Panel № 7 Cultural

China: From an ancient civilization to a modern culture

300 years ago, during the reigns of the Ching Emperors Kangxi to Qianlong, China’s GDP was estimated to be 25-30% of the world’s total. Then came the 18th century when this old and mighty Kingdom suffered one blow after another as it fell prey to the western powers, culminating to the siege of its capital Beijing in August 1900 by the Eight-Nation Alliance.  Since that time, Chinese people were literally run to the ground with pain and suffering brought on by series of foreign pillages and continuous civil wars and social uprisings.  For the first half of the 20th century, there was hardly a single day of peace and peaceful living throughout the land.  Finally came 1949.  The end of mournful days was in sight. 

Looking back on history, the road leading to a New China was not easy, but indeed, very trying and formidable.  It took the Chinese Communist Party twenty-eight long years to form a new government in Beijing in 1949.  Then, following a series of trials and experiments, and many of them ending as errors, including the Great Leap Forward, and the Cultural Revolution, and after another twenty-nine long hard years, our leaders came up with a strategy which launched the Country into a new era:  reform and opening-up in 1978.  Thirty-one years later, when we clearly see how this sixty year old country of ours stood steadfast in the midst of the global financial crisis, braving the western wind and eastern storm of pressure and cynicism,    we applaud in unison the wisdom and foresight of our forefathers.  But during this thirty-one year period, the process of reform and opening-up was marred with pitfalls and predicaments especially during the formative years.  And it was in 1992, Deng Xiao-ping while touring the southern provinces cast in iron the overall direction of reform and opening-up.  In fact, most of the rapid achievements accountable to this policy of development took place in the past seventeen years after 1992.

What have we achieved in the past sixty years?  We stood as a nation unified and undivided since 1949 with leaders in the Government who have put the country on the proper track of development the result of which have successfully lifted the people out of hunger, poverty, and fear of not being able to thrive for another day. 

Numbers speak most strongly and convincingly.  On September 7, 2009, the National Bureau of Statistics released a report featuring the nation’s 60-year development since 1949.   According to the report, China’s economic aggregate ranked third in the world as of 2008, pulling it into the list of lower-middle-income countries from low-income ones.  China maintained an average annual GDP growth of 8.1 percent in the past 60 years, making its current economic aggregate 77 times more that that of 1949, the report said.  With a per capita gross national income hitting $2770 in 2008, China had gradually become a large manufacturing country as it strengthened industrial infrastructure construction and expanded productivity.  Longevity of its people has doubled, and illiteracy rate has been reduced to 6.67%.

Data were encouraging and uplifting, and accounted for the hard power that had made China big in size, scale, and weight, but could not do justice to the soft power which is not and could not be measured and assessed with conventional standards. 

Our soft power resides in the Chinese cultural core-values which have driven our forefathers to thrive and struggle against great odds to achieve what we can be so proud of today.  This soft power was taken to task most notably during the last two years, with the earthquake in Sichuan, the Olympics in Beijing, and the global financial crisis.

These events have put the entire nation of 1.3 billion people behind a unified goal every time, and we all breathed as one.  The will of a singular purpose was amply demonstrated when we rallied all our weights behind the call to make our people safe, whole, and worthy of the respect and dignity of an ancient civilization and a modern country.

It is such soft power that had made the Chinese people resilient, tenacious, and not only big in scale but strong in spirit.  And that spirit is the Chinese spirit that will take off and be duly recognized and appreciated for the next sixty-years.


Indeed, in the present era in China, culture has been recognized more and more as an important source of national cohesion and creativity and a factor of growing significance in the competition in overall national strength.  President Hu Jintao of the People’s Republic of China has most recently committed the Chinese people to “enhance culture as part of the soft power of our country to better guarantee the people\'s basic cultural rights and interests, enrich the cultural life in Chinese society and inspire the enthusiasm of the people for progress”.

So what is soft power? Soft power lies in the ability to attract and persuade. Whereas hard power—the ability to coerce—grows out of a country\'s military or economic might, soft power arises from the attractiveness of a country\'s culture, political ideals, and policies. Although Joseph Nye Jr. of Harvard University coined the term "soft power" in the late 1980s, the idea of attraction as a form of power, however, can be dated back to such ancient Chinese philosophers as Lao Tsu in the 7th century BC.  Nowadays, for all practical purposes, soft power equates a country’s cultural attractiveness.
China is an ancient civilization with 5000 years history of culture.  But culture is an all-embracing term which requires clarification in a modern syntax.  According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), “Culture comprises the whole complex of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterize a society or social group. It includes not only the arts and letters, but also modes of life, the fundamental rights of the human being, value systems, traditions and beliefs”.

