Key Concepts in Chinese Thought and Culture

Be Sociable but Never Form a Clique

The expression means to be sociable with others in a moral and ethical way, but not to form a clique with selfish interests. Qun (群) here means the majority, and associating with it means seeking the common good. Budang (不党) means not to form small factions or cliques purely for selfish reasons or private expediency. A similar expression is “be …

Revere the Fundamental and Keep the Specific Unchanged

This concept, as opposed to “revere the fundamental and dismiss the specific,” originates in Wang Bi’s (226-249) interpretation of Laozi. The fundamental, namely, Dao, is shapeless and nameless, while the specific refers to natural shapes and names. The term “revere the fundamental and keep the specific unchanged” means giving full rein to Dao …

Create Masterpieces of Greatness and Originality

This concept refers to literary geniuses creating timeless works of greatness and originality through meticulous honing of form and content. This phrase was used by Southern Dynasties literary critic Liu Xie (465?-520? or 532?) in The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons to give his heartfelt high praise of the works of Chuci (or odes of Chu)…

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: The purposes of the Project are to select the concepts in Chinese culture and thought that reflect the characteristics of the country's traditional culture and the Chinese people's way of thinking, and that embody the core values of China.
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