Scan to know paper details and author's profile The Development of Chinese Ecological Civilization Theory in the Ancient and Modern Times

Xiaoyu Wang, , Chuyao Huang,Hui Huang & Fei Xu Shandong Normal University

ABSTRACT Based on the sustainable development and the theory of ecological civilization, this paper probes into its initial thinking in ancient and explores the ideological system of ecological tradition carried forward from past to present to find a new focal point for the current ecological civilization and economic development. Accordi- ng to the time and space sequence of the Agricultural Age, Pre-industrial Age, Post- industrial Age, and Information Age, this paper elaborates the succession and change of human attitude towards nature. It reveals the mean in environmental development. Keywords: ecological civilization, era succession, compliance with nature.

Classification: FOR CODE: 060299

Language: English

LJP Copyright ID: 573333 Print ISSN: 2515-5784 Online ISSN: 2515-5792

London Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences 382U Volume 21 | Issue 3 | Compilation 1.0

© 2021. Xiaoyu Wang, Chuyao Huang, Hui Huang & Fei Xu. This is a research/review paper, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncom-mercial 4.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), permitting all noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The Development of Chinese Ecological Civilization Theory in the Ancient and Modern Times

Xiaoyu Wangα, # , Chuyao Huangσ, #, Hui Huangρ & Fei XuѠ, *

______

ABSTRACT research, we found that ancient ecological civilization theory emphasizes the rules of natural Based on the sustainable development and the evolution. In contrast, modern theory roots in theory of ecological civilization, this paper Chinese wisdom in traditional culture. Therefore, probes into its initial thinking in ancient China the ecological civilization theory possesses a and explores the ideological system of ecological philosophical foundation and has been carried tradition carried forward from past to present to forward from ancient to modern times, allowing find a new focal point for the current ecological for a new focus and development path for the civilization and economic development. Accordi- current construction of an ecological civilization. ng to the time and space sequence of the Agricultural Age, Pre-industrial Age, Post- II. "THE WAY OF KNOWING NATURE, THE industrial Age, and Information Age, this paper LAW OF FOLLOWING NATURE" – elaborates the succession and change of human attitude towards nature. It reveals the mean in HUMAN REVERENCE FOR NATURE environmental development. FROM THE PRIMITIVE PERIOD TO THE PRE-INDUSTRIAL AGE Keywords: ecological civilization, era succession, compliance with nature. In prehistoric times, human beings could only show their fear and surrender to nature through Corresponding author Ѡ: College of Geography and myths and totems. As the first cultural symbol of Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, the human clan, these primitive curves express 250014, PR China. the ancestors' awe for nature, including some Co Author α σ: College of Geography and Environment, resistance. In the stories of Kua Fu Chased After Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, PR the Sun and Nv Wa Repaired the Sky, our China. ancestors personified the image of God to express ρ: School of Quality Education, Yibin Vocational & their admiration for the unknown natural forces Technical College, Yibin, 644003, PR China. # These authors contributed equally to this work. such as the sky and the Earth, or the Sun and the Moon; additionally, the spirit of never giving up and fighting against the difficulties is showed in

I. INTRODUCTION London Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences another category, such as Jingwei Filled the Sea China has a long history of 5,000 years, which and Yu Gong Removed Mountains. The Classic of provides us reference and inspiration to get rid of Mountains and Seas is the earliest pre-Qin ancient confusion and seek for new ideas when we book recorded; it advocates respect for nature and encounter environmental problems. To better obedience to heaven. The beautiful description understand ancient approaches to ecological maximizes the leading power of god and nature by civilization, we can take a look at various classics overshadowing the human beings (Birrell, 1999). and poetry. From Erh-Ya, The Book of Songs, to With the increasing consolidation of the idea of the rare books in the late , all books the monarchy and the gods, humanity’s awe and sparkle with the dazzling ecological wisdom worship of nature have reached a new height. As a (Waley, 1960). Through data retrieval and lens of the times reflecting the social