Generally, culture can be appreciated from three different standpoints.  Firstly, “everyday culture”, or popular culture, includes a set of behavior that governs how ordinary people in a certain society lives, dresses, eats, works, spends time, entertains, and communicates.
Secondly, “high culture” denotes artistic activities and creative endeavors which include music, literatures and letters, and appreciation of which is acquired, and may require cultivation and education, and reflect the community’s values and aesthetic interests.  Thirdly, “culture on a spiritual level” represents a set of ideas, beliefs and core-values that a community derives its morals, ethics, life-philosophies, religions, traditions and identities, and which dictates how the community organizes and defends itself, deals with crises and challenges, and makes choices.

In this 21st century, how does the world receive Chinese culture?  According to a report published by the China Academy of Social Science on China’s modernization, in 2005, China ranked 57th in the evaluation of the index of modernization of cultural life; ranked 24th in the evaluation of cultural competitiveness index; and China ranked 7th in the evaluation of cultural influence index after the US, Germany, England, France, Italy, and Spain.

Newsweek Magazine conducted a poll on its worldwide readership in 2008, and pointed that in the 21st century, among countries with cultural influence, China ranked second to the US.  And in the eyes of the westerners, Chinese culture was represented by the Chinese language, Beijing Forbidden City, the great wall, Suchow gardens, Confucius, Suen-tze war tactics, Xi’an terra cotta, Duanhuang caves, Tang dynasty, silk, Beijing opera, Shaolin temple, Kung-fu, Chairman Mao, acupuncture, and Chinese cooking.  These cultural symbols are at best icons which epitomize isolated segments of Chinese cultural legacy, and at worst are just vehicles to convey an Oriental mysticism or novelty of sort.

Throughout the last 5000 years, and even into the 21st century, the world has had difficulties understanding Chinese culture, especially at a spiritual level.  For a large part, such difficulties could be attributable to the Chinese language which are ideograms and are not rooted in alphabets or phonetic symbols.  Such language barrier has barred westerners from in depth understanding of Chinese thinking and philosophies which are invariably recorded in unfathomable ancient writings.  In the 20th century, while China has translated no less than 100,000 titles of foreign books, the west has only translated hundreds titles of books from China, and they are mostly the limited to collections of poetry from the Tang dynasty, Yi-ching, and others of more popular appeal.  The cultural products that came out of China in recent years generally lack the depth and breadth of spiritual contents characteristic of this ancient civilization.  International cultural exchanges had been mostly artistic in nature and much weight was placed on the fanfares of the activities rather than on cultural substance.  So far, China has produced many cultural symbols and not enough attractions of cultural essence with which the rest of the world could identify.

In 2007, Chinese President Hu Jintao told the 17th Communist Party Congress that China needed to increase its soft power.  Subsequently, China has established 295 Confucius Institutes in 78 countries to teach Chinese history and language. Memorandums of cultural cooperation were signed with 145 countries with 752 cultural exchange programs on the drawing board.  Numerous Chinese Cultural Centers were set up overseas, and Chinese cultural festivals were organized in various countries. And China would launch a reported US$6.6 billion program to expand the reach and impact of its media network, namely China Central Television (CCTV) and Xinhua net, its news agency.

But culture is not a by-product of a robust economy. It stands at the very foundation of our civilization. It binds us together and cements our identity. It is therefore incumbent upon each of us to remind our fellow citizens that culture is the concrete on which we stand, laid down by the generations who have preceded us. It defines who we are.

Having all the hard wares in place is the first step of enhancing Chinese cultural attraction.  Next comes the arduous process of crystallizing the Chinese cultural essence into messages and gist, so that efforts of cultural exchanges would not remain only on a superficial level but would leave a lasting impression laying the foundation of appreciation upon which future efforts could be built.  These are the core values of the Chinese culture and we must build up the system of core cultural values in a persuasive way.  Such could only be possible with a comprehensive understanding of traditional Chinese culture, keeping its essence and discarding its dross to enable it to fit in with present-day society, stay in harmony with modern civilization, keep its national character and reflect changes of the times. 


In short, national soft power derives its attraction from its cultural core values which could be made adaptable to solve modern day’s problems. As we construct strategies and policies to answer to the needs and aspirations of a modern society, our communities are in turn driven by a modernity. Ladies and gentlemen, in this 21st century, a Chinese “modernity” is emerging.

Modernity is a collective system of values and a set of moral codes that govern thoughts, establish identity, drive economies, set agendas, dictate choices, and inspire expectations.  Most importantly, it underpins how our respective communities of citizens prefer one form of artistic expression over another form, one type of creative product over another type, or choose certain categories of cultural goods, or watch films and read books expounding particular direction of story line.  These are the values that motivate our communities in the consideration of what make them happy, beautiful, artistic, creative and what can result in a sense of well being and national pride.  Modernity is molding our creative industry and cultural market which is culturally dependent, and can be influenced and affected by other forces, such as advertisements, mass trend, and various types of persuasions.  Simply put, discussions on modernity are a debate of values, cultural core values.

