This work is a comprehensive history of Chinese culture, presented in a chronological framework that follows the succession of dynasties. It traces the origins, development, and transmission of Chinese traditional culture, highlighting its remarkable achievements across different historical eras, the varied destinies it has encountered, and its powerful adaptability and inner vitality. Particular attention is given to the resilience and adjustments made when confronted with profound challenges, ensuring its continued vitality through constant renewal. The book also discusses the place and role of traditional culture in contemporary Chinese society.
The central theme is cultural inheritance— how Chinese traditional culture, over thousands of years, has consistently adapted to changing times while maintaining its core values and enduring spirit. The volume is divided into two parts, comprising an introduction, eleven chapters, and a conclusion, with a text of about 600,000 words and over 200 historical illustrations.
The introduction clarifies the connotation of " traditional culture," distinguishes it from " cultural tradition," and outlines the mechanisms, vehicles, and driving forces that have sustained cultural continuity.
The first volume begins with the Neolithic age, focusing on early human inventions, the establishment of agriculture, and technological advances that laid the foundation for later development. It then examines the formative role of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties; the intellectual flourishing of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, particularly the creation of Confucianism by Confucius; the synthesis of traditions under the Qin and Han dynasties; the trials of the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern dynasties, including the introduction of Buddhism; and the unprecedented cultural prosperity of the Tang dynasty, with its advances in woodblock printing, the civil service examination system, and educational institutions.
The second volume addresses the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Song culture is presented as refined and mature, Yuan culture as more cosmopolitan, and Ming and early Qing culture as reaching a final peak of prosperity and synthesis. The concluding chapter considers the modern period, emphasizing the adjustments made in response to the impact of Western culture, while maintaining continuity.
The conclusion summarizes the key insights on cultural transmission and stresses the importance of carrying forward the rich resources of China' s traditional culture in building socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era and enhancing cultural confidence.
Compared with other cultural histories, this book stands out in three respects: (1) it underscores the creativity of Chinese culture, highlighting new achievements in science, thought, literature, art, and religion at different historical stages, and the forces that inspired them; (2) it emphasizes cultural inheritance, analyzing the mechanisms of continuity at both " great tradition" and " small tradition" levels, and their interaction, while examining their relevance in modern life; and (3) it seeks to uncover the internal logic and trajectory of cultural development, offering reflections on the patterns that shape its course.
