Eco—awareness in Traditional Chinese Culture

Eco—awareness in Traditional Chinese Culture

作者：赵晓苑

来源：《文艺生活·文艺理论》2015年第04期

Abstract：From the ancient China eco-awareness is the centre idea of people. Ancient people advocate the nature and human being live together harmoniously and get mutual benefit. We should carry forward the eco- awareness and worship the wisdom of our traditional culture. Key words：eco- awareness;traditional culture

中图分类号：G127 ; ; ; ;文献标识码：A ; ; ; ;文章编号：1005-5312（2015）11-0188-01 The living standard of our lives rise to a new level at the expense of the damage of nature. In our Chinese traditional culture， the ancient people have already recognize the importance of protecting ecology system. In Chinese traditional culture， ancient people have worship to the nature， we can find the wisdom and thought about？eco-awareness？in many fields.

Confucianism came into being and became the dominant part of the traditional Chinese culture. In those long centuries of feudal Chia， the Confucian doctrine was able to exert a wide-spread and profound influence on the values and life style of the Chinese people and the development of the country‟s politics， economy， culture and social system. Confucianism， advocate harmony. Generally， Confucius regarded “heaven” as nature. Heaven equaled nature in the eyes of Confucius. Nature was not separate from humans. It was the great world of life and the process of creation of life. Human life was part and parcel of nature as a whole.

The “harmony”Confucius mentioned in his thought not only refer to the harmonious relationship between people but also the relationship between human being and nature and other creatures living on the earth. “子钓而不纲，弋不射宿„This sentence means human beings should not use fishing net to catch fishing when we fishing. When we catch birds we should not break their nest. The doctrine tells we should use the nature resource properly and let the nature and creature have enough time and quantities to reproduce and grow. Mencius said”亲亲而爱民，爱民而爱物means love one‟s family， love the people， and love all the things living in the world.Chengyi said”天地之性便是仁“The nature of life is love”.Zhangzai“民吾同胞，物吾与也”means“All people in the world are my brothers and all beings in the world are my companions”.Chengying said “天与大地一物也” means” those with love regard themselves as the same as other living things in the word”.All these thought present the worship and respect to the nature and ancient people‟s good hope of harmonious

relationship between human beings and nature. Chinese culture regards human life as part of nature， and the only way for us to survive is to live in harmony with nature.

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Book of Changes， stated “Continuous？creation of life is change”. Heaven became the source of all livings and the source of all values. This was the “virtue of Heaven”Thus the Book of Changes said “The great virtue of Heaven and Earth is creating life.”In the natural process of creation of life， Heaven had its inner purpose in creating all tings.

Laozi‟s idea is based on his philosophy of non-action.”Naturalness” is an important concept of Laozi‟s philosophy. It refers to a natural state of being， an attitude of following the way of nature. All these great mastermind have their own thought about the way that human beings should live on nature and have respect to all living things. The Temple of Heaven not only presents a beautiful spectacle， but also represents the Chinese pursuit of harmony between Heaven and mortals.

Emperors performed the important ritual of paying tribute to Heaven and Earth. The emperor used to offer oblations to Heaven here in the spring and winter.

Chinese ink and wash painting is a very important kind of art. Chinese people love nature scenery and they want to keep the beautiful looking so they keep them on paper .We can see the characteristics of Chinese ink and wash painting. In the painting the figure of human being is not highlighted （we not refer portrait painting）， but the images of mountains and water are very highlighted and given a very important position on the whole paper. In the whole composition of a painting the figure of

mankind always integrate into the scenery around them， which present a very harmonious picture of view for us. In 2008 Olympic Games we use many traditional culture elements for reference and use environment-friendly material and fuel to protect our common home——the earth. We？should inherit these virtues told by ancient people.