中华文明的突出特性
Five Distinctive Features of Chinese Civilization
秋平
Qiu Ping
中国文化源远流长，中华文明博大精深。
With a history stretching back to antiquity, China’s fine traditional culture is extensive and profound.
天下为公、天下大同的社会理想，民为邦本、为政以德的治理思想，九州共贯、多元一体的大一统传统，修齐治平、兴亡有责的家国情怀，厚德载物、明德弘道的精神追求，富民厚生、义利兼顾的经济伦理，天人合一、万物并育的生态理念，实事求是、知行合一的哲学思想，执两用中、守中致和的思维方法，讲信修睦、亲仁善邻的交往之道……
The best of traditional Chinese culture espouses many important principles and concepts, including the social ideals of pursuing common good for all and fostering social harmony, the principles of regarding the people as the foundation of the state and governing the country with integrity, the ideas of striving for great unity across the nation and being united in diversity, the values of practicing self-cultivation, maintaining family harmony, conducting good governance, guaranteeing peace, and shouldering one’s duties to secure the future of the nation, the aspirations of embracing the world with virtue and cultivating integrity, the economic principles of enriching the people and considering both justice and interests, the ecological philosophy of promoting harmony between humanity and nature and ensuring all living things grow side by side, the philosophical tenets of seeking truth from facts and combining knowledge with action, the mindset of understanding multiple perspectives and seeking harmony through the middle way, and the communication approach of acting in good faith and being friendly to others.
中华优秀传统文化中的诸多重要元素蕴藏着解决当代人类面临的难题的重要启示，可以为人们认识和改造世界提供有益启迪，可以为治国理政提供有益启示，也可以为道德建设提供有益启发。
These important elements of China’s traditional culture offer important insights for addressing contemporary challenges. They can facilitate our understanding and transformation of the world, shed light on national governance, and offer enlightenment on the cultivation of morality.
欲流之远者，必浚其泉源。只有全面深入了解中华文明的历史，才能更有效地推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展，更有力地推进中国特色社会主义文化建设，建设中华民族现代文明。
To see a river travel far, you must make sure it flows smoothly from its very source. Only with a full understanding of the history of Chinese civilization can we spur the creative transformation and innovative development of China’s traditional culture, promote the progress of Chinese socialist culture, and build a modern Chinese civilization.
突出的连续性从根本上决定了中华民族必然走自己的路。如果不从源远流长的历史连续性来认识中国，就不可能理解古代中国，也不可能理解现代中国，更不可能理解未来中国。
Consistency determines on a fundamental level that the Chinese people must follow their own path. Should we neglect to see China through the prism of its long and uninterrupted history, we will be unable to understand China’s past and present, much less its future.
突出的创新性从根本上决定了中华民族守正不守旧、尊古不复古的进取精神，决定了中华民族不惧新挑战、勇于接受新事物的无畏品格。
The originality of the Chinese civilization determines that it stays on the right course without merely following the beaten track, and respects traditions but not obsolete practices. It also determines that the Chinese nation is fearless in facing new challenges and embracing new things.
突出的统一性从根本上决定了中华民族各民族文化融为一体、即使遭遇重大挫折也牢固凝聚，决定了国土不可分、国家不可乱、民族不可散、文明不可断的共同信念，决定了国家统一永远是中国核心利益的核心。决定了一个坚强统一的国家是各族人民的命运所系。
The unity of the Chinese civilization has seen its various ethnic cultures coming together to create a cohesive whole and remaining tightly knit even in the face of serious setbacks. It determines the Chinese people’s common belief that China’s territorial integrity must always be preserved, the nation must never be allowed to descend into turmoil, our ethnic groups must always remain united, and our civilization must never be interrupted. It further determines that national unity will always sit at the heart of China’s core interests and that a strong and unified country is vital for the future of all our people.
突出的包容性从根本上决定了中华民族交往交流交融的历史取向，决定了中国各宗教信仰多元并存的和谐格局，决定了中华文化对世界文明兼收并蓄的开放胸怀。
Inclusiveness determines the Chinese nation’s historical orientation toward communication, exchange, and integration, as well as the harmonious existence of diverse religious beliefs in China. It also defines the willingness of Chinese culture to embrace and draw on other cultures.
突出的和平性从根本上决定了中国始终是世界和平的建设者、全球发展的贡献者、国际秩序的维护者，决定了中国不断追求文明交流互鉴而不搞文化霸权，决定了中国不会把自己的价值观念与政治体制强加于人，决定了中国坚持合作、不搞对抗，决不搞“党同伐异”的小圈子。
Peace, the pursuit of which is the very nature of the Chinese civilization, determines that China will always work to safeguard world peace, contribute to global development, and preserve international order. China will continue to promote exchange and mutual learning among civilizations without seeking cultural hegemony. China will never impose its values and political system on others. It is committed to cooperation rather than confrontation, and it will never form small groups on a partisan basis.
文脉贯通，斯文在兹。中华文明的五个突出特性，从根本上决定了中华民族的发展道路、精神品格、共同信念、历史取向、胸怀格局。
This elucidation is both cogent and well-refined. These five distinctive features of Chinese civilization fundamentally determine the development path, character, common aspirations, historical orientation, and broad vision of the Chinese nation.