Peking University Professor Cao Wenxuan speaks at the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations
May 21, 2019
Peking University, May 21, 2019: The opening ceremony of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations (CDAC) was held on May 15 at China National Convention Center in Beijing. Focusing on the theme of “Asian Values for the World”, Cao Wenxuan, professor of Peking University, gave a speech entitled “Building a New Order for Civilization Communication” at the sub-forum.
Professor Cao pointed out that barter was prevalent in the ancient society, while the exchange of ideas is popular nowadays. The difference is that ideas can be shared, merged, and reproduced. When one’s own thoughts meet different ideas from others, exchanges, collisions, infusions may occur, and new ideas come into being. Thanks to this kind of exchanges, various cutting-edge technologies were invented.
Professor Cao Wenxuan at the Conference
These exchanges have been going on throughout the world for centuries and Asia has played an important role. As an Asian country, China's contributions to human civilization include not only the Four Great Inventions but also the invention of horse stirrup, cast iron, silk craftsmanship, boat sails, etc. In addition to scientific inventions, China also has many great thinkers with great ideas in the philosophical, ethical, sociological, aesthetic fields.
However, in the discussion of human civilization history, Chinese civilization, along with Asian civilization has been long suppressed. Therefore, the west-centrism must give an objective and fair narration of the civilization’s history.
Professor Cao called himself a direct beneficiary of Chinese civilization. From his perspective, Chinese traditional ideas, such as the idea of benevolence in Confucianism, and traditional aesthetics helped shape his unique literary style. China’s development made people around the world more aware of Chinese voices, thus giving him the chance to be globally acknowledged in literature.
Furthermore, Professor Cao emphasized the importance of cultural exchanges across the world, which made him more aware of the style and spirit of Chinese civilization. From his point of view, the end of exchanges will be the end of prosperity. Therefore, China must have sufficient cultural self-confidence, and a fair and rational new order of exchange among civilizations should be established around the world.
Profile:
Cao Wenxuan is professor and Ph.D. supervisor from the Department of Chinese language and Literature, Peking University.
Cao Wenxuan
Written by: Xing Xu
Edited by: Wang Nini, Hu Rong
Source: Peking University Official WeChat Account (Chinese)
