The Peaceful Nature of Chinese Civilization and Its Global Significance

The Chinese civilization has a long and continuous history, constantly renewing itself and making tremendous contributions to the progress of human civilization. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the Symposium on Cultural Inheritance and Development: "The peaceful nature of Chinese civilization fundamentally determines that China will always be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order." Peace, as a prominent characteristic and fundamental value of Chinese civilization, has not only played an important role in the history of the Chinese nation but has also exerted a profound influence on world peace and development.

中华文明源远流长，历久弥新，为人类文明进步作出了巨大贡献。习近平总书记在文化传承发展座谈会上指出：“中华文明的和平性，从根本上决定了中国始终是世界和平的建设者、全球发展的贡献者、国际秩序的维护者。”和平作为中华文明的突出特性和基本价值，不仅在中华民族发展史上发挥着重要作用，而且对世界和平与发展产生了深远影响。

The peaceful nature of Chinese civilization has deep cultural foundations and historical origins.

中华文明的和平性具有深厚的文化根基和历史渊源

Since ancient times, the Chinese nation has upheld cultural concepts such as "harmony in diversity," "peace is of paramount value," "cherishing peace and good faith," "harmonizing all nations," and "peace under heaven," forming a fine tradition of pursuing peace, amity, and harmony. In classics such as the *Book of Documents* and the *Book of Songs*, the characters "he" (harmony) and "ping" (peace) were already widely used in the senses of reconciliation and balance. For example, the "Canon of Yao" in the *Book of Documents* states: "He was able to make the bright virtues manifest, and to bring harmony to the nine branches of his kindred. When the nine branches were harmonious, he regulated the hundred clans. When the hundred clans were enlightened, he harmonized the myriad states." The "Jiang Han" section of the *Book of Songs* says: "When the four quarters are at peace, the kingdom may be settled. When there is no strife, the king's heart is at rest." From the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods onward, peace was summarized and elevated into a concept and principle with worldview, methodology, and political significance. The *Book of Rites* states: "In rites, harmony is to be valued" and "Therefore when music prevails, ethics become clear, ears and eyes become acute, blood and breath become peaceful, customs are transformed, and all under heaven is at peace." The *Doctrine of the Mean* says: "Equilibrium is the great root of all under heaven; harmony is the universal path of all under heaven. When equilibrium and harmony are achieved, heaven and earth are in their proper positions, and all things are nurtured." The *Great Learning* also proposes the three guiding principles of "manifesting bright virtue," "renewing the people," and "resting in the highest good," and the eight steps of "investigating things," "extending knowledge," "making intentions sincere," "rectifying the mind," "cultivating the self," "regulating the family," "governing the state," and "bringing peace to all under heaven," as the ideal goals and principles of conduct pursued by scholar-officials throughout their lives. *The Art of War* by Sun Tzu is a famous military classic, yet its opening passage states: "War is a matter of vital importance to the state; it is the ground of death and life, the path of survival and ruin, and must not be examined carelessly." Its essential meaning is caution in war and the cessation of war, advocating that "to win a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the acme of skill; to subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill."

中华民族自古以来就崇尚“和而不同”“以和为贵”“讲信修睦”“协和万邦”“天下太平”等文化理念，形成了追求和平、和睦、和谐的优良传统。在《尚书》《诗经》等典籍中，“和”与“平”等词语就在调和、平衡等含义上大量使用了。例如，《尚书·尧典》写道：“克明俊德，以亲九族。九族既睦，平章百姓。百姓昭明，协和万邦。”《诗经·江汉》曰：“四方既平，王国庶定。时靡有争，王心载宁。”到春秋战国以后，和平就被概括和提升为一种具有世界观、方法论和政治意义的理念和原则。《礼记》曰：“礼之以和为贵”“故乐行而伦清，耳目聪明，血气和平，移风易俗，天下皆宁。”《中庸》有言：“中也者，天下之大本也；和也者，天下之达道也。致中和，天地位焉，万物育焉。”《大学》还提出“明明德”“亲民”“止于至善”的三纲领和“格物”“致知”“诚意”“正心”“修身”“齐家”“治国”“平天下”的八条目，作为士大夫终身追求的理想目标和处世原则。《孙子兵法》是一部著名的兵书，但其开篇就讲：“兵者，国之大事，死生之地，存亡之道，不可不察也”，其要义是慎战、止战，主张“百战百胜，非善之善者也；不战而屈人之兵，善之善者也”。