© 2021 London Journals Press Volume 21 | Issue 3 | Compilation 1.0 17 characteristics of Shang and Zhou Dynasties, The devotion to sky, earth, and nature can be seen Book of Songs also shows people's awe and clearly (Carr, 1979). By their simple worldview dependence on the earth. In Song of Shang • and preliminary exploration of the ecological Mysterious Bird, the bird’s coming to the world value system, the ancients described the sky and explains the tribe’ origin fully reflects the the earth as the garden age created by the gods. primitive inhabitants' worship for the Human beings should always follow the way of supernatural and unexplainable mysterious nature and strictly abide by the season. power. In the Zhou Dynasty, patrolling and sacrificial activities of mountains and rivers also The Annals of Lu Buwei (Lu Shi Chun Qiu) was emerged. The concept of "respecting the sky" the first comprehensive book compiled by a state reflected that nature is closely related to people's organization in Chinese history (Nathan, 2001). It livelihood, where ecological thinking and promotes naturalism in the philosophical sense by humanistic core as well as the idea of adapting to reflecting on human behavior. It also developed surroundings are the original worship for the Lao Tzu's philosophy “Non-action” by legalizing unknown force. For example, the classic saying: the behaviors conforming to the ecological "The moving down of Mars in lunar July; the thoughts and restraining the public with the sewing of winter clothes in lunar September", behaviors according to the way of nature. This describes the frequent temperature changes as book advocates that people should not cut down time goes by. trees, burn the land, or overfish during the four seasons. Its ecological significance can still be The Book of Documents also says that one would evident in the sustainable development strategy choose to be accused of incompetence instead of formulated nowadays. As another masterpiece of slaughtering the innocent. There is a saying: Confucianism, The History of the Former Han “Nature has the virtue of cherishing life (Bernard, Dynasty systematically collects and sorts out all 1950).” The Analects of Confucius was the most kinds of articles written by predecessors, whose influential classic about the value of humanistic ideology "the idea of harmony between man and thoughts in the Warring States Period of Ancient nature." advocates that man should follow the China. The ideological core of its propaganda is principles of nature and then carry out various "benevolence" and "propriety," which serve as the constructions. For the first time, forestry officials, benevolent administration of the country, the water officials, and garden officials were set up to “moderation” in the humanistic thought, and the manage trees, rivers, lakes, and mountains, which abiding by way of nature in the ecological fully demonstrates the people's awe of nature environment protection (Ames and Rosemont, (Dubs, 1938) 1998). The thinking of "respecting nature and fearing fate" enlightens people that they should The idea of reverence for nature has not faded establish a harmonious and synchronous with passing time and advancing technology. The relationship with nature via developing and powerful gunpowder called "Sky Fire" at the turn utilizing it rationally in moderation. The idea of of the Tang and Song Dynasties and coal mining “kindness and love for all creatures" helps people technology as the breakthroughs in the Ming and London Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences arouse people’s awareness of cherishing life and Qing dynasties, the ruling class still requested that being integrated into environment. Erh-Ya, the excessive excavation should avoid “damaging the father of dictionaries, also illuminates the wisdom dragon's veins." Even today, the primitive awe of of our ancestors' simple cognition of the natural nature can still be kept in the culture and living environment. Erh-Ya 's description of baboons in habits of some ethnic minorities. Notes on Animals reflects the idea of species In Tibetan customs, it is common for people to classification and evolution, which plays a positive live in harmony with nature and animals. role in protecting biodiversity. From this Tibetans respect nature and believe that all things perspective, Erh-Ya's detailed and concise are spiritual. The demand for resources exploiting explanations of various ecology concepts and its and animals hunting should not go beyond the

The Development of Chinese Ecological Civilization Theory in the Ancient and Modern Times

18 Volume 21 | Issue 3 | Compilation 1.0 © 2021 London Journals Press most basic needs of life. The celestial burial in 64 divinatory symbols, taking the first step in Tibetan areas, in which the human body serves as exploring nature. Qu Yuan followed this step food for vultures after death, is objectively the closely as he posed questions in his book Elegies most direct example of the natural cycle of all of the South- Ask the Sky, such as: “Why is the things. The construction of terraced fields of the world scattered at random? Why are the rivers Hani people in Yuanyang is a good example, winding? Why doesn’t the ocean overflow while which not only preserves the soil and water but rivers from the east flow into it? Who knows? ” also gains a good harvest. It still has high refer- This constant questioning is demonstrative of the ence significance in the construction of ecological ancient people’s eagerness for exploring the laws and environmental protection projects today. of nature.

