Diversification One: A Study Of Ancient Chinese Class Thought

So far, Chinese nation is the only one whose history and culture have never been disrupted.Over the past thousands of years, ancient Chinese people observed, speculated, cognized and studied the "zu lei" phenomenon which is similar to the modern "ethnic group". On this basis, they obtained a series of ideological and theoretical achievements which deeply reflect Chinese historical and cultural connotations, in the meantime, give full expression to the great intelligence of Chinese nation.Following traditional Chinese mode of thinking and taking the evolution of Chinese nation as the empirical condition, this dissertation conducts a study of Chinese ancient "zu lei" thought by the approach of pursuing the Chinese "endogenous" and "original" cultural developing path. That is to say, in the light of "endogenous" perspective, the dissertation carries on integral, comprehensive and systematic research of Chinese ancient "zu lei" thought. Furthermore, political, ethnologic and historical research methods have been used in this dissertation comprehensively:namely literature research, systematic method and qualitative analysis. Instead of emphasizing too much on a certain theory, schools of thought or viewpoint, the ancient "zu lei" thought is conceived as a whole. In other words, ancient Chinese people formed vary kinds of cognition and hypotheses about "zu lei" phenomenon from which we should explore, conclude and inherit the positive and reasonable legacy. Some of its modern value significance may be synthesized. In general, this dissertation divides the Chinese ancient "zu lei" thought into four aspects of philosophical foundation, theoretical essence, political practice and historical significance. Ultimately, the discussion around "zu lei" thought is about its inner connection, historical evolution paths, political development logic and beneficial enlightenment.The study found that to the "zu lei" thought in ancient China "changes" were the precondition while "diversity" the expressions and with "generation and progress" the value.The above three elements can be traced back to traditional Chinese philosophy. Therefore, the ancient "zu lei" thought constructs a theoretical system with inner-related integrality and organic unity depended on the open and changeable "zu lei" concept as a core, the blood-tied multiple race relations as condition, the gradual, flexible and accumulated integration as a strategy, eventually, obtaining a ethnic community as a goal. Reflected the political order in ancient China, the "zu lei" thought prompted the "zu lei" historical practice developed a "one nation, many systems" characteristic which lives long and gives birth to the humanistic connotation and feature from which diversity respect, variety tolerance, being harmonious and integration pursuits were born. They help to see more clearly the ethnic phenomenon in modern society as well.