Thoughts after Reading the Introduction of The Spirit of the Chinese People

2305康康

The introduction of The Spirit of the Chinese People centers around "the Religion of Good-citizenship", exploring the dilemmas faced by European civilization and the value of Chinese civilization, which is thought-provoking.

During the reading, I had some doubts. The author argues that European civilization, due to its wrong concept of human nature, relies on religion and law to maintain order, resulting in many problems, while China's "Religion of Good-citizenship" can solve these issues. However, although this view has some merit, it seems a bit absolute. The religious and legal systems in European civilization have played significant roles in social stability and development throughout history and cannot be completely negated. Moreover, the religious and moral systems in Chinese civilization are not perfect either. They also face many challenges and need to be transformed in the process of modern social development. For example, the adaptability of traditional Confucian concepts in today's society and how to better integrate with modern concepts such as science and democracy are not deeply explored in the book.

As can be seen from the book, the "Religion of Good-citizenship" emphasized in Chinese civilization focuses on believing in the inherent goodness of human nature, attaching importance to moral obligations, and loyalty to the country and family. This concept contrasts sharply with European civilization, where people abide by order mostly out of fear under the religious and legal systems. This makes me think about how the differences between different civilizations came into being and how these differences should learn from each other in the context of globalization. The unique characteristics of Chinese civilization have a unique inspiration for solving problems such as moral decline and social disorder in today's society. We should consider how to better inherit and carry forward the essence of traditional Chinese civilization in modern society and make it play a positive role.

There are mainly two reasons for reading this book. Firstly, it provides us with a new perspective to re-examine Chinese civilization. In the wave of globalization, with the influx of Western culture, many people have an insufficient understanding of the value of traditional Chinese culture. This book allows us to deeply understand the unique charm and profound connotations of Chinese civilization, enhancing our cultural confidence. Secondly, the book's analysis of the problems in European civilization and its comparison of different civilizations help to broaden our horizons. By understanding the development dilemmas and challenges of other civilizations, we can better think about the future direction of human civilization, seek wisdom from Chinese civilization, and provide ideas for solving global problems.