Video: What does the past tell us about China’s future?
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Big History might seem a recent concept, but the ancient Chinese philosophy of Tianrenheyi can add an ethical dimension to its study, says Professor Sun Yue, a speaker at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2014. Watch the full video at the top of this page, or find selected quotes below.
On Tianrenheyi
Tianrenheyi is the Chinese philosophical concept that stands for oneness and the holistic triad of heaven, earth and humanity. It is both a cosmology and a blueprint for life and ethics. In this scheme, sages and sage-kings have a substantial role to play: they comprehend heaven and earth; they discover the best for humans and they help heaven and humanity achieve mutual fulfilment.
Zhang Zai, of China’s Song dynasty, was actually the first one to put these four characters together (tian-ren-he-yi) as one unifying concept. So, he has this elaboration in one of his famous pieces, called the Western Inscription, and in it he says: ‘Heaven is my father and earth is my mother, and even such a small creature as I finds an intimate place in their midst.’
From the Chinese understanding, each individual is significant – he partakes in the whole process of heaven and humanity.
On the four pillars of history
All history is the playing out of a few central ideas. And I can think of four of these at this moment. The first is science – you learn about this world of ours. And then, love. Love is very important. And then, law (and order). Without science, we’re blind and doomed. Without love, life has no meaning. I’m not being romantic. And without law and order, we live in chaos and are also doomed.
On Big History
It is very natural for humans to try to seek the unity of natural laws and human intentions. In Big History we are concerned about reuniting the long-neglected connections between natural and social histories, which is more scientific than humane. That is my understanding.
On connection
How are we to connect Tianrenheyi to Big History? If we reformulate the language of heaven to the rationale of matter, we will come to see that Tian is actually the expanding cosmos, which has given birth to our good old earth and the myriad things within it, including ourselves. Together we form an inseparable, ecological entity.
It has now become a sacred obligation for humanity to be reunited with nature, and among ourselves to fashion a sustainable development mode for all. In other words: united we stand, divide we fall.
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Author: Sun Yue is an associate professor at the Global History Center, Capital Normal University, People’s Republic of China. He teaches Big History and classical Chinese philosophy.
Image: A couple look at Chinese New Year lanterns decorating Yuyuan Garden in downtown Shanghai January 28, 2014. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
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