Modernizing Traditional Chinese Culture.pdf

Modernizing Traditional Chinese Culture Yang Hanqing and Li Baolin Focusing on ways to make the best use of Chinese historical and cultural traditions , Chinese scholars have already put f orward a wide spectrum of valu able ideas , f or example , a rejuvenation or transf ormation of the traditional culture , innovations in the traditional culture , or a creativityinspired ( or modernity oriented) transf ormation of traditional culture , to mention only a few. These ideas have been helpf ul f or learning more about and drawing more on traditional Chinese culture. We believe that there are two p rere quisites f or the modernization of traditional Chinese culture : 1. Such modernization must be executed by the Chinese nation itself ex clusively in the interests of our own age. 2. Modernization must involve analysis , evaluation , selection , revision , and innovations in traditional Chinese culture. Modernizing traditional Chinese culture thus means updating traditional Chinese culture. During this p rocess , in which traditional Chinese culture is made to coincide with Chinas current reality , we must take stock of and make eff orts to update or imp rove tradition. In order to bring about a transf orma tion in which traditional Chinese culture serves contemporary needs , we must take into account the p rere quisites f or modernization , and the p rincipal chan nels and methods through which modernization can be achieved. I. The Prerequisite for Effecting Modernization : Making a Scientif ic and Rational Appraisal of Traditional Chinese Culture 　　 To