Page 72 - 2022(1) International Confusion Studies

“Self-Cultivation as the Root of All” 65

Keywords: self-cultivation, regulating one’s family affairs, governing the state
well, and ensuring peace to all under heaven, progression, recursion, the
individual

In recent times, many writings have been published on the theme of “regulation
of family affairs, good state governance, and ensuring peace to all under heaven”
(家国天下). This return to a traditional narrative is intended to explain Chinese
spiritual traditions, highlight the humanist ideals of Chinese intellectuals, and
express modern China’s concern for the well-being of humankind as a whole. They
are all extended narratives of the original “regulation of family affairs, good
state governance, and ensuring peace to all under heaven.” However, to accurately
understand their substance, we need to return to their classical context in The
Great Learning (《大学》). Only by putting aside the extended meanings and
reasoning, is it possible to return to the original intention of this much overused
expression. On this basis, it is then possible to reinforce the value and knowledge
of these traditions for the modern world. However, there will inevitably be serious
misunderstandings of both history and present reality if these three elements are
understood only in their progressive order not in their recursive order with focus on
“self-cultivation” (修身) by the individual, and furthermore not in the ethical
framework of overall Confucian philosophy of “eight principles” (八纲) and “three
cardinal guides” (三目) (illustrious virtue, kindness to the people, and the pursuit
of supreme excellence). Applying them in isolation in the modern sense will also
mislead all attempts at broader interpretations.

1 “Regulation of Family Affairs, Good State
Governance, and Ensuring Bringing Peace to

All Under Heaven” Taken Out of the Context

In the narrative of “regulation of family affairs, good state governance, and
ensuring peace to all under heaven,” the concept of family based on blood lineage
creates a sense of belonging and homeland that then fosters a national identity and
feelings toward “all under heaven.” Some scholars claim that the concept is a lofty
expression of “civilization in space and time, political imagination, worldviews,
and moral ideals”; others argue that the concept can be interpreted as “individual
aspirations, collective expectations, national ideals and citizen visions.” Both
views are expressions containing four components, and all sound perfectly logical
and comprehensive.