Modernizing Traditional Chinese Culture
Focusing on ways to make the best use of Chinese historical and cultural traditions , Chinese scholars have already put forward a wide spectrum of valuable ideas, for example, a rejuvenation or transformation of the traditional culture, innovations in the traditional culture, or a creativity-inspired (or modernity oriented) transformation of traditional culture, to mention only a few. These ideas have been helpful for learning more about and drawing more on traditional Chinese culture. We believe that there are two prerequisites for the modernization of traditional Chinese culture :
- Such modernization must be executed by the Chinese nation itself exclusively in the interests of our own age.
- Modernization must involve analysis, evaluation, selection, revision, and innovations in traditional Chinese culture.
Modernizing traditional Chinese culture thus means updating traditional Chinese culture. During this process, in which traditional Chinese culture is made to coincide with China s current reality, we must take stock of and make efforts to update or improve tradition. In order to bring about a transformation in which traditional Chinese culture serves contemporary needs, we must take into account the prerequisites for modernization, and the principal channels and methods through which modernization can be achieved.
- The Prerequisite for Effecting Modernization : Making a Scientific and Rational Appraisal of Traditional Chinese Culture
To ensure a rational appraisal of traditional Chinese culture, the standpoint and perspective of those making the appraisal must first be scientifically defined. In other words, the appraisal must be conducted from the standpoint of the Chinese nation as a whole, and from the perspective of the era in which we live , and both of these must be in harmony. In evaluating traditional Chinese culture , one should always be on the lookout for aspects that can be updated, and every assessment must be in line with the basic interests of the Chinese nation. Only on this basis can a scientific and rational evaluation of traditional Chinese culture be made. This perspective and standpoint are inseparable , since the various endeavors to modernize traditional Chinese culture imply the intention to benefit the Chinese nation as a whole, and implicit in efforts to develop and revitalize Chinese culture is the desire to continually rejuvenate the culture. The law underlying cultural development determines that a correct appraisal of the cultural tradition depends on the appraisers perspective on modernity and standpoint on the Chinese nation. The traces left by the historical ages that a culture has survived and the aspects that are uniquely national in form can be discerned in many of the worlds independent cultural groupings. An independent cultural system is, in essence, a combination of such historical traces and unique national features. In our efforts to properly evaluate traditional Chinese culture, it is therefore essential to define both the perspective on modernity and the standpoint on the Chinese nation more specifically. In this context it appears that the only correct attitude to take in order to achieve a scientific and rational appraisal of traditional Chinese culture is to combine modernization that is compatible with our socialist system with Chinese characteristics, and a standpoint that conforms with the spirit of the contemporary Chinese nation.
A scientific and rational assessment of traditional Chinese culture presupposes that such an assessment is made from a number of perspectives and using a wide spectrum of standards. A lack of standards in carrying out such an appraisal might lead to bias. By a spectrum of standards is meant that such an appraisal should be conducted on the basis of theoretical premises, value judgements ? ethical principles ? and an evaluation of the research methodology employed. All these standards should dovetail with one another in making an appraisal. A balanced ? rational and scientific appraisal of traditional Chinese culture is out of the question unless this spectrum-〇f- standards approach is adopted. Traditional Chinese culture covers a wide range of fields of learning, including nature, sociology, the humanities, politics, economics, the natural sciences, and technology. Some of the knowledge it provides in these fields is rational and should be considered an integral part of the intellectual wealth gained and shared by the human race. It is absurd to reject the rational areas of knowledge provided by traditional Chinese culture simply on the grounds that it was created by social classes with ideologies that are alien to our own. Chinese culture as a whole consists of not only ancient traditions, but also those of the modern age. An evaluation of traditional Chinese culture will therefore inevitably be unbalanced if it is conducted from a single perspective or in the light of a single field of study. There is an inevitable reciprocity between traditional and modern culture , and modern culture is thus obliged to draw on traditional culture , while traditional culture endows the former with creativity. In other words, in order to correctly handle issues related to traditional culture the methodology used should not be too simplistic, and bias should not be encouraged.
The process of evaluating traditional Chinese culture and determining its new dimensions is extremely complex. Generally speaking, traditional Chinese culture has the potential to be of both positive and negative value in China s modernization campaign, and to affect it both favorably and unfavorably.
Any evaluation must include a specific analysis of the positive and negative values case by case. We can draw lessons in this r
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