All Civilizations Can Appreciate Each Other's Beauty While Valuing Their Own and Achieve Common Development
This fundamental principle for cultural exchange, mutual learning, and healthy coexistence was outlined by Chinese sociologist Fei Xiaotong in the early 1990s. He suggested that each nation and country carry forward its own excellent culture, learn from others' excellent culture, and tolerate and respect each other so that diverse cultures will interact with each other to form a colorful and harmonious world.
Chinese civilization has a long history of more than 5,000 years, and openness and inclusiveness have always been among its characteristics. From Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions in the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 25) and Zheng He's seven ocean voyages in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to the Belt and Road Initiative of today, Chinese civilization has always made key contributions to Asian and world civilizations. The saying "All civilizations can appreciate each other's beauty while valuing their own and achieve common development" embodies the Chinese wisdom and represents Chinese civilization's contribution to the progress of human civilization.
各美其美,美人之美,美美與共,天下大同
“各美其美,美人之美,美美與共,天下大同”是20世紀(jì)90年代初中國社會(huì)學(xué)家費(fèi)孝通先生提出的文化設(shè)想,闡明了文化的“交流”“互鑒”與“共存”這一根本價(jià)值訴求?!案髅榔涿馈笔侵父鱾€(gè)民族、國家要弘揚(yáng)自己的優(yōu)秀文化?!懊廊酥馈笔侵敢獙W(xué)習(xí)別人的優(yōu)秀文化?!懊烂琅c共,天下大同”則是說,各個(gè)民族、國家的優(yōu)秀文化要互相包容、互相尊重,多元文化互相融合,形成一個(gè)多彩的世界,不同文明和而不同、兼收并蓄,進(jìn)而實(shí)現(xiàn)大同。
中華文明擁有5000多年悠久歷史,開放包容一直是其特色之一。從西漢時(shí)張騫出使西域,到明代鄭和七次遠(yuǎn)洋航海,再到今天的“一帶一路”等,中華文明都在為亞洲乃至世界文明作出自己的貢獻(xiàn)?!案髅榔涿?,美人之美,美美與共,天下大同”,是中華文明為人類文明進(jìn)步貢獻(xiàn)的中國智慧。