Rewriting the History of Civilizations and Reshaping the Concept of Civilization:An Interview with Professor Cao Shunqing
For an extended period,the historiography and scholarly study of global civilizations have predominantly focused on Western perspectives,neglecting Eastern contributions.The Western-centric discourse on civilization has not only dominated the historical narrative but also influenced contemporary global governance across political,economic,and cultural domains.To develop a modern Chinese civilization,it is imperative to establish a Chinese discourse on civilization.The initiative to"rewrite the history of civilization"originates from this need.Since its inception,this initiative has garnered significant attention and discussion among scholars both domestically and internationally.Questions arise:Why is there a need to rewrite?How should this rewriting be approached?What is the relationship between"rewriting the history of civilizations"and"rewriting disciplinary history"?How does"rewriting the history of civilizations"relate to the construction of Chinese literary theory discourse and an autonomous Chinese knowledge system?These issues have elicited diverse opinions.In this context,Professor Cao Shunqing,the proponent of"rewriting the history of civilizations",addresses these questions comprehensively in this article.The essential premise and critical aspect of rewriting the history of civilizations lie in reshaping the concept of civilization.This goal can be achieved through dialogue,discussion,and debate between Chinese and international academic communities,fostering a consensus on a concept of civilization characterized by equality,inclusiveness,dialogue,and mutual learning.By re-evaluating and rewriting the histories of literature,art,law,science,medicine,and other disciplines,we can enhance cultural confidence and construct an autonomous Chinese knowledge system.Moreover,by elucidating the historical patterns of"civilizational mutual learning",we can trace the global contributions of each civilization's unique characteristics.
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