For a very long time, China was the world\'s centre of creativity and cradle of cultures. Then in the 17th century, our Western counterparts overtook us, in their age of "Renaissance", in which their artistic, social, scientific and political thought turned in new directions. The industrialization in the 18th century further confirmed the leading position of the West in formulating and setting the agendas of human developments in the modern world. Western culture, Western thoughts and values have been driving and influencing modern developments in other parts of the world, and some may even equate modernization with Westernization. Then, is Chinese modernization Westernization?

In the 21st century, the power and influence of a place hinges not entirely on military might or economic strength in its traditional sense. The defining force has shifted gradually to the cultural depth that a territory is able to generate. We need to build a nation that is creative, cohesive, and resilient through creativity in arts and culture, science and technology, through preservation of our heritage, and through articulation of our historicity, so as to provide us with a constant source of inspiration to propel our society and economy to thrive and advance in the face of fierce competition from different parts of the world.

But at the same time, we are also faced today with the threat of our cultural fundamentals being inundated by the rising tide of globalization.  In the process of global modernization, Western values have tended to become dominant.

Westerners, consciously or unconsciously, tend to promote a universal Western culture, believing that non-Western people should commit themselves to the Western values of democracy, free markets, human rights, and individualism, equality and justice, and should embody these values in their institutions.

China’s rallying call for "Chinese values", in the late decades of the twentieth Century, should be seen as China’s determined search for its own cultural modernity.

Our system of  cultural core values - our collective strength we derive from who we are - have served us well, helping us withstand other challenges of every conceivable kind, from natural disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes and tsunamis, to epidemics and plagues such as SARS and bird flu. In times of stress, our common values and common cause, all of which stem from our cultural roots, reign paramount over personal interest.

The globalization of modernity today can be largely understood as the spread, expansion, or diffusion of Western modernity. We must not let globalization chip away at the fabric of our intrinsic identity and indigenous cultural values.

How then, in the face of globalization, can Chinese culture respond to the needs of the modern world and rise to the challenges posted by the global tide of Westernization? We have witnessed the episodic spasms of intellectual awakening and internal reflection in the form of May 4th Movement in China in 1919. But the age of modern Chinese enlightenment has yet to come. How would our indigenous traditions stand to brave the wind of change?

The West has promulgated what it describes as the “universal values” of individual rights, personal achievements, efficiency, equality, freedom and justice. The rising tide of Westernization at first seemed as if it threatened to engulf us all, to the point where we viewed Westernization as an inevitable consequence of globalization.

For the last two centuries, China has long been marginalized on the world stage and its voice has not been heard in the global discourse of modernity. However, China’s success in modernizing and in creating wealth has rekindled the world’s faith and confidence in China, and in Chinese cultures and values: Values having to do more with strong families, education, hard work, discipline, commitment, responsibility, harmony and collective solidarity.

As some scholars have observed, "This modernity in China, is not only built around individual rights, but around a deeply ingrained moral code that is the basis of strong social structures and community life."

We espouse Western values, but with commitment and responsibility aimed at society rather than the individual.  The Western and Eastern values are not mutually exclusive.  They complement one another, and make the other set of values more meaningful, more complete, and more sustainable in the long run. Matching the two sets of values would complete a picture of a multi polar modernity to the global world.

The reshuffling of the global order that has accelerated in recent years has given rise to increasing tensions between East and West, between the cultures of Western Christianity and Middle Eastern Islam. In this arena of potential conflict, Chinese Culture of Moderation can serve as the third alternative.  We can provide room for arbitration by interceding from our standpoint of oriental wisdom and tolerance.

The word “culture” in Chinese (??) can be metaphorically deciphered as “transformation through civility” (????) which is tolerant, amicable, embracing and inclusive, as contrast to “transformation through might” (??). For our cultures were never monolithic, but always permeated and leavened by those of others.  Francis Fukuyama said there was no theoretical reason why Confucian social structures could not coexist perfectly well with democratic political institutions.

China is a very embracing race celebrating diversity and tolerating and accommodating different elements no matter how foreign they are.  For centuries, China has as its constituents 56 different races.  As one looks at history, races came and went, and took turn to rule China.  But at the end of the day, 56 races remained intact and coexisted in modern China.  China can play a major part in shaping modernity.  For China, it is a role it is destined to play after returning to the world cultural arena.

