famous? Shame theory? . He pointed out: Scholars know that there is shame, then the country will never be shameless; It is a great shame for the country to be shameless. ? [7] It can be seen that the sages of China not only realized the role of shame in guiding and restricting people's behavior and guiding social atmosphere, but also regarded it as an effective means to cultivate one's morality, keep one's family in order and ensure the country.

historically, China has been famous for its? State of etiquette? It is famous in the world, and with its grand theoretical system, it has formed a complete ethics and life behavior norms. This complete code of ethics and life behavior constitutes a kind of? Culture? That is, etiquette culture. Etiquette requires people to behave in social activities according to prescribed or established procedures and ways. Etiquette culture covers people's social activities, such as conversation, dress, appearance, social activities, public life, catering, job hunting, and the behavioral norms and requirements in foreign activities. These norms and requirements still have an important impact on modern people's social activities, and many contents and forms are still effectively used today.

the culture of loyalty and filial piety originated from the Confucian understanding of the role of individuals in the family and the country. As a basic code of conduct to regulate social human relations, Loyalty and filial piety It means loyalty to the monarch and filial piety, which originated from Confucianism? Kiss? Thought is the Confucian ethics. The Analects of Confucius? Eight Shu said? I am loyal to you? [3], demanding that courtiers be unconditionally loyal to the monarch. The Book of Filial Piety says:? Filial piety, the beginning of the pro-service, the middle of the service, and finally established. ? The original meaning of filial piety is to honor parents, and it is an obligation that children must perform in the family. Then, by extension, it is required that every member of society should also bear the responsibility for society? Filial piety? The responsibility of. In this way, Confucianism links individuals, families and society on the basis of individuals and families, with loyalty and filial piety as the link, and stipulates the basic principles for every member of society to stand in their own shoes and be a man at home. Confucianism even advocates? Filial piety is the first in all the virtues? . The Book of Filial Piety says:? Teach filial piety, so respect the parents of the world; Teach to teach, so respect the world as a brother; Teach me to be a minister, so who respects the world as a monarch? [8], that is to say, whether it is family, country or society? Filial piety? . To this end, Hegel once put forward in his masterpiece "Philosophy of History":? China is purely based on this moral combination, and the national characteristic is objective family filial piety. China people regard themselves as belonging to their families, and at the same time they are children of the country. ? [9] With the progress of civilization, the culture of loyalty and filial piety has been constantly endowed with new connotations of the times, and has been widely used in loyalty to the country, people and nation, and filial piety to parents and elders.

It can be seen that the culture of loyalty and filial piety is one of the core contents of China's traditional ethics, and many moral wisdom contained in it still has realistic vitality. The moral norms based on loyalty and filial piety have already been dissolved and precipitated in China.