Upon closer examination of the opening line of “The Great Learning”, it is said that “the path of the great learning lies in clear virtue, approachability, and ultimate goodness.” This statement profoundly reveals that the fundamental purpose of learning is to comprehend the laws of heaven, reform oneself, and pursue the highest good. As the essence of the long-standing culture of the Chinese nation, the core values of traditional Chinese culture cannot be carried by form alone, but need to be deeply rooted in the heart and put into practice.
In recent years, the craze for traditional Chinese culture has swept across society, with various types of “traditional Chinese schools” and “traditional Chinese schools” emerging like mushrooms after rain. There are also scholars on television who passionately discuss traditional Chinese culture. The scenes of wearing Confucian robes, playing music around the beam, and devoutly worshiping in front of Confucius’ statue are indeed solemn, but they also make people reflect: under these glamorous appearances, can the soul of traditional Chinese culture be truly inherited?
The “Mingmingde”, “approachable”, and “stopping at the highest good” advocated by “University” emphasize the improvement of internal cultivation and social responsibility, rather than external forms of accumulation. On the other hand, some traditional Chinese culture activities seem to have deviated from this core and become mere formalities, emphasizing ceremony over substance, becoming synonymous with “going through the motions”. The phenomenon of ’empty handed application of traditional Chinese culture’ is undoubtedly a misinterpretation and desecration of the spirit of traditional Chinese culture.
Taking a lecture on traditional Chinese culture at a certain university as an example, although there are famous scholars attending, the audience is limited due to insufficient attention from the university. Although the speaker persisted in teaching with the spirit of ‘Mingmingde’, it was difficult to conceal the coldness and helplessness of the activity itself. Behind this phenomenon, it reflects a shallow and deviated understanding of the true essence of traditional Chinese culture.
The “ritual” of Confucianism, as an important component of traditional Chinese culture, should have become the cornerstone of traditional Chinese education. However, in the current wave of Chinese studies, the education of “etiquette” is often marginalized and even ignored. This is not only a lack of traditional Chinese education, but also a discontinuity in cultural inheritance.
The true charm of traditional Chinese culture lies in its profound cultural heritage and profound insight into life. Learning traditional Chinese culture should not be limited to superficial knowledge accumulation or formal imitation, but should delve into its essence and integrate its wisdom into daily life and behavior. Blindly following the trend and listening to hearsay not only fails to comprehend the true essence of traditional Chinese culture, but may also lead astray and simplify it into flashy but impractical performances.
Therefore, we call for the teaching of traditional Chinese culture to be based on practice and reject empty talk. Scholars should lead by example and deeply explore the value and significance of traditional Chinese culture; Educational institutions should attach importance to the content and quality of traditional Chinese culture education, and avoid the proliferation of formalism. When studying traditional Chinese culture, citizens should maintain the ability to think rationally and independently, not be misled by surface phenomena, and truly internalize the wisdom of traditional Chinese culture in their hearts and externalize it in their actions.
Let us work together to restore the purity and depth of traditional Chinese culture, to practice and inherit the soul of culture, and to interpret the beauty of traditional Chinese culture through actions.
