Maintaining China's Values: Twenty-Six Lectures on Traditional Chinese Culture

This book introduces twenty-six core thoughts that mostly reflect Chinese traditional cultural spirits. Through multi-perspectives, which includes theological analyzing, quotes evidencing, stories narrating, poets selected essays, etc., this book comprehensively describes, explains and explores the heritage and development direction of Chinese modern culture. It also constructs modern Chinese characteristic cultural spirits on the basis of traditional ones, providing new and modern perspective for understanding Chinese outstanding traditional cultural spirits and offering reference for modern Chinese characteristic socialism cultural construction. This book generally introduces Chinese traditional culture, philosophy and thoughts, which greatly forms Chinese people's characteristics. So this book is a good introductory book to understanding China and Chinese people. It briefly presents the essence of Chinese traditional philosophy and culture, which is great for foreign readers to get a primary understanding of Chinese traditional philosophy and culture. Chinese traditional philosophy still plays very important roles in the present Chinese society and its influence in Chinese people is very deep; and thus, this would be an excellent reading book to know more about how Chinese think and behave.

Table of Contents:
Preface Cherishing Cultural Roots Lecture 1 Integration of Man and Nature I. Complicated Theories on Man and Nature II. On the Idea of "Integration of Man and Nature" III. Ways to Realize the Harmonious Coexistence of Man and Nature IV. "Integration of Man and Nature" and Our Life Lecture 2 People Being the Foundation of the State I. A Thousand-Year History of People-Oriented Thought II. The People-Oriented Idea under the Monarchy III. The Essence of Ancient Chinese Political Thoughts IV. Ways to Centralize People Lecture 3 The Way of Mean I. To be Impartial and Go with the Flow II. The Cultivation in China of the Style of Impartiality and Peace III. "Moderation", the Key to Success in the World Lecture 4 Harmonious Coexistence I. Precious Thought on "Valuing Harmony" II. The Essence of Chinese "Harmony" Culture III. Let the Spirit of Traditional "Harmony" Culture Permeate our Society Lecture 5 Destroying the Old and Establishing the New I. The Alternation of the Old and New, a Great Virtue II. The Connotations of the Idea of Destroying the Old and Establishing the New III. The Source of Vitality of the Chinese Civilization IV. Reformation and Innovation Never Ending Lecture 6 Being Prepared for Danger in Times of Peace I. The "Concerns" of the Ancient People II. Sources of the Concerns III. The Awareness of the Unexpected and Chinese Society IV. Valuable Philosophical Wisdom Lecture 7 The Whole World as One Community I. The Idea of the "State of the Public" under the Dominance of the "State of One's Own" II. Owned and Shared by the People for Public Interests III. A Mirror of Realpolitik Surveyed by Traditional Society IV. Ways to Work as Officials Bearing "The Whole World as One Community" Lecture 8 Fairness and Justice I. Ancient People's Unremitting Pursuit of Justice II. The Strength and Weakness of Traditional Concept of Justice III. Building a Fair and Just Society Lecture 9 Widely Granting Benefits to All I. The Political Thought of Succoring the Poor II. The Rise of Traditional Charitable Movement III. Promoting People's Sense of Social Responsibilities Lecture 10 Prioritizing Rites and Respecting Laws I. The Political Idea with Xunzi as the Pioneer II. Ways to Look Upon the Idea of "Prioritizing Rites and Respecting Laws" III. The Idea of "Prioritizing Rites and Respecting Laws" and Current Social Governance Lecture 11 Constantly Striving to Become Stronger I. Actively Forge ahead, be Strong and Unyielding II. The Endless Spiritual Power of the Chinese Nation III. Ways to Strive to Become Stronger Today Lecture 12 The Great Virtue That Harbours Everything I. The Great Virtues of the Earth to Bear Everything II. The Foundation of the Tradition of Esteeming Virtue of the Chinese Nation III. Ways to Be a Virtuous Man Lecture 13 The Benevolent Love Others I. On "The Benevolent" and "Loving Others"? II. The Essence and Core of Confucian Ethics III. Filling Our Society with Love Lecture 14 Filial Piety I. Filial Piety, the Foundation of Traditional Morality II. The Essence and Value of Traditional Filial Piety III. Respecting Parents, the Starting Point of Being a Virtuous and Accomplished Person Lecture 15 Holding Righteousness at the Sight of Benefit I. Traditional Debate on Righteousness and Benefit II. The Understanding of the Confucian Concept of Righteousness and Benefit III. The Views on Righteousness and Benefit that We should Uphold IV. Living an Aesthetic Life beyond Righteousness and Benefit Lecture 16 Modesty and Propriety I. A "Propriety-Oriented" Nation II. The "Fondness" for Propriety II. The Understanding of the Traditional Culture of Propriety IV. Being a Humble and Courteous Person Lecture 17 Valuing Trustworthiness and Cultivating Harmony I. The Eternal Virtue of "Trustworthiness" II. The "Applications" of Trustworthiness III. Ways to Build a Trustworthy Society Lecture 18 Inclusiveness and Integration I. The Traditional Inclusiveness Thoughts II. The Understanding of Traditional Culture of Inclusiveness III. Inclusiveness Determining One's Possession IV. On Inclusive Development Lecture 19 Incorruption and Self-discipline I. Ancient Views on Clean Politics II. On "Incorruption" III. Ways to Build Clean Politics and an Incorruptible Government Lecture 20 Diligence and Thrift I. The Everlasting Concepts of Diligence and Thrift II. "Diligence" and "Thrift" in the Eyes of Ancient People III. Ways to Cultivate the Diligent Spirit IV. Ways to Inherit the Morality of Thrift in an Era of Consumerism Lecture 21 Rescuing the Distressed and Succoring the Needy I. The Chinese Virtue of "Goodness" II. The Philanthropy under the Traditional Charity Thoughts III. Ways to Develop the Fashion of Helping the Needy and Aiding Others Lecture 22 Respecting Work and Enjoying Company I. The Meaning of "Respecting Work and Enjoying Company" II. Traditional "Respect" for Work III. The Old Professional Ethics in Traditional China IV. Being a Person with Work Ethics and Accomplishments Lecture 23 Serving the Country with Unreserved Loyalty I. "Loyalty is to Do Your Best" II. From the Equal Relation between the King and the Officials to the Idea of "If the King Asks the Officials to Die, They Must Die." III. The Traditional Chinese Patriotism Nurtured by the Morality of Loyalty IV. Ways to Love Our Country Today Lecture 24 Pragmatism I. Practical Learning, An Important Part of Chinese Culture II. A Vast Cultural Trend of Thoughts III. Boosting China's Modernization IV. Ways to Improve the Style of Government and Study Lecturer 25 Seeking Truth and Dealing with Concrete Issues I. An Attitude and Method of Doing Scholarly Research II. A Long Tradition of Pragmatism III. Valuable Spirit of Seeking Truth IV. Official to Set Examples of Seeking Truth from Facts Lecture 26 Enriching the People and Strengthening the Country I. The Traditional Thoughts on II. Ways to "Enrich the People" and "Strengthen the Country" III. Taking the Road of Enriching the People and Strengthening the Country that Suits China's Conditions

About the Author :
Gu Zuoyi, writer and scholar, publications include Arts of Chinese Characters, Words in Chinese couplets, Core Values in Chinese Characters. Zhong Yongning, senior editor in publishing industry, Editor-in-Chief of Guangdong People's Publishing House.