Research Update
31
Dec
On the morning of December 26, the first Tansi Weekly Forum, organized by the National Academy of Development and Strategy at Renmin University of China, and the first lecture of the “The Doctrine of Perpetual Creation and Renewal（Dao of Shengsheng）” Early Chinese Civilization Lecture Series hosted by the Institute for Chinese Civilization Studies, was successfully held.
The event specially invited FU Daobin, a Distinguished Professor at the Communication University of China, Member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and Vice President of the China Literature and Art Critics Association, to deliver the keynote speech. ZHANG Mingdong, Research Fellow at the Institute for Chinese Civilization Studies; ZHANG Hanmo, Professor at the School of Chinese Classics; and XU Jianwei, Professor at the School of Liberal Arts, participated in discussions and exchanges. LIN Shangli, former President of Renmin University of China and Professor at the School of International Studies, provided comments and concluding remarks. LIU Qing, Executive Dean of the National Academy of Development and Strategy of Renmin University of China, and WANG Wei, Vice Dean of the Academy, also attended the meeting. The conference was chaired by HUA Jianguang, Executive Dean of the Institute for Chinese Civilization Studies and Vice Dean of Mingde College.
FU Daobin delivered the keynote speech titled "The Cultural Strategy of the Zhou Dynasty's 'Mandate to Innovate'." He noted that, on the basis reflection on the social history of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the Leaders of Zhou developed a conscious awareness of proactively seeking renewal, and subsequently carried out the practices of "founding a new state" and "creating a new people" under the ideology of the new Mandate to Innovate. Throughout this historical process, the leading group that established the Western Zhou Dynasty not only demonstrated their political confidence but also revealed a profound sense of crisis within. They soberly recognized that the Western Zhou constituted a “newly founded state” fundamentally different from previous forms of governance. Such a “newly founded state” required “new people” imbued with a spirit of classical humanism characteristic of the Zhou dynasty. The notion of “creating new people” was a political philosophy corresponding to the “newly founded state” and served as the practical cornerstone of its ideological system of the "new state".
LIN Shangli provided comments and concluding remarks. From the perspective of political science, he emphasized that understanding China requires grasping its three dimensions: reality, history, and culture, and deeply contemplating fundamental questions such as “Where do we come from?”, “Where are we going?”, and “Who are we?” He noted that the modern transformation of China’s classical civilization, represented by the ritual and musical culture of the Zhou dynasty, still holds vast research potential. Within the leading group that established the Western Zhou Dynasty’s cultural thought and practice, “reform and innovation” and "revolution" were essentially the same. The approach taken by the leading group that established the Western Zhou Dynasty toward the systems and culture of the Shang dynasty embodied an exceptionally profound form of critical inheritance, thereby laying the foundation for the distinctive cultural genes of Chinese civilization. Historical research, he argued, should organically integrate historical logic with philosophical logic, and through processes of textual verification, empirical study, reflection, and critique, further excavate and creatively transform Zhou culture. This will help strengthen the cultural confidence of the Chinese nation and contribute Chinese wisdom to the development of human civilization as a whole.
Proofreaders: WANG Wei, HUA Jianguang
Translator: ZHANG Yuqing
Web Editor: ZHANG Jingjing
Introduction to the Innovation Hub
Founded in 2023, the Institute for Chinese Civilization Studies is one of the interdisciplinary innovation hubs of Renmin University of China. Guided by the mission of “Continuing the Chinese cultural lineage, cultivating the spirit of civilization, and deepening mutual learning among civilizations”, the Institute focuses on three core directions: the “Two Integrations”, “Integration across the Taiwan Strait”, and “Mutual Learning among Civilizations”. It provides a holistic interpretation of the intrinsic relationship between China’s five-thousand-year civilization and socialism with Chinese characteristics; systematically builds frameworks for the inheritance and development of Chinese civilization as well as for the symbolic system of Chinese civilization; integrates academic and cultural resources across the Taiwan Strait at multiple levels to enhance cultural identity and emotional bonds among compatriots on both sides; deepens the mutually reinforcing integration of Chinese civilization and the Chinese path; and promotes exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese civilization and civilizations of countries around the world.
About Tansi Weekly Forum
“Tansi Weekly Forum” is a cutting-edge interdisciplinary discussion platform meticulously developed by the National Academy of Development and Strategy at Renmin University of China. It focuses on academic and policy frontier issues, bringing together the intellectual strengths of various innovation hubs within the university, as well as high-level academic and policy research experts. Through in-depth exchanges and discussions, it aims to produce a series of high-level think tank achievements characterized by strategic vision, contemporary relevance, and intellectual depth. This platform continuously advances knowledge innovation, theoretical innovation, and policy innovation, while strengthening the positive dynamic of academic disciplines supporting policy consultation and think tanks nurturing academic disciplines.