Respect for nature has been the theme of ancient In The Book of Songs, there are instructions for Chinese ecological thinking; from the bronze agriculture production, it calls for the ethical cauldron used for sacrifice in the Xia and Shang ideology that people should conform to nature dynasties to the altar of Heaven and Earth prayed and be proactive. In terms of micro policies, the for favorable weather in the Ming and Qing Chinese government attaches more importance to dynasties; from the benevolence and inaction of agriculture than other industries. Moreover, Confucius and Mencius to the return to nature of institutionalizing agriculture proved that people Taigu School in Ming and Qing Dynasties. Our at that time realized that agriculture was the ancestors’ authentic reverence for earth is also the cornerstone of development. People should initial respect for nature that we must learn as proactively conform to the seasons and laws of their later generations (, 1983). nature, adapt to the pace of seasons to arrange farming and life, and not violate the natural laws III. “NINE SUNS DROPPED BECAUSE OF and seasons. The farmers were required, on the THE BOW OF DEMIGOD.” -- HUMAN'S one hand, to conform to nature and on the other SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION TO hand to engage in production and intensive cultivation, which happens to coincide with the NATURE FROM AGRICULTURAL construction requirements of contemporary CIVILIZATION TO INDUSTRIAL AGE ecological agriculture.

While keeping reverence for nature, our ancestors By analyzing these ancient norms, we can also also systematically explored and developed the observe the importance of our ancestors attached natural environment. Let’s return to the most great importance to ecological thinking. The Qin primitive totem culture. If the stories such as “Nv Bamboo Sticks in Hubei Province can correspond Wa Repaired the Sky” and “Kua Fu Chased after to this point: Chapter One is about the law of the the Sun” deliver people’s awe for nature, the land; Chapter Two is about the law of animal myths centered the human-nature relationship husbandry. The two chapters on the home page like “Hou Yi, The Sun Shooter “and “Chang’ E flew show the rulers' attitudes towards natural to the Sky” show people’s perseverance and development and protection. In the , resistance against the severe environmental the codes formulated were imitating the ideas of London Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences phenomena. The legend known as “Yu, the Great the rulers of the Qin law to develop naturally by Governs the Flood,” which is endowed with local conditions. The Han people diverted water mythic and political significance, can be viewed as from the to irrigate the Hetao Plain, the classical example reflecting human tampering and the Yellow River Irrigation Area in Ningxia and developing nature in ancient times. That story has designated the name “South of the River releases the people’s will to change nature to the beyond the Great Wall. greatest extent, showing the ancestors’ tenacity and determination against the natural In the peak of the feudal dynasty in ancient China, environment. In the Zhou dynasty, Jichang, King revised by the ruling class, the Tang Law was Wen of Zhou, explained natural phenomena with more comprehensive than those of previous

The Development of Chinese Ecological Civilization Theory in the Ancient and Modern Times

