中國篇  - 中華文化 Chinese Culture

中華文化是世上最歷史悠久的文化之一，它在很多東亞地區上有著明顯影響，而其習俗隨著不同省份、城市而變化。
Chinese culture is one of the oldest cultures in the world. It is dominant among a large geographical region in eastern Asia with customs varying between provinces and cities.

我今天要介紹的就是最重要的中華文化之一，儒家思想。
I am going to introduce one of the important components of Chinese culture, Confucianism.

儒家思想是由一位中國哲學家孔子發明和主張的一套思想道德準則。從春秋時期至今，它對中國人的普遍倫理道德、中國文化價值和價值觀都有著深刻的影響。在漢朝，儒家思想更成為了官方思想，慢慢變成中華民族的一種集體潛意識。
The thinking of the Confucian school is an ethical system developed and promoted by a Chinese philosopher Confucius. It brought great influence on common ethical rules, literacy and values of the Chinese from Spring and Autumn Period til now. During the Han Dynasty, it became the official state ideology, which gradually turned into subconsciousness of the Chinese.

倫理學是儒家思想的中心。中國人民以正直的倫理邏輯來觀察世界。在實際上，社會上每個人都應該實踐「五常」，也就是仁、義、禮、智和信。其實當中還有很多不同的元素，例如「四字」主張的忠、孝、節和義。
Humanism is at the core in Confucianism. The Chinese examines the world by using the logic of humanity which based on varying levels of honesty. In practice, the members of a society should practice the Five Constants, or the Wuchang, which are Ren, Yi, Li, Zhi and Xin. There are many other elements like Zhong, Xiao, Jie and Yi, which are the classical 'Sizi'. Among all elements, Ren, Humanism is fundamental.

倫理學上儒家的中心思想乃「仁」，他們講求自身修養和倫理道德。有一道黃金規則：「己所不欲、勿施於人」。此外，中國人亦注重人與人之間和諧的關係。
Ren is one of the basic virtues promoted by Confucius. What he emphasizes is self-cultivation and morality, in which the core idea is benevolence and righteousness. There is also a golden rule: "Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you."  In other words, Chinese people focuses on harmonious relationships.

在儒家思想下，中國人民應對待長輩要尊敬尊重，就如現時你可以看到九巴公司推廣的「關愛座」。這還有其他規則，例如朋友之間要言而有信、統治者要仁政廉潔、對待父母親屬要孝順等。
Under the Confucianism, the Chinese were taught to respect the elderly, and for instance, you can see 'Priority Seats' promoted by the KMB nowadays. There are other rules, such as 'be true to your own words with your friends' , 'be incorruptible if you're a ruler' and 'be loyal to your parents and relatives'.

這就是為何中華民族期待的社會秩序和道德觀！
This is why the Chinese expects politeness and morality in the society!

孔子 Confucius

By Candice Cheung