The Chinese Dream has always been closely related to fine traditional Chinese culture, which gives birth to the Chinese Dream. To realize the Chinese Dream is an internal requirement and important mission of carrying forward fine traditional Chinese culture. The Chinese Dream, which embodies the aspirations and pursuits of several generations Chinese people and reflects the common ideals and wishes of all ethnic groups across the country, has evolved from the fine traditional Chinese culture. It is necessary to integrate the Chinese Dream with fine traditional Chinese culture so as to offer inexhaustible spiritual source for the realization of Chinese Dream and cement its cultural foundation by virtue of the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture.
In order to realize the Chinese Dream, it is essential to carry forward the love for family and country in fine traditional Chinese culture. President Xi Jinping pointed out, “Without carrying forward and developing civilization, without spreading and prospering culture, the Chinese Dream will not be realized.” This great dream of national rejuvenation has been deeply rooted in the love for family and country. By the Chinese dream, we seek to have economic prosperity, national renewal and people’s well-beings. There is a long-lasting affection for the country behind these basic pursuits that reflect the inner idea of building a community with a shared future and embody the cultural veins of rejuvenating China.
Some thoughts and ideas from ancient classics, such as “Self -cultivation, a well-managed family, and the ability to administer the state and to bring peace to the nation,” “Everyone is responsible for his country’s rise or fall,” “Whatever my status, I will never lay aside my concern for the nation,” have represented the concerns and sentiment of ancient scholars for their nation’s destiny. While these concerns and sentiment have depicted the time-honored goal of national prosperity, rich nation and people’s happiness. Moreover, the concerns for nation’s future and destiny and the pursuit of the unity of individual dream and global dream, have revealed the main values of fine traditional Chinese culture and mirrored the cultural genes of Chinese Dream. As a dream for a country, a nation and its people, the Chinese Dream is a profound demonstration of the love for family and country.
In order to achieve the Chinese dream, it is necessary to uphold and spread the unyielding spirit. As President Xi Jinping noted, “The uniqueness of China’s culture, tradition, history and circumstances determine that China needs to follow a development path that suits its own reality.” In fact, we have found such a path after an arduous period of searching that saw many setbacks. While the unyielding spirit has nurtured in our people the innovative spirit, cultural awareness and impetus.
In fine traditional Chinese culture, the unyielding spirit has been seen as the valiant consciousness of “As heaven changes through movement, a gentleman makes unre-mitting efforts to perfect himself,” the innovative consciousness of “When things reach their extreme, change occurs. After the change they evolve smoothly, and thus they continue for a long time,” and the courage of pioneering. Therefore, we are urged to adhere to an independent path of striving to be strong; persist in emancipating the mind, seeking truth from the facts and reform and opening-up, and stick to the basic tenets of Marxism with adapting it to Chinese conditions with strong courage in theory and the spirit of innovation. Justifiably, this path derives form the cultural genes in fine traditional Chinese culture, including “unyielding” “innovation” “seeking truth from the facts” and “constant updating”. While they make us more confident in adhering to the socialist path with Chinese characteristics in the course of the realization of Chinese dream.
In order to realize the Chinese Dream, it is indispensable to carry forward the philosophy of “harmony in diversity”. President Xi Jinping noted, “The Chinese dream is about peace, development, cooperation and win-win results, and it is connected to the beautiful dreams of people in other countries.” The philosophy of “harmony in diversity” has marked the direction for the Chinese dream.
In fine traditional Chinese culture, “He (harmony)” culture is of great significance. Many statements in traditional classics, including “The harmony is most precious,” “Harmony in diversity,” “All living things are nourished without injuring one another; all roads run parallel without interfering with one another,” “Countries treasure their own distinct heritages, appreciate other cultures and promote shared prosperity,” embody Chinese people’s pursuits of shared prosperity, openness and inclusion. There will be no such phenomenon that the rise of a nation is at the cost of other country’s dreams and interests in the course of striving for the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation. China has been seeking for peaceful and civilized rise that admits the coexistence and inclusiveness of different civilizations so as to fulfil the beautiful aspiration for a shared prosperity. The concepts of “harmony in diversity” and “inclusive development” have showcased the unique cultural direction of Chinese Dream.
In order to achieve the Chinese Dream, it is needed to carry forward the people-centered concept. President Xi said, “The Chinese Dream is a dream for the country and the nation, as well as for each and every of Chinese people.” It is a dream for all ethnic group across the country, a dream taking the people as the source of strength, as well as a dream contributing to the fundamental interests of all people. The people’s happiness, as a focus of the Chinese Dream, national dream and individual dream, determines the starting point and the purpose of the pursuits. The endeavor to live up to the people, be loyal to the people and responsible for the people and let people happy has represented the people-oriented concept in fine traditional Chinese culture.
A series of people-centered concepts, such as “The people are the foundation of a state,” “People are the true king of a nation,” “Water can bear the boat and also overturn it,” have demonstrated the goal of fine traditional Chinese culture. When this goal is reflected in the Chinese Dream, it is not only a dream for a country or a nation, but also a dream for each and every of us, demanding all-out efforts of the people and people-centered endeavor to benefit them, namely allowing all people to benefit more fairly and thoroughly from the fruits of development and strive for their free and well-rounded development. In light of the concordance in pursuits, there appears to be the origin of fine traditional Chinese culture pursued by the Chinese Dream.