© 2021 London Journals Press Volume 21 | Issue 3 | Compilation 1.0 19 dynasties. Through the analysis of Tang Law's Controlling locust plagues has also been an strict management and strict punishment important issue in Chinese history. People in the measures on urban environmental protection and were able to describe the life cycle, pollution control, we can see that Tang law mating habits, and feeding habits in detail. They attaches great importance to natural development invented methods to control locusts’ plagues, such and destruction. The core of the Chinese classical as fire attacks and food cutting. They also found legal system represented by The T’Ang Code, parasites that could also kill locusts, which was an guided by Confucian feudal ethics and morality, early prototype of biological control. Therefore, in highlights the combination of rites and laws terms of the rational development and transfo- (Johnson, 1997). The force of law was used as the rmation of the environment, our ancestors are backing to promote the norms of ritual, which was wiser, and we should deepen our understanding of regarded as the spiritual pillar to strengthen the and utilize this powerful wisdom to solve the repressive effect of law. The two complemented current environmental problems with more each other, pushed the status of the ecological methods. ordinances to a new height, and also provided a blueprint for later generations to formulate laws IV "BALD SHU MOUNTAIN, and regulations in the relevant development ACCOMPLISHED EPANG PALACE" – environment. As for 's management of the HUMAN’S OVER-EXPLOITATION OF in the Song Dynasty, it was also a NATURE IN THE CONTINUOUS legendary story. According to historical records, there were six wells in the West Lake to regulate DEVELOPMENT OF PRODUCTIVITY the water potential. During the Tang Dynasty, AND ECONOMY specific officials would clear the river every year. Xunzi said: “Natural law is universal, equal for However, from the late Tang Dynasty to the all.” That is to say that the constantly evolving Qian's, the relevant facilities have been abando- times are not subject to man's will. In ancient ned, resulting in siltation and impassibility times, it was impossible to explore and develop (Liang, 2018). As an official in West Lake District, the natural environment too much because they Su Shi actively managed the lake's siltation often explained the inexplicable natural phenom- according to shui (the appropriate location of ena with the power of gods and ghosts. However, a house or place). After carefully observing the after entering the Shang and Zhou dynasties, with terrain and landforms around the West Lake, he the gradual consolidation of the slavery society, did not excavate the mud blindly. Instead, he the productive forces have been developed to a diverted the river into the lake and turned the certain extent. Ancient people had deeper sludge into a dike, which protected local people's thinking about the ecological environment and water transportation and navigation from the natural phenomena, while science and technology impact of sea tides. also are developed constantly. Strictly conforming to the approach of ecological protection of the time, Su Shi’s project was Because of the improvement of technology and London Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences economical and environmental, thereby preserv- the ambitious feudal lords, the abusive develo- ing the original site of the West Lake and adapting pment of the environment is inevitable. During the local condition perfectly. It was an the Warring States Period, Zhi Boyao dug a river extraordinary pioneering move! Even today, the and it caused flood to the enemy's city, which is project has great practical significance for some the first case of using the water power to carry out water pollution control projects. Take the Dianchi a devastating blow to other countries. The Lake treatment as an example, the government ecological environment of the Yellow River, the did not choose mechanical weeding and silting but mother river of the Chinese nation, is also a combination of biochemistry and mechan- ical deteriorating day by day because of human weeding and soon achieved significant results activities. During the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, (Xie, 2019). the disturbance to the ecological environment of

The Development of Chinese Ecological Civilization Theory in the Ancient and Modern Times

20 Volume 21 | Issue 3 | Compilation 1.0 © 2021 London Journals Press the entire basin gradually increased under the of a pilgrim, the author asks viscerally how great a intensification of human activities. In the middle threat man's saber-rattling has posed on friendly of the Warring States period, due to frequent wars nature since the industrial revolution. If we don't and sparse population in the lower Yellow River, hold back, then future generations will end up the distance between the two banks was 21 with a devastated earth from our hands. We don't kilometers wide. The river had a strong flood want to repent or that "those people who sit in the storage capacity, and its banks were not easy to back of the room have access to our ancestors only burst. In the late Western Han Dynasty, the with a limited number of words and pictures." suspended river had already appeared which result from increased soil erosion in the middle In the 1950s and 1960s, many infrastructure reaches of the Yellow River since the Qin and Han projects sprang up rapidly under the demand for dynasties. In 11 AD, the Yellow River burst again, socialist modernization. The most well-known and floods between the Yellow River and Huai was large-scale steel-making. At that time, there River lasted for 60 years. However, during the was a slogan "To surpass Britain in 5 years, to Han Dynasty, the Yellow River ecosystem had not surpass America in 10 years”. Although with high yet completely collapsed. There are three main aspirations, it ignored the national conditions and reasons: objective laws and did not last long. However, led by the "left-wing" thinking, in the second half of 1. In 70 AD, under the leadership of Wang Jing, 1958, farmers across the country engaged in steel a comprehensive control was carried out on smelting and the "five small industries" trend. the overflowing river by fixing a new channel There were 600,000 simple iron and steel at the end of the Western Han Dynasty (i.e., furnaces, more than 59,000 small furnaces and digging the river channel to reduce the impact kilns, more than 4,000 small power stations, of the original blockage). more than 9,000 small cement plants, as well as 2. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, many nomads over 80,000 farm tool repairing plants. Industrial began to settle in the middle Yellow River; enterprises increased from 170,000 in 1957 to croplands turned to grazing land; secondary more than 600,000 in 1959. Simultaneously, the grasslands and shrubs replaced croplands, existing environmental protection rules and and soil erosion was relatively abated. regulations have been criticized and rejected 3. At that time, there were many branches in the (Ran, 2019). lower Yellow River, which played the role of flood diversion, sand discharge, and flow In the case of chaotic management and lack of regulation(for flood storage and regulation of pollution control measures, the waste gas, natural rivers and lakes). wastewater, and waste residue from the industrial production process was unbridled, and enviro- However, with the increase of population in the nmental pollution was rapidly increasing, which later ages, more and more regimes were active in was the last dance of human mechanical power in the Central Plains, causing impact on the habitat front of nature, without knowing that it was about of the Yellow River. The entire Yellow River to get payback later (Yuan, 2010). We were all ecosystem has been damaged at all levels by suffering from domestic natural disasters: the London Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences deforestation and the overuse of downstream Yellow River dry-off, the Tangshan earthquake, tributaries. In the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the the River flood, ten environmental flood control dam system was not well maintained hazards abroad, etc. Where should we go, and and tended to collapse while the nomadic peoples which path should we choose when facing the in Yellow River basin. counter force of nature? As Gama Tenzin wrote in the book God Calls Me From a Distance: “Where is a plume of a smoke swaying for repaying the land? Where is a trickle of a stream for changing our mind?” In the spirit

