Chapter Three Categories, Characters, and Cardinal Spirit of Chinese Traditional Culture

Abstract

This chapter analyzes the categories and characters of the traditional culture of China. Throughout its historical development, the Chinese nation constructed a complete set of mature ethical values, formed a system of ethical codes that include personal, family, national, and universal ethics, and developed an entire set of theories for ethical education. The organizational structure of ancient Chinese society was the patriarchal clan system. The humane spirit of Chinese culture is also reflected in issues related to religions. The cardinal vitality of Chinese traditional culture mainly refers to the level of ideology, including thinking, consciousness, values, and the modes of thought. Many Chinese scholars regard the combination of Heaven and humans as a cardinal vitality of Chinese culture. An essential criterion for coordinating interpersonal relations in ancient China was honesty and credibility. In the feudal society with the patriarchal clan system, people occupied a particular status within the social hierarchy.Keywords: cardinal spirit; Chinese traditional culture; feudal society; Heaven; humane spirit; humans; patriarchal clan system