Li Pingan: The Modern Civilizational Value of China’s Excellent Traditional Family Culture
As a unique spiritual force formed by the Chinese nation over the long course of its historical development, China’s fine traditional culture provides a deep cultural foundation for the realization of Chinese-path modernization, while China’s fine traditional family culture [1] serves as the fertile soil for nurturing this spiritual force.
In deciphering the "code" of "tradition" (传统, chuántǒng), chuán (传) represents the vertical dimension of historical inheritance, while tǒng (统) represents the horizontal dimension of condensing the essence. China’s fine traditional family culture plays a vital role in both aspects. Regarding historical inheritance, this family culture, possessing a temporal-spatial penetrability, has formed a cultural bond passed down through generations. It preserves and promotes the spiritual core of the Chinese nation, supporting the continuous and stable development of modern society through a powerful cohesive force, while contributing new elements and forms to the diversity of human civilization. Regarding the condensation of essence, the harmonious and inclusive nature of China’s fine traditional family culture transcends the scope of the family and permeates the entire chain of social life. The internal peace and physical well-being of individual growth, the warmth and harmony of the family atmosphere, and the civilization and harmony of the social order cannot be realized without its nurturing function. Therefore, in the New Era, we should deeply tap into and promote its unique value, allowing it to play a greater role in contemporary society.
Manifesting and Inheriting the Symbols and Essence of Chinese Civilization
"A nation that does not remember whence it came has no way forward." Forgetting historical inheritance inevitably leads to losing one's direction. The continuity of Chinese civilization and the depth of Chinese culture are two sides of the same coin, together supporting the endless vitality of the Chinese nation. China’s fine traditional family culture, as a carrier of the Chinese nation’s cultural memory, is not only a cultural symbol within the home; it also manifests and inherits the symbols and essence of Chinese civilization in the sense of national cultural confidence and identity.
Through family culture elements such as surnames and clan genealogies, the struggles of ancestors and historical changes centered on the family unit are passed down across generations. This forms a collective memory between generations, strengthening the collective historical consciousness and cultural identity of the family, and enabling the collective memory of the Chinese nation to be maintained and enhanced. This sense of emotional and cultural belonging inspired countless sons and daughters of China to face difficulties and defend their homes together during turbulent years, writing a historical lineage of shared stakes [2]. In the flourishing development of the New Era, it also encourages them to shoulder the responsibility of realizing national rejuvenation.
From tangible wealth to intangible treasures, China’s fine traditional family culture is both a transmitter of knowledge and skills and a guardian of the spiritual cultural lineage, passing the wisdom and experience of ancestors to future generations. Historically, positions and occupations were among the primary forms of the origin of Chinese surnames, engraving a transmission model of oral instruction and personal teaching between family members. In the present day, many precious traditional skills, such as Chinese intangible cultural heritage (cuts-outs, embroidery, and ceramics), have been preserved and developed through this. Family collections and transmissions are key to the continuity of many important Chinese classics. Stories such as "storing the sacred teachings within Confucius's wall" [3] and "continuing the literary waves in the Eight Thousand Volume Pavilion" [4] record the unremitting efforts of the Chinese people to maintain the Chinese cultural lineage during periods of upheaval.
"A family is not just a place where the body resides, but a destination for the soul." The family virtues advocated by China’s fine traditional family culture—such as respecting the elderly and cherishing the young, "paternal kindness and filial piety" [5], and "loving the country as one loves one's family"—have shaped an honest and simple national character through generational education. These constitute the root and vein of the national spirit and manifest the essence of Chinese civilization. In a family atmosphere of respecting the aged and caring for the young, benevolence and social responsibility are inherited naturally; in the interaction of paternal kindness and filial piety, gratitude and the spirit of dedication are nurtured through word and deed. These excellent concepts of traditional family culture follow the path of the life ideal of "loving the country as one loves one's family," continuously enriching the great national spirit centered on patriotism, unity, peace-loving, industry, bravery, and self-reliance, injecting sustained vitality into the continuous development of Chinese civilization.
Assisting and Enhancing Happiness and Civilizational Standards in Modern Society
"On the road ahead, wind and rain are the norm." The rapid development of modern society has brought unprecedented changes to lifestyles, and both individuals and families face many new problems and challenges. The family ethics contained within China’s fine traditional family culture possess profound practical significance for improving social civilization and enhancing the people’s sense of happiness.
