Yang Yue: The Profound Connotations of the Unity of Chinese Civilization
Unity is one of the prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The unity of Chinese civilization fundamentally determines that the cultures of the various ethnic groups of the Chinese nation are integrated and remain firmly cohesive even in the face of major setbacks; it determines the common conviction that the national territory is inseparable, the country must not be thrown into chaos, the ethnic groups must not be scattered, and the civilization must not be broken; it determines that national unity is forever the core of China's core interests; and it determines that a strong and unified country is that upon which the fate of all ethnic groups depends." The unity of Chinese civilization originates from the shared experience of the ancestors of all ethnic groups who "toiled with hands and feet and hacked through thorns and brambles" [1] to build a beautiful homeland. It is a "Great Unity" (Dayitong) [2] based on a vast territory and a massive population, encompassing dimensions of territory, politics, ethnicity, and culture, and possessing rich theoretical connotations.
A sense of belonging in the concept that "the national territory is inseparable." "The capital city and its surrounding lands span a thousand li; it is where the people rest, and the domain begins from the four seas." [3] The vast and fertile land of China is the expansive space where the children of the Chinese nation live and multiply, as well as the strategic depth for the continuous development of Chinese civilization. As early as the pre-Qin period, the theory of the "Nine Provinces of Yu" [4] emerged, facilitating the budding concept of a shared territory. When Qin Shi Huang unified the six states, he established the first centralized state with a vast territory, which constituted the main body of the territory for successive Central Plains dynasties and laid the geographical foundation for China's unification. Historically, despite the change of dynasties and the expansion or contraction of the map, the political entities established by the Chinese nation have always existed, and the scope of unified territory has continuously extended. That China could possess such a vast territory more than 2,000 years ago and maintain it stably is due to the Chinese nation’s deep-rooted concept of unity. Surveying Chinese history, no matter which ethnic group entered the Central Plains to rule, or which regime held a local splinter of territory, all took the unification of the "All-under-Heaven" (tianxia) as their personal responsibility. In the minds of Chinese people, a unified world and peace across the four seas represent the aura of a prosperous age, while frequent wars and fragmentation are the signs of a declining age. Everyone regards loving the motherland and maintaining unity as a supreme honor, and "forgetting one's ancestors" [5] or creating division as an ultimate disgrace. Whether it was Lu You of the Southern Song dynasty’s regret of "only grieving not to see the Nine Provinces united," or Tan Sitong of the Qing dynasty’s lament of "where at the end of the world is the Divine Land (Shenzhou)?"—both expressed a patriot’s deep and heavy "unity complex." These historical facts fully prove that national unity is the core of China’s core interests and the destiny of people of all ethnic groups.
The cohesive force in the concept that "the country must not be thrown into chaos." "Oneness leads to order, difference leads to chaos; oneness leads to peace, difference leads to peril." Consistent with the concept of maritime and inland unity, ancient Chinese thinkers recognized the importance of unified decrees very early on and gradually formed the political concept of "Great Unity" (Dayitong). When Confucius wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals, he opened by stating "The King's First Month." The Gongyang Zhuan [6] explained: "Why say 'The King's First Month'? To signify the Great Unity." Although the various thinkers of the pre-Qin period "each had their own say," most recognized a system design where "governance stems from a single source." The Mohists advocated for "Identifying Upward" (shangtong); Mencius spoke of "settling in oneness"; and Xunzi, building on the foundation of "unifying all under heaven," further proposed "one system," "unifying customs," and "exalting oneness for the sake of governance." After Qin Shi Huang destroyed the six states, he vigorously implemented the Commandery and County system (junxian zhi), ensuring that laws were consistent from top to bottom and the entire country responded "like the arms directing the fingers." Coupled with "writing in the same script, carriages on the same track, weights and measures standardized, and ethics unified," the Qin dynasty displayed a majestic spirit where "the six directions share the same customs and the nine provinces are linked as one." During the Western Han period, the ideology of Great Unity was elevated to the status of "the constant meridian of heaven and earth, and the universal righteousness from antiquity to the present." Its profound influence continues to this day. As a shared value pursuit of the Chinese nation, the concept of Great Unity constitutes the core content of Chinese political culture and has facilitated the governance practice of the central government in consolidating authority. It is a basic thread running through the political development of China's successive dynasties and an important bond sustaining a sense of community for the Chinese nation.
