Breeze of harmony, from the east to the west

In today's world, despite the main trend of peace and development, there are still surging undercurrents and dashing waves besides this mainstream. Confrontations and conflicts between different nations, peoples and religions rise on the heels of one another as they grow in intensity and are challenging the wisdom and civilization of mankind. This kind of challenge comes more often from the conflicts between "terrorism" and "unilateralism".

"Terrorism" and "unilateralism" are, in a Chinese saying, called "enemies thrown together by mutual bonds." This "couple" each sticks to its own argument amidst fierce confrontations and conflicts. They are essentially the same, that is they are self-centered, demand unconditional submission from the other and complete replacement. This either-or and mutual-replacement mindset can only result in repeated human tragedies of fighting violence with violence and injury for injury.

People call for religion and pray for peace because religion always advocates peace. Unfortunately, religion is also distorted and exploited by some people. Some terrorists keep on saying that they would "protect Islamic civilization" with violence. Nevertheless, the original idea of Islamism is "peace", for which a proposition that all human beings originate from one source was established. Allah said, pious people! You should all join the religion of peace. Some unilateralists, on the other hand, flaunt the idea of "spreading Christian civilization" with might. As a matter of fact, Christianity advocates "harmony". The Bible teaches Christians to love their neighbors, love others like themselves and do for others what one wishes to be done to oneself.

Let's cast our eyes to the east of the world. In the East, China, with its enduring Confucian culture, Buddhism and Taoism, embodies even more vivid thoughts of "harmony".

"Peace" is the characteristic vector of China's traditional culture as well as the life belief and basis of thinking for ancient sages.

--Confucianism emphasizes "peace is precious" and " harmony allowing diversities", respecting the diversity, harmoniousness of things and advocating coexistence of variety, coordination and balance.

--The basic principle of Buddhism is the doctrine of dependent origination (Pratityasamutpada). Dependent origination, as is called, is interdependence and harmonious coexistence. Mercy and equality are the important ideological basis for realizing and achieving "peace".

--Taoism, with "Tao" as the supreme belief, believes the most fundamental attribute of "Tao" is tolerance of everything, being natural, placid and selfless, non-action, effeminacy and refraining from contention. Taoism proposes "Tao from the nature" and stresses appreciating the oneness of everything on earth with heart and maintaining its harmoniousness so that the world has vitality.

The spirit of "harmony" is a kind of acknowledgement, respect, thankfulness and harmony.

The meaning of "harmony" is kindness, amity of the family, harmony of the society and peace of the world.

The basis of "harmony" is peace with differences, mutual tolerance, seeking common grounds while reserving differences, coexistence and joint development.

The pleasant "harmony" is to help oneself, help others, help each other so that the world is harmonious.

The thoughts of "harmony" mirror the universal laws of things therefore are able to keep pace with the times, enrich themselves with the passage of times.

Heading for globalization, the world needs a conception guiding globalization, reconciliation "transforming clashes", and an interdisciplinary, cross-border "peace science". Chinese traditional culture and religions pursue "plural harmony" and "harmony allowing differences". The concept it conveys to the world is just "harmony". In the Eastern world, China has the "breeze of harmony from the east", which it can send to the West.

Today's China implements a friendly, peaceful foreign policy, which stresses good-neighborly relations and peaceful coexistence. Internally, it strives to build a harmonious society and actively promotes the cause of peaceful reunification of the nation. Upholding peace and regarding peace as precious, this is not only the China's political commitment, but also the result of the tradition of the Chinese civilization.

The article carried on the frontpage of People's Daily Overseas Edition, September 13, is translated by People's Daily Online