From ancient times to the present, the Chinese nation has advocated communication leading to harmony, coexistence and mutual progress, and the preservation of great harmony, while opposing obstruction and isolation, forcing others to submit, and the law of the jungle. Through the way of interaction based on mutual benefit, cooperation, benevolence, and good neighborliness, Chinese civilization has shone through the ages and benefited all under heaven. More than 2,000 years ago, Zhang Qian, leading the great Han dynasty peace mission, set out from Chang'an on a mission to the Western Regions, opening the road from the East to the West and completing the "journey of pioneering." During the Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties, the overland and maritime Silk Roads developed together, composing the magnificent epic of "ten thousand miles of camel bells and ten thousand miles of waves" and "ten thousand nations in courtly robes paying homage to the imperial crown." In the Ming dynasty, Zheng He made seven voyages across the oceans, upholding the concepts of "spreading enlightenment and civilization to the various overseas states" and "all under heaven sharing the blessings of great peace." He visited more than 30 countries and regions, conducting equal trade, expanding cultural exchange, fostering friendly relations, respecting foreign customs, and mediating disputes among states, winning the affection of the peoples of many countries in the Western Ocean, and becoming a universally recognized navigator, diplomat, and peace envoy. Along the ancient Silk Road, China transmitted silk, porcelain, lacquerware, and the Four Great Inventions to the West, and brought back pepper, flax, spices, and other goods. Generations of "Silk Road travelers" built bridges of peace and bonds of cooperation between East and West; what they used was not warhorses and spears, but camels and goodwill; what they relied on was not warships and cannons, but treasure ships and friendship. The American sinologist Derk Bodde observed: "China has made many contributions to the Western world, and these contributions have greatly influenced the development of Western civilization. In the two thousand years from 200 BC to 1800 AD, China gave more to the West than she received from it." Several hundred years ago, when China was strong enough that its GDP accounted for one-third of the world's total, it still did not engage in foreign aggression and expansion. Even under the conditions of repeated aggression by Western colonialism and imperialism in modern times, the Chinese people's belief in peace was never abandoned and never faded. As Dr. Sun Yat-sen said: "The Chinese nation loves peace and abides by the law, rooted in its very nature; it will never lightly resort to war unless compelled to do so for self-defense."

中华民族从古至今都倡导交通成和、共生并进、保合太和，反对阻隔闭塞、强人从己、丛林法则，以互利合作、亲仁善邻的交往之道，使中华文明光耀千秋、泽被天下。早在2000多年前，张骞率领的大汉和平使团就从长安出发出使西域，打通东方通往西方的道路，完成了“凿空之旅”。唐宋元时期，陆上和海上丝绸之路共同发展，谱写了“万里驼铃万里波”“万国衣冠拜冕旒”的壮丽史诗。明代郑和七次远洋航行，秉持“敷宣教化于海外诸藩国”“天下共享太平之福”的理念，遍访30多个国家和地区，开展平等贸易，扩大文化交流，促成亲善往来，尊重异域风俗，调解邦国纷争，赢得了西洋多国人民的爱戴，成为举世公认的航海家、外交家与和平使者。沿着古丝绸之路，中国将丝绸、瓷器、漆器、四大发明等传到西方，也将胡椒、亚麻、香料等带回中国。一代又一代“丝路人”建立起东西方和平的桥梁、合作的纽带，他们使用的不是战马长矛，而是骆驼和善意；依靠的不是坚船利炮，而是宝船和友谊。美国汉学家卜德认为：“中国对西方世界作出了很多贡献，这些贡献极大地影响了西方文明的发展。从公元前200年到公元后1800年这两千年间，中国给予西方的东西超过了她从西方所得到的东西。”数百年前，中国强盛到国内生产总值占世界1/3的时候，也没有对外侵略扩张。即使在近代屡遭西方殖民主义、帝国主义侵略的境况下，中国人民追求和平的信念也未放弃、从不消退。正如孙中山先生所说：“盖吾中华民族和平守法，根于天性，非出于自卫之不得已，决不肯轻启战争。”

The love of peace and the pursuit of harmony are not only deeply rooted in the spiritual world and historical traditions of the Chinese nation, but have also been perceived and praised by progressive people around the world. The British philosopher Bertrand Russell said: "If there is a nation in the world that can be 'too proud to fight,' that nation is China. The natural attitude of the Chinese is tolerance and friendliness." Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta pointed out: "There are always some people who like to point fingers at us, but China helps us advance our economic and social development agenda through concrete actions." "China never condescendingly tells us what we should do; this is precisely the uniqueness of Africa-China cooperation." Throughout history, the reason the Chinese nation has had status and influence in the world is not through militarism and foreign expansion, but through the powerful appeal and attraction of Chinese culture. In this regard, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Our ancestors long ago understood the principle that 'if distant people do not submit, one cultivates culture and virtue to attract them.' Explaining the endowments, characteristics, and spirit of the Chinese nation, winning people over with virtue and transforming them through culture, is a very important aspect of this."

爱好和平、追求和谐不仅深深扎根于中华民族的精神世界和历史传统，而且得到了世界进步人士的感知与赞扬。英国哲学家罗素说：“如果世界上有‘骄傲到不肯打仗’的民族，那么这个民族就是中国。中国人天生的态度就是宽容和友好。”肯尼亚前总统肯雅塔指出：“总有一些人喜欢对我们指手画脚，而中国则是以实际行动帮助我们推进经济社会发展议程。”“中国从不居高临下地告诉我们应该怎么做，这正是非中合作的独特之处。”古往今来，中华民族之所以在世界上有地位、有影响，不是靠穷兵黩武、对外扩张，而是靠中华文化的强大感召力和吸引力。对此，习近平总书记强调：“我们的先人早就认识到‘远人不服，则修文德以来之’的道理。阐释中华民族禀赋、中华民族特点、中华民族精神，以德服人、以文化人是其中很重要的一个方面。”

The peaceful nature of Chinese civilization has been inherited and carried forward in New China.

中华文明的和平性在新中国的继承和发扬

In the 20th century, humanity experienced the calamities of two world wars and more than 40 years of the Cold War, and the most urgent desire was to stop war and create peace. The Communist Party of China is a Marxist party that seeks happiness for the people, rejuvenation for the nation, and great harmony for the world. It takes the promotion of human liberation, peace, and progress as its mission, sent representatives to sign the Charter of the United Nations, and upholds the international system and international order centered on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Mao Zedong stated on multiple occasions: "We love peace; we are Marxists. Internationally, we oppose great-power chauvinism." The great affairs of the world are "liberation, independence, democracy, peace and friendship, and human progress"; "the principles of socialism and the principles of Marxism-Leninism do not permit aggression"; "therefore, for a hundred years, for ten thousand years, we will not invade others." The establishment and development of New China not only reversed the humiliating history of foreign invasion, incessant warfare, and the people living in destitution since the Opium War, and broke the imperialist eastern front, but also rapidly enhanced our comprehensive national strength and international status, causing the fine tradition of peace-loving of the Chinese nation to radiate new vitality in the modern world.

20世纪人类经历了两次世界大战的劫难和长达40多年的冷战，最迫切的愿望是制止战争、缔造和平。中国共产党是为人民谋幸福、为民族谋复兴、为世界谋大同的马克思主义政党，以促进人类解放与和平、进步为己任，派人在联合国宪章上签字，维护以联合国宪章宗旨和原则为核心的国际体系和国际秩序。毛泽东多次声明：“我们是爱好和平的，是马克思主义的。在国际上，我们反对大国主义。”所谓天下大事，就是“解放、独立、民主、和平友好、人类进步”；“社会主义的原则，马列主义的原则，是不允许侵略的”；“因此，一百年，一万年，我们也不会侵略别人。”新中国的建立和发展，不仅扭转了鸦片战争以后外敌入侵、战乱不已、民不聊生的屈辱历史，打破了帝国主义的东方阵线，而且迅速提高了我们的综合国力和国际地位，使中华民族爱好和平的优良传统在现代世界不断焕发出新的生机活力。

As early as the 1950s, China, together with India and Myanmar, jointly advocated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, confirming their application in mutual relations and in relations with Asian and other countries of the world, opening a new path for the peaceful resolution of historical issues left over between states and international disputes, and making historic contributions to the establishment of a just and reasonable international relationship. Our Party adheres to an independent foreign policy of peace, supports and assists the liberation cause of the world's oppressed nations, the construction of newly independent countries, and the just struggles of the peoples of various countries, promotes the restoration of all China's lawful rights in the United Nations, puts forward the strategy of dividing the world into three worlds, and makes the solemn commitment that China will never seek hegemony, winning the respect and praise of the international community, especially the vast number of developing countries.