Among Chinese cultural core values, one stands out and which accounts for how the 56 races consolidate into one nation which remains steadfast for centuries, and such core value can still be made applicable in today’s modern situation. It is symbolized with the ideogram “he” (?) which literally means: “peace”, “harmony”, “the sum of”, “and”, and “together”. Within a community, different voices can be heard, and yet they are harmonious.  Like an orchestra, each instrument plays to a different tune, but the sum of these tunes makes harmonious music. “He” captures the Chinese value of relationship. It centers on the human person and describes his respectful attitude towards and peaceful relationship with his fellowmen, with the earth and the environment, and with heaven, which can be taken to mean his inner self.  Our forefathers have taught us to be at peace with one another, to be harmonious with Mother Earth, and most importantly, to be one with Heaven, and that can only be achieved when one finds peace with oneself. President Hu Jintao has charged the Nation to foster a culture of harmony which can provide important intellectual support for the unity and progress of all our people.

For the past 60 years, China has taken economic development as her central task, and reform and opening-up as the driving force in her effort to promote socialist economic, political, cultural and social development and conservation culture in an all-round way. Her achievements to date are colossal.  China cannot succeed in isolation from the rest of the world and the world also needs China, which will continue to pursue peaceful development and work for a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.

According to Yi-ching, the ancient book of “change”, the first ideogram “qian” (?) signifying strong and healthy, is characterized by four qualities. “Yuan”(?) means big in scale, size and weight, and full of vigor and energy. “Heng” (?) denotes a state of fluidity; flexibility and changeability that its substance can expand and grow, and also can be contained and subdued.  “Li” (?) describes the quality of appropriateness that suits the time and place, and is congruous with its partners and harmonious with the surrounding.  “Zhen” (?) symbolizes the virtue of faultlessness, immunity, fortification, healing rapidly, and overcoming challenges expediently.  These four requirements summarize the Chinese value of being strong and healthy, not only in substance, but also in spirit and in harmony with its context and surrounding. Such will be the task for China to accomplish in the next 60 years.

Ladies and gentlemen, looking back in history, in the Han Dynasty 2000 years back, we had the first Silk Road kicked off by Zhang Qian; and in the 15th Century, we had the second Silk Road at sea championed by Cheng He.

The significance of the two silk routes was when China was at its height of prosperity and military might, it cherished peaceful missions of trade the result of which was the establishment of centers and stations along the routes through which cross fertilization of different cultures flourished.   

Ladies and gentlemen, the 21st Century will see us here embarking on the third Silk Road. The two previous Silk Roads traded tea, silk, spices, exotic fruits, jewelry and gold. The 21st Century Silk Road trades for creative ideas, cultural products and creative talents. This modern Silk Road travels neither by sea nor on land, but travels through the inner workings of the human minds driven by a desire to captivate the cutting edges of peaceful competition in this globalized world.

Along this modern Silk Road we have witnessed heated discussions on the safeguarding of world cultural diversity in the context of economic conformity and integration.

Along this modern Silk Road, we have seen many rewarding explorations in regional cultural cooperation with a realization that equal attention should be paid to political, economic and cultural cooperation in the Region.   For instance, this World Public Forum on Dialogue of Civilizations being held seven years in a row, has amply demonstrated that intercultural dialogue is an efficient instrument in resolving global conflicts

Along this modern Silk Road we will see communities merging creative markets and aligning cultural policies to form alliances in exploring the commonality among cultures and community values in answering to the modern needs of the 21st Century.

Along this modern Silk Road we will see citizens from neighboring cities and nations sharing one another\'s aspirations and inviting one another into their dreams that life is celebrated through cultural pursuits, and our people are enchanted by the arts, enlightened by cultural differences and enriched by social diversity.

And along this modern Silk Road, we will come to learn with mutual respect that despite our different backgrounds and upbringings, there are some fundamental values we all hold dear, some basic principles we all respect and certain core understanding we all embrace.

My friends, the third Silk Road of the 21st Century is our answer and response to globalization of our cultural needs. Make no mistake; the purpose of this Silk Road is not to establish an empire of might but to extend our empire of minds. 

Ladies and gentlemen, we are in the midst of a very exciting time, for we bear witness to the emergence of multiple modernities in the process of global modernization. The modernity unfolding in China is part and parcel of that truly dynamic drama of the globalization of modernity. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will definitely be accompanied by the thriving of Chinese culture. 

In conclusion, I have the pleasure to share with you that 143 years ago, Dr Sun Yat-sen was born.  As we celebrate his 143rd birthday, I remember his words:
“Once our goal of modernizing China is accomplished, the dawn of a new century will shine upon our beautiful country, and the whole of humanity will enjoy a more brilliant future.”


Ladies and gentlemen, I have a dream. I dream of a cultural China, a China with ideas and values to inspire humanity.   I am sure the rediscovery of Chinese cultural core values signifies the awakening of modern humanity and would eventually lead to another Renaissance of the present time. 

Thank you.