"Fearless of wind and rain, watching out for one another, facing challenges head-on, and overcoming difficulties." The family is the most basic unit of human society and the most direct source of strength for every individual to move forward bravely in the face of adversity. The respect, understanding, tolerance, and mutual assistance advocated by China’s fine traditional family culture provide emotional support and spiritual solace for modern people dealing with a fast-paced life. In the spousal relationship of "treating each other with the respect due to a guest" [6] and the "paternal kindness and filial piety" of parent-child interaction, family members support each other and share burdens, helping to alleviate psychological stress and enhance confidence. This reveals the most fundamental operational structure of Chinese civilization in helping one another and overcoming hardships together. Regardless of the "wind and rain," a harmonious family is always a warm harbor, a solid shield for people to face difficulties, and the source of strength to forge ahead.
Simultaneously, the moral norms advocated by traditional family culture help cultivate a stronger sense of social responsibility. The family is the first classroom of socialization, the starting point of personal character and values, and it carries the heavy responsibility of nurturing and inheriting social responsibility. Through "respecting the elderly and cherishing the young," intergenerational care bridges the generational gap and births the prototype of a sense of social community, constituting the foundation of social harmony. "Respecting the elderly" is not only an embodiment of family virtue but also a recognition of social contribution, meaning the younger generation acknowledges the wisdom and contribution of their elders. "Cherishing the young" is not just an expression of blood relation but a continuation of social responsibility; caring for the growth of children is protecting the future of society. Furthermore, "managing the household with diligence and thrift" manifests the social responsibility of treasuring and rationally utilizing resources. The principle of "treating others' elders as one's own, and others' children as one's own" [7] allows individuals to actively play their roles as subjects of society, not only helping to improve the overall level of social morality and civilization but also deepening the social participation of all citizens.
Enriching and Expanding the Content and Forms of Human Civilization
Spanning thousands of years, Chinese civilization has formed a unique trajectory and cultural characteristics. This historical continuity not only deeply influences China's past, present, and future but also provides valuable experience and inspiration for global culture. As an important component of Chinese civilization, China’s fine traditional family culture centrally demonstrates this uniqueness, shaping not only the value orientation and ethical forms of Chinese society but also providing historical material for enriching the connotation of human civilization, becoming a bridge for cross-cultural dialogue in the process of globalization.
From family ethics to clan culture, and from traditional customs to the inheritance of skills, China’s fine traditional family culture not only displays the wisdom and creativity of the Chinese nation but also attracts global attention with its unique forms. The Spring Festival, a traditional holiday, is not only a time for family reunion but also a means through which people’s expectations and blessings for a better life are transmitted via activities like pasting Spring Festival couplets, setting off firecrackers, and giving New Year greetings. As times change, it adapts and renews itself, giving traditional activities new forms and gradually becoming a cultural feast with global influence and an important stage for cross-cultural exchange.
In December 2023, the Spring Festival was officially designated as a United Nations floating holiday; on December 4, 2024, "Spring Festival—Social Practices of the Chinese People Celebrating the Traditional New Year" was included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This manifests the cultural confidence of the Chinese nation and serves as a vivid manifestation of the cultural diversity of humanity.
China’s fine traditional family culture manifests the cultural values of harmony and inclusiveness, condensed in the simple expression "harmony in the family brings prosperity to all things" (家和万事兴, jiā hé wàn shì xìng). it advocates resolving conflicts through understanding, respect, and tolerance, reflecting the beauty of harmony in Chinese culture and guiding people to care for one another and coexist harmoniously. In the current era of global multicultural convergence, this spirit of harmony and inclusiveness is not only an important bond for family unity but also a supplement and innovation for the exchange and blending of global civilizations. Especially in the coexistence of multiple ethnicities and cultures, it helps enhance mutual understanding and respect, promoting dialogue and cooperation among different civilizations. Through a "shared destiny and walking the Great Way together," it contributes to creating a more prosperous and beautiful future.
(The author is a specially invited researcher at the Center for Marxist Theory and Regional Practice Research and a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Marxism, Guangxi Normal University)
Source: Guangming Daily (via China Social Science Net) February 7, 2025