早在20世纪50年代，中国就和印度、缅甸共同倡导和平共处五项原则，确认在相互关系以及各自国家同亚洲及世界其他国家的关系中予以适用，为和平解决国家间历史遗留问题和国际争端开辟了新路，为建立公正合理的国际关系作出了历史性贡献。我们党坚持独立自主的和平外交政策，支持和援助世界被压迫民族解放事业、新独立国家建设事业和各国人民正义斗争，推动恢复我国在联合国的一切合法权利，提出划分三个世界的战略，作出中国永远不称霸的庄严承诺，赢得国际社会特别是广大发展中国家的尊重和赞誉。

Entering the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, the Party proposed that peace and development are the themes of the times, adhered to the foreign policy purpose of maintaining world peace and promoting common development, adjusted relations with major powers, developed good-neighborly and friendly relations with surrounding countries, deepened friendly cooperation with the vast number of developing countries, unequivocally opposed hegemonism and power politics, and promoted lasting world peace and common prosperity. Deng Xiaoping pointed out: "The truly great problems in the world today, the global strategic problems, are, one, the problem of peace, and, two, the economic problem, or the problem of development. The peace problem is the East-West problem; the development problem is the North-South problem. In summary, they are the four characters: East, West, North, South." "The goal of China's foreign policy is to strive for world peace. On the premise of striving for peace, we will concentrate single-mindedly on modernization, develop our country, and build socialism with Chinese characteristics." Our country has developed from a poor, weak, and backward nation with a blank slate into the world's second-largest economy, not through colonial plunder and military expansion, but through arduous entrepreneurship and open cooperation, blazing a broad path of developing itself by striving for a peaceful international environment and, in turn, promoting world peace through its own development.

进入改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，党提出和平与发展是当今时代的主题，坚持维护世界和平、促进共同发展的外交政策宗旨，调整同主要大国的关系，发展同周边国家的睦邻友好关系，深化同广大发展中国家的友好合作，旗帜鲜明地反对霸权主义和强权政治，促进世界持久和平、共同繁荣。邓小平指出：“现在世界上真正大的问题，带全球性的战略问题，一个是和平问题，一个是经济问题或者说发展问题。和平问题是东西问题，发展问题是南北问题。概括起来，就是东西南北四个字。”“中国对外政策的目标是争取世界和平。在争取和平的前提下，一心一意搞现代化建设，发展自己的国家，建设具有中国特色的社会主义。”我国从一个积贫积弱、一穷二白的落后国家发展为世界第二大经济体，不是靠殖民掠夺和武力扩张，而是靠艰苦创业和开放合作，走出了一条争取和平的国际环境发展自己，又以自身的发展促进世界和平的康庄大道。

China's peace concepts and policies in the New Era are the mainstay of world peace.

新时代中国的和平理念和政策是世界和平的中流砥柱

After the second decade of the 21st century, the international balance of power has undergone profound adjustment, regional conflicts and local wars have erupted one after another, Cold War mentality and bloc politics have lingered on, protectionism and anti-globalization have risen, and the threats of unilateralism, hegemonism, and power politics to world peace and development have increased. The world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. Although the historical trend of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win outcomes is unstoppable, hegemonic acts such as bullying the weak, plundering by deceit, and zero-sum games still exist. The peace deficit, development deficit, security deficit, and governance deficit have worsened. Humanity once again stands at a crossroads of history, facing unprecedented challenges. Peace or war? Development or recession? Cooperation or confrontation? These are the questions of the world, of the times, and of history placed before humanity.