The Development of Chinese Ecological Civilization Theory in the Ancient and Modern Times

© 2021 London Journals Press Volume 21 | Issue 3 | Compilation 1.0 21 V. “TURN INWARD AND EXAMINE of locust eradication. Secondly, the extensive use YOURSELF WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER of chemicals would cause damage to the whole DIFFICULTIES IN LIFE.” -- HUMAN'S region, causing ecological disasters. The insect ecologists represented by Mr. Ma Shijun adopted REFLECTION AND MEASURES ON the strategy of “Eradication of locusts with the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN THE combination of reform and treatment", which POST-INDUSTRIAL AGE shows our scholars' whole-hearted devotion to In thousands of years of development, human more advanced technology and theory. In river society has experienced the processes of regulation and river closure projects, engineers "reverence for nature," "exploration of nature," and ecologists worked together to build green and "conquest of nature." Eventually, it turned projects, among which the most famous was the out that conquering nature is impractical. As a . River Engineering used to be result, human beings began to reflect the concept rough construction and "GDP-only” theory once on the processes and started a new approach: dominated. For example, the Hoover Dam is reconnect with nature. known as the "diamond of the desert." It does play a vital role in water conservancy facilities and In the 1970s, the ultra-left trend of thought farmland irrigation in Nevada. However, after its penetrated. The ideas of "socialism without completion, the Colorado River gradually dried up pollution" and "socialism is superior to the lower reaches of the river, making the capitalism" were widely spreading in China. When estuarine delta in Mexico a desert, causing attending the United Nations Conference on the environmental disasters. The construction of the Human Environment in 1972, Premier Zhou Three Gorges project started after careful believed environmental protection had become ecological investigation and cost-effective prominent. (Zhang, 2010). In 1973, the State research. During the construction of the Three Environmental Protection Office became the first Gorges Dam, local flora and fauna that were national environmental protection department susceptible to potential damage, such as (secondary organization). In 1982, the State Adiantum Nelumbinis and water cypress, were Environmental Protection Office was reorganized transplanted for protection. In terms of sludge into the State Environmental Protection Bureau disposal, the measure of "storing clear water and (under the Ministry of construction), and evolved discharging muddy water" was implemented in to the State Environmental Protection Admini- the project of Three Gorges Reservoir. In the flood stration (ministry level) in 1998. From those season with more sediment, it generally does not series of institutional restructuring, we can see store water and directly discharges sediment. In that the Chinese people, along with the gover- the season with less slits, it keeps water for power nment, were gradually attaching importance to generation and river transportation. Economic environmental protection. development integrates with ecological protection as far as possible. In addition to legislation, contemporary environmentalists also had come up with new China's environmental protection industry London Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences ideas on dealing with ecological and enviro- criticizes and inherits the previous experience. nmental problems. Taking the locust disaster as Taking China's three major water conservancy the breakthrough point, before the 1960s, local projects: Xiaolangdi, Gezhouba, and the Three governments directly sprayed insecticides in case Gorges project, as examples, after drawing on the of locust disaster. Although this method could kill construction experience of and locusts in a short time, it is disadvantageous in the - Canal, the construction are also long term in two aspects. Firstly, the insecticides carried out in combination with the new would artificially select the locusts’ genes, and the ecological and environmental protection ideas. