The "harmony" culture advocated by the Chinese civilization has brought many enlightenments to people. The culture of "harmony" pursues peace, harmony and harmony, and advocates unity and cooperation.
Before the Spring Festival in the Year of the Dragon, I came to Beijing and saw all kinds of dragon images on the streets, houses, and shop windows, which was full of festive atmosphere. Spring Festival is an extraordinary time of year for Chinese, and it is also a window for Westerners to appreciate the breadth and depth of traditional Chinese culture.
For the past 12 years, I have worked with the British Council to develop educational materials on Chinese New Year. The textbook is aimed at British primary school students, and it is published every year, and the 12 years cover exactly the 12 zodiac signs. We want to start small and help British children better understand China. For the Chinese, the significance of the Spring Festival goes far beyond the beginning of the Lunar New Year, and all Spring Festival celebrations are an important part of enhancing social identity. The folk traditions associated with the Spring Festival date back thousands of years. Westerners should recognize that these traditions are an integral part of Chinese culture, that they run through thousands of years of history and are the embodiment of the continuity of Chinese civilization.
Today's world is full of uncertainties, and the "harmony" culture advocated by Chinese civilization has brought many inspirations to people. The culture of "harmony" pursues peace, harmony and harmony, and advocates unity and cooperation. In my experience, a walk around the Temple of Heaven Park in Beijing early on a weekend morning can help you understand the connotation of "harmony" culture. The park itself has a sense of peace and tranquility. Someone is playing a musical instrument, and the crowd is in harmony; Family and friends gather together for joy and warmth. All this constitutes the whole of "harmony", but without losing the clear and tacit self-confidence of the individual. Foreigners who have preconceived notions about China will re-examine their perception of China when they see this kind of scene.
In 2021, I participated in the translation of A Brief History of the Communist Party of China, which is the most inspiring translation work I have ever done. If Westerners had the opportunity to learn more about China's political history, they would have a new understanding of the country. China emphasizes the consistency and coherence of policy concepts and development practices. In China, policy ideas will be fully tested in long-term practice.
At present, China is playing a more prominent role in international affairs, and it is necessary for the world to better understand China's clear will to safeguard world peace. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a good example of this will, and the stories of mutual benefit and reciprocity should be better disseminated. From a historical point of view, the ancient Silk Road is not a simple route, but a huge network, which has brought wealth to many countries, and is also a channel for exchanges and mutual learning in art and philosophy, enriching and developing the cultural life of relevant countries. Judging from today's reality, the Belt and Road Initiative is an international cooperation initiative with global impact, and countries can actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and find cooperation opportunities that meet their own development needs. The Belt and Road Initiative has great potential to promote mobility and reduce development costs. According to a research report released by the World Bank, since the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, the global cost can be reduced by 18%。
In the face of the gap caused by misunderstanding, the best solution is to build more bridges. Westerners already have a certain understanding of the Spring Festival. On this basis, we should seize the opportunity to help them better understand China's pursuit of peace and harmony. By promoting mutual understanding, the foundation for constructive communication can be laid. This will help people from all over the world better understand that China sincerely pursues building a peaceful and tranquil world, and is committed to building more bridges with concrete actions to promote mutual understanding and communication among countries.
The author is a British sinologist).