China and the New World Wisdom
The Chinese are generally a proud people, and consider their culture to be a marvel thousands of years in the making. But China is as much a new civilization as an old one. Although the people have lived on this land since before recorded history can tell, their modern ways of thinking are not always informed by that history.
The modern flow of information all over the earth has meant that most Chinese are as much influenced by Hollywood as they are by Confucius. The twinkle of opportunity is brighter than the spark of wisdom in the eyes of a fast-developing nation – and perhaps rightly so. Since the world’s equilibrium is passing through cycles of upheaval and drastic change every day, many people wonder how much of the old wisdom still applies.
American leaders would just love to tell the Chinese all about the New World Wisdom, and to a great extent the Chinese are actually willing to listen. They are not, however, always so inclined to agree. To some, “new” means “Western,” but to those educated in the vastness of China’s past, it means something much more, something they wish to arise and define for themselves. They take what they like from the West, and they leave what they don’t.
Time will not tell us who was right or wrong. Historians of future ages will record how each nation on this earth was a strapping young adolescent at the turn of the millennium, full of ideas about how the world should be run, and equally full of confidence that their ideas would work. They will see an emerging world community struggling to piece itself together while at the same time keeping each part distinct.
For China, as for every nation, “new” increasingly means “together” with the rest of the world, while “old” means “apart.” A new wisdom for the world’s old countries, as well as the young, may very well be the fruit of that process of learning which joins these two identities into one functioning world system.
Your statement that “time will not reveal… “ may be correct. History does not necessarily reveal who was right. Afterall, history is written by those who get the most media time. At least, the history “known” by the largest number of people. And this turns out to be the most widely accecpted version of “History.”
Posted by on 10/29 at 07:33 AM
Great to read artilces on your web site. It is extremely interestting to read your comments about wisdom in Chinese version. I think we will have a good talk in this topic when you come to Shanghai. My friend Catherine will certainly show her most interest on this.
Shelly
Posted by on 11/21 at 08:45 PM
When hit this article, accidentally, a tender feeling comes over me, overwhelmingly, as if again saw my old friend David, a tall handsome young American guy, still with a little shade of shyness when comes across a beautiful girl, and it is again reminding me of his dedication, his deep understanding, and his kindness and wisdom. All is so close, so touchable as is just happening now.
yes, as a Chinese myself, and fortunately had a dreamed chance to be able to get a university education since the Cultural Revolution, I still remembered quite clearly that at the initial time of social changing--the great upheaval reform, how many Chinese were crazy about all the western world, readily accepting it with no least judgment or any reasonable consideration. Now decades passed, looking back all that has happened with it, what can we get from it, from the past?
A social culture, as all other things in the universe, is a two side kind, that both of dark and of bright, why just give up them all? Stick to the strong, and learn other’s merits, this is a good approach to be far more perfect, and to gain much more progress. This, we may call it the best unity, is the most excellent option for all.
So never, I keep telling myself, forget that I am a proud Chinese wherever I go, yet meantime always remember that there are many friends of other kind around who are truly worth my trusting and maybe even far more penetration, just like our dear David!
Thank you, my friend, for splitting so much time giving us such a golden chance to be more good judgment.
Posted by on 11/24 at 08:29 PM
