Maintaining China's Values

Gu Zuoyi, writer and scholar, publications include Arts of Chinese Characters, Words in Chinese couplets, Core Values in Chinese Characters. Zhong Yongning, senior editor in publishing industry, Editor-in-Chief of Guangdong People's Publishing House.

Preface Cherishing Cultural Roots
Lecture 1 Integration of Man and Nature
I. Complicated Theories on Man and Nature
II. On the Idea of "Integration of Man and Nature"
III. Ways to Realize the Harmonious Coexistence of Man and Nature
IV. "Integration of Man and Nature" and Our Life
Lecture 2 People Being the Foundation of the State
I. A Thousand-Year History of People-Oriented Thought
II. The People-Oriented Idea under the Monarchy
III. The Essence of Ancient Chinese Political Thoughts
IV. Ways to Centralize People
Lecture 3 The Way of Mean
I. To be Impartial and Go with the Flow
II. The Cultivation in China of the Style of Impartiality and Peace
III. "Moderation", the Key to Success in the World
Lecture 4 Harmonious Coexistence
I. Precious Thought on "Valuing Harmony"
II. The Essence of Chinese "Harmony" Culture
III. Let the Spirit of Traditional "Harmony" Culture Permeate our Society
Lecture 5 Destroying the Old and Establishing the New
I. The Alternation of the Old and New, a Great Virtue
II. The Connotations of the Idea of Destroying the Old and Establishing the New
III. The Source of Vitality of the Chinese Civilization
IV. Reformation and Innovation Never Ending
Lecture 6 Being Prepared for Danger in Times of Peace
I. The "Concerns" of the Ancient People
II. Sources of the Concerns
III. The Awareness of the Unexpected and Chinese Society
IV. Valuable Philosophical Wisdom
Lecture 7 The Whole World as One Community
I. The Idea of the "State of the Public" under the Dominance of the "State of One's Own"
II. Owned and Shared by the People for Public Interests
III. A Mirror of Realpolitik Surveyed by Traditional Society
IV. Ways to Work as Officials Bearing "The Whole World as One Community"
Lecture 8 Fairness and Justice
I. Ancient People's Unremitting Pursuit of Justice
II. The Strength and Weakness of Traditional Concept of Justice
III. Building a Fair and Just Society
Lecture 9 Widely Granting Benefits to All
I. The Political Thought of Succoring the Poor
II. The Rise of Traditional Charitable Movement
III. Promoting People's Sense of Social Responsibilities
Lecture 10 Prioritizing Rites and Respecting Laws
I. The Political Idea with Xunzi as the Pioneer
II. Ways to Look Upon the Idea of "Prioritizing Rites and Respecting Laws"
III. The Idea of "Prioritizing Rites and Respecting Laws" and Current Social Governance
Lecture 11 Constantly Striving to Become Stronger
I. Actively Forge ahead, be Strong and Unyielding
II. The Endless Spiritual Power of the Chinese Nation
III. Ways to Strive to Become Stronger Today
Lecture 12 The Great Virtue That Harbours Everything
I. The Great Virtues of the Earth to Bear Everything
II. The Foundation of the Tradition of Esteeming Virtue of the Chinese Nation
III. Ways to Be a Virtuous Man
Lecture 13 The Benevolent Love Others
I. On "The Benevolent" and "Loving Others"?
II. The Essence and Core of Confucian Ethics
III. Filling Our Society with Love
Lecture 14 Filial Piety
I. Filial Piety, the Foundation of Traditional Morality
II. The Essence and Value of Traditional Filial Piety
III. Respecting Parents, the Starting Point of Being a Virtuous and Accomplished Person
Lecture 15 Holding Righteousness at the Sight of Benefit
I. Traditional Debate on Righteousness and Benefit
II. The Understanding of the Confucian Concept of Righteousness and Benefit
III. The Views on Righteousness and Benefit that We should Uphold
IV. Living an Aesthetic Life beyond Righteousness and Benefit
Lecture 16 Modesty and Propriety
I. A "Propriety-Oriented" Nation
II. The "Fondness" for Propriety
II. The Understanding of the Traditional Culture of Propriety
IV. Being a Humble and Courteous Person
Lecture 17 Valuing Trustworthiness and Cultivating Harmony
I. The Eternal Virtue of "Trustworthiness"
II. The "Applications" of Trustworthiness
III. Ways to Build a Trustworthy Society
Lecture 18 Inclusiveness and Integration
I. The Traditional Inclusiveness Thoughts
II. The Understanding of Traditional Culture of Inclusiveness
III. Inclusiveness Determining One's Possession
IV. On Inclusive Development
Lecture 19 Incorruption and Self-discipline
I. Ancient Views on Clean Politics
II. On "Incorruption"
III. Ways to Build Clean Politics and an Incorruptible Government
Lecture 20 Diligence and Thrift
I. The Everlasting Concepts of Diligence and Thrift
II. "Diligence" and "Thrift" in the Eyes of Ancient People
III. Ways to Cultivate the Diligent Spirit
IV. Ways to Inherit the Morality of Thrift in an Era of Consumerism
Lecture 21 Rescuing the Distressed and Succoring the Needy
I. The Chinese Virtue of "Goodness"
II. The Philanthropy under the Traditional Charity Thoughts
III. Ways to Develop the Fashion of Helping the Needy and Aiding Others
Lecture 22 Respecting Work and Enjoying Company
I. The Meaning of "Respecting Work and Enjoying Company"
II. Traditional "Respect" for Work
III. The Old Professional Ethics in Traditional China
IV. Being a Person with Work Ethics and Accomplishments
Lecture 23 Serving the Country with Unreserved Loyalty
I. "Loyalty is to Do Your Best"
II. From the Equal Relation between the King and the Officials to the Idea of "If the King Asks the Officials to Die, They Must Die."
III. The Traditional Chinese Patriotism Nurtured by the Morality of Loyalty
IV. Ways to Love Our Country Today
Lecture 24 Pragmatism
I. Practical Learning, An Important Part of Chinese Culture
II. A Vast Cultural Trend of Thoughts
III. Boosting China's Modernization
IV. Ways to Improve the Style of Government and Study
Lecturer 25
Seeking Truth and Dealing with Concrete Issues
I. An Attitude and Method of Doing Scholarly Research
II. A Long Tradition of Pragmatism
III. Valuable Spirit of Seeking Truth
IV. Official to Set Examples of Seeking Truth from Facts
Lecture 26
Enriching the People and Strengthening the Country
I. The Traditional Thoughts on
II. Ways to "Enrich the People" and "Strengthen the Country"
III. Taking the Road of Enriching the People and Strengthening the Country that Suits China's Conditions