How should China exert its cultural influence in the world?
The Chinese culture always advocates that “harmony generates all things, but oneness does not continue.” It means that only the harmonious integration of different elements can generate and grow all things of the world. For example, the beautiful music is the combination of the “six musical notes” and the delicious food is the combination of the “five flavors.” If there is only one musical note, there will be no music. That China develops its cultural influence does not mean that China pursues a unilateral cultural dominance, but means that China pursues a diversified coexistence of global cultures. The Chinese culture will be an important part of the diversified world culture and participate in solving global difficulties and creating a new spiritual world.
Then, if China wants to develop its cultural influence, what cultural content should China use to face the world and how should China use them to face the world?
Maybe China could play an advertisement on the Times Square of New York or give a wonderful overseas performance or exhibition. However, are these things the core cultural content that China should contribute to the world?
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher once said that China would not turn into a great power of the world, because China did not have independent and globally-influential culture. The West also usually praised China's ancient culture but did not respect China's current culture. But, the situation changed in the 21st century when some newly-emerging “Chinese ideas” are shocking the world and being accepted by the world. For example, the conclusion proposed by some young scholars of China, “the minimum of the conflict is a necessary condition for the maximum of the interest,” has given rise to hot discussions in many international academic conferences. These “Chinese ideas” did not come from nowhere. They originate from the traditional Chinese culture, are researched and advocated by Chinese and Western scholars, and ultimately benefit the whole world.
Therefore, if China wants its culture to be influential, China must contribute new ideas to the world and participate in solving difficulties faced by the whole world.
The books “My Country and My People” and “The Importance of Living” written in English by a Chinese scholar Lin Yutang in the 1930's were best sellers in foreign countries and are still read by many people even today. Why is Lin so popular? In my opinion, it is because he deeply understood the Chinese culture, treated foreign readers as friends and wrote the books with a peaceful mind, a spirit of freedom and an excellent style of writing.
However, why has a book that is as influential as these two books not come into being until today? In my opinion, it is a problem of attitude. Usually, Chinese writers whether absolutely cater to the Western culture or absolutely want to have nothing to do with it.
The communication of different cultures is essentially a kind of dialogue that is not aimed at unifying different ideas or covering up one side's thinking. The coexistence of different cultures values the difference and means respecting others' opinions, because the “difference” brings more inspirations.
Loving our own culture and understanding and comprehending other cultures. This should be our fundamental attitude. Only in this way can the people of the world have cultural interactions and sympathies.
Read the Chinese version: 中国应向世界贡献思想, source: People's Daily, author: Yue Daiyun
