Chapter 33 The Evolution of Chinese Cultural Tradition-1

one Let us first ask, what is culture?These two words are difficult to give a clear definition.Generally speaking, when we say culture, we refer to the life of human beings. The various aspects of human life are summed up and we call it culture.But the so-called various life in all aspects does not refer to the temporary flat surface, but the long-term continuity must be added.For example, if a person's life is added to a long duration, that is life.Various aspects of life in a country and a nation are added to the continuous evolution of time and history.It becomes the so-called culture.Therefore, culture is the life of the nation.If a nation has no culture, it means no life.Therefore, any so-called culture must have a continuous spirit over a period of time.In other words, every culture must have its traditional historical significance.Therefore, when we say culture, it is not two-dimensional, but three-dimensional.In this flat, large space, all kinds of life in various aspects, and then experienced the continuity of time, that is the entire life of the nation, that is, the culture of that nation.So when it comes to culture, we should always speak in terms of history.

What is Chinese culture?To answer this question, we must use not only a philosophical perspective, but also a historical perspective.Chinese culture is a long-term tradition down to the first line, and has a history of five thousand years of evolution.That is to say, the life of our nation has stretched for five thousand years.But where is the meaning and value of these five thousand years of life?It seems to say that if a person lives fifty years, what is the meaning of his fifty years of life?What is the value?To answer this question, we should look back at what he has done in the past fifty years, what contributions he has made to society, the country, and mankind, and whether he will have a future in the future.We also use this method to look at the Chinese nation, what it has done in the past five thousand years, and which way it is running.For example, our daily life has its purpose and meaning. If we operate like this every day for one year, two years, three years, five years, he must have a plan.If his plan is satisfied and completed, then he will have another imagination.The environment that China has encountered in the past hundred years has been oppressed and ravaged by others, which can be described as extremely painful.If for a time, the Chinese are again independent, free, prosperous, happy and happy, and let them live comfortably and happily, then what will it plan at this time?What would he want to do again?To answer this question, we need to look at which way Chinese culture is going.This refers to the inherent character of a country's national culture.The Chinese are not free, unequal, weak, and oppressed. They follow others in everything. That is a temporary thing. Have the Chinese been following others for five thousand years?Even so, doesn't it really have a route and a yearning in its heart?A man must have his own hopes and purposes in his life.If not, then his life would be meaningless and worthless.So are nations.Since our China has a history of 5,000 years, which way is it heading?This is the first point we need to understand.The second point, how much did it run?Has it ever reached its purpose?Or did it stop halfway?Is this as we often say Chinese culture is aging?Already dead?Now I would like to illustrate these issues from a historical perspective.

Chinese cultural tradition has its hope and purpose.Now we only need to see which road it is running on and how far it has run. Is it continuing to improve?Or stop and stop moving forward?Or did you turn the direction and turn the corner?When we talk about the evolution of Chinese cultural traditions, we should focus on these issues.Therefore, what I am talking about now, although it is the past history, can make us understand China's current status and its future prospects. On the other hand, if we want to write a history of Chinese culture, how many issues should we write?History cannot be divided into periods, just like a stream of water cannot be cut off, nor can it be divided like human life.But we often say that someone's life can be divided into several periods.For example, someone’s first period is the period when he was a child at home, the second is the period when the youth is studying for school, the third is the period when he is engaged in the revolution, what is the fourth and fifth period, etc.If we divide him thus into periods, we shall know what he wished to do and what he accomplished.I also want to divide the history of Chinese culture into several periods to see which path it follows.But staging is really difficult. We have to see the route it takes before we can decide how to split the schedule.I personally think that Chinese culture can be divided into three periods from the beginning of history to the present.The first period was before the Qin Dynasty, the second period was from the Qin Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, the third period was from the Tang Dynasty to the late Qing Dynasty, and now the fourth period begins.I think all of you, whether you study history or not, will feel that this is a natural and common division.When we generally talk about Chinese history, most of them say that the academic thought before the Qin Dynasty was the most developed and the best, and it declined after the Qin Dynasty.Some people also say that the politics and society of the Han and Tang dynasties were very prosperous and prosperous, and there were achievements, while the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties following the Tang Dynasty were not successful.From this, it can be seen that most ordinary people also divide Chinese history into these sections.