人文與自然‧自然與人文：論中國傳統「天地人合一」思想
Humanities and Nature, Nature and Humanities: A Discussion on the Traditional Chinese Notion of “Unity of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity”
This paper explores the historical and cultural significance of traditional Chinese ecological wisdom, integrating archaeology, classics, and modern practices to reveal its implications for environmental issues. Starting with Seven Thousand Years of Land Use, it highlights human-induced degradation– such as wars and overcultivation– leading to land decline, as seen in the Yellow River Basin due to deforestation and siltation, while affirming sustainable wisdom in the Yangtze River Basin’s intensive farming and contemporary desert agriculture. Archaeology shows China’s grand agricultural civilization began in the Neolithic era, with rice farming in the Yangtze and dry farming in the Yellow River, exemplified by urbanized Liangzhu culture reflecting high ecological adaptation. Classics like the Book of Documents and Book of Songs document agriculture’s reliance on seasonal timing and technological advancements. Confucianism and Daoism emphasize ecological ethics and equality of all things. The Book of Changes and Doctrine of the Mean link human morality with ecological responsibility, proposing “assisting the transformative nurturing of Heaven and Earth.” Historically, wars and overexploitation damaged ecosystems, but the concept of “achieving harmony” reminds humanity to approach nature with balance. Ancient Chinese centered on belief in the “reverence for life,” constructing a harmonious view of natural order, elevated by the Hundred Schools of Thought into a cultural core, profoundly influencing civilization. Through in-depth interpretation of classic texts, the paper elucidates how “unity of heaven, earth, and humanity” provides philosophical guidance for modern ecological governance, emphasizing humanity’s humble and balanced participation in nature’s ceaseless generation for sustainable development ideals.
Keywords
great agricultural civilization, Chinese tradition, Heavey-Earth-Human Unity, ecological wisdom, respect for life