The centripetal force in the concept that "the ethnic groups must not be scattered." Since ancient times, China has been a unified multi-ethnic country. "The history of China is a history of various ethnic groups blending and converging into a pluralistic and integrated Chinese nation; it is a history of all ethnic groups jointly creating, developing, and consolidating a great, unified motherland." Rooted in the economic exchange of goods, the cultural complementing of strengths, and emotional communication, the people of all ethnic groups have depended on, learned from, and drawn close to one another. Together, they forged the brilliant and long history of this great Eastern power, jointly nurtured the conscious cohesion of the children of the Chinese nation in "crossing the river in the same boat," and jointly accumulated the endogenous power of the Chinese nation's struggle through unity. From Fu Jian of the Former Qin's statement of "blending the six directions into one family, treating all as my own children" to the Yongzheng Emperor of the Qing stressing "All-under-Heaven is unified, Hua and Yi [7] are one family"; from the Liangzhou Alliance during the Mongol-Yuan period to the Torghut tribe’s "ten-thousand-mile eastward return" during the Qianlong era—all demonstrate the historical picture of different ethnic groups merging and verify the cultural pattern of the "diversity in unity" of the Chinese nation. Through thousands of years of contact, exchange, and integration, all ethnic groups have held together tightly "like pomegranate seeds," creating a Chinese national community where everyone watches out for each other and shares a common destiny.
The sense of identity in the concept that "the civilization must not be broken." Culture is the soul of a country and a nation. A shared culture reflects the pulse of the national soul and attracts various members of that nation with immense charisma. Therefore, cultural identity is the deepest form of identity. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly noted: "The most fundamental reason we are born Chinese is that we have the unique spiritual world of the Chinese people, and we have values that people use every day without even realizing it." Over the course of thousands of years, the Chinese nation gave birth to sages such as Laozi, Confucius, and Mencius, and left behind literary treasures such as Tang poetry, Song lyrics, and Yuan opera. The Chinese people not only created cultural heritages such as calligraphy, seal cutting, block printing, and traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, but also cultivated spiritual qualities such as practicing benevolence, prioritizing the people, maintaining integrity, vowing to justice, advocating harmony, and seeking the "Great Unity" (datong) [8]. It can be said that the long-standing and profound Chinese civilization is the unique hallmark of the Chinese nation, the deep foundation of contemporary Chinese culture, the spiritual bond maintaining Chinese people worldwide, and a cultural treasure trove for strengthening the sense of identity of the Chinese nation. During periods of national unity, cultural identity plays a key role in consolidating and supporting unity; during periods of national division, cultural identity is all the more capable of calling forth the inexhaustible momentum toward seeking and achieving unity. It is precisely because of the double guarantee of cultural identity and political unity that China has been able to become the only ancient civilization in the world capable of maintaining a continuous history, a unique culture, and a stable territory.
In short, the prominent unity of Chinese civilization is manifested in the strong will to defend territorial integrity, the grand ambition to achieve national integration, the conscious awareness of maintaining ethnic unity, and the high level of confidence in identifying with Huaxia [9] culture. This unity is both a clear characteristic that distinguishes Chinese civilization from other civilizations in the world and the cultural foundation for the Chinese nation to stand tall among the nations of the world. This unity determines that the Chinese people will inevitably pursue and realize unity with unswerving determination, and determines that the Chinese nation remains firmly cohesive despite experiencing storms and remains strongly unified despite going through many vicissitudes. On the New Journey, only by profoundly grasping the prominent unity of Chinese civilization and deeply understanding the unique advantages of the Chinese path can we continuously enhance the sense of belonging and identity among the masses of all ethnic groups, consolidate the cohesive and centripetal forces of the Chinese nation, and gather the majestic power to comprehensively advance the great causes of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization.
(Author: Yang Yue, Specially Appointed Researcher of the Hunan Provincial Center for the Study of the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, and Lecturer at the School of Marxism, Hunan Normal University). Source: Guangming Daily (January 14, 2025, Page 06). Web Editor: Huihui.