21世纪第二个十年以后，国际力量对比深刻调整，地区冲突、局部战争此起彼伏，冷战思维、集团政治阴魂不散，保护主义、逆全球化抬头，单边主义、霸权主义、强权政治对世界和平与发展的威胁上升，世界进入新的动荡变革期。虽然和平、发展、合作、共赢的历史潮流不可阻挡，但恃强凌弱、巧取豪夺、零和博弈等霸道行径依然存在，和平赤字、发展赤字、安全赤字、治理赤字加重，人类又一次站在历史的十字路口，面临着前所未有的挑战。和平还是战争？发展还是衰退？合作还是对抗？是摆在人类面前的世界之问、时代之问、历史之问。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has coordinated the domestic and international situations, balanced the two major tasks of development and security, grasped the main line of adhering to peaceful development and promoting national rejuvenation, resolutely safeguarded national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and provided strong guarantees for realizing the "Two Centenary Goals." [1]1 The Two Centenary Goals: the goals of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the centenary of the CPC's founding in 2021, and building a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, and harmonious by the centenary of the People's Republic of China in 2049. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We should vigorously promote the common values of all humanity—peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom—and jointly provide correct conceptual guidance for building a better world." The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC emphasized: "All things grow in harmony without harming each other, and all paths run in parallel without conflicting. Only when all countries follow the great way of the world, live in harmony, cooperate for win-win outcomes, can prosperity be lasting and security be guaranteed." "China adheres to dialogue and consultation in building a world of lasting peace; adheres to joint contribution and shared benefit in building a world of universal security; adheres to cooperation and win-win in building a world of common prosperity; adheres to exchange and mutual learning in building an open and inclusive world; adheres to green and low-carbon development in building a clean and beautiful world." Our Party advocates the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, implements the Belt and Road Initiative, initiated the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, established the Silk Road Fund, hosted the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and other multilateral meetings, put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, blazed a new path of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, created a favorable external environment for realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and made new and significant contributions to world peace and development.

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央统筹国内国际两个大局，统筹发展和安全两件大事，把握坚持和平发展、促进民族复兴这条主线，坚决维护国家主权、安全、发展利益，为实现“两个一百年”奋斗目标提供有力保障。习近平总书记强调：“我们应该大力弘扬和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由的全人类共同价值，共同为建设一个更加美好的世界提供正确理念指引。”党的二十大报告强调：“万物并育而不相害，道并行而不相悖。只有各国行天下之大道，和睦相处、合作共赢，繁荣才能持久，安全才有保障。”“中国坚持对话协商，推动建设一个持久和平的世界；坚持共建共享，推动建设一个普遍安全的世界；坚持合作共赢，推动建设一个共同繁荣的世界；坚持交流互鉴，推动建设一个开放包容的世界；坚持绿色低碳，推动建设一个清洁美丽的世界。”我们党倡导构建人类命运共同体，实施共建“一带一路”倡议，发起创办亚洲基础设施投资银行，设立丝路基金，举办“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛等多场多边会议，提出全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议、全球文明倡议，走出了一条中国特色大国外交新路，为实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦营造良好外部环境，为世界和平与发展作出了新的重大贡献。

History has repeatedly proven that peace is the cornerstone of national stability and the people's well-being, and the prerequisite for development and prosperity. Loving peace and seeking development are valuable experiences that the Chinese nation has drawn from the laws of history, and they are also the primary common values contributed to all humanity. The peaceful nature of Chinese civilization "determines that China continuously pursues exchange and mutual learning among civilizations without engaging in cultural hegemony, determines that China will not impose its values and political system on others, and determines that China adheres to cooperation rather than confrontation and will never engage in exclusive cliques of 'like-minded' allies." Today, the world is undergoing changes unseen in a century, and the Chinese nation is at a critical period of great rejuvenation. China holds high the banner of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win outcomes, adheres to the path of peaceful development, and promotes the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. It will surely let the sunshine of peace, development, and progress pierce through the haze of war, poverty, and backwardness, and make greater contributions to building a better world!

历史反复证明：和平是国泰民安的基石和发展繁荣的前提。爱和平、谋发展是中华民族从历史规律中总结出来的宝贵经验，也是贡献给全人类的首要的共同价值。中华文明的和平性，“决定了中国不断追求文明交流互鉴而不搞文化霸权，决定了中国不会把自己的价值观念与政治体制强加于人，决定了中国坚持合作、不搞对抗，决不搞‘党同伐异’的小圈子”。当今世界正处于百年未有之大变局，中华民族处于伟大复兴的关键期，中国高举和平、发展、合作、共赢旗帜，坚持走和平发展道路，推动构建人类命运共同体，就一定能够让和平、发展、进步的阳光穿透战争、贫穷、落后的阴霾，为建设美好世界作出更大的贡献！

(The author is Secretary of the Party Committee and Researcher at the Institute of Marxism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)

（作者系中国社会科学院马克思主义研究院党委书记、研究员）

Online editor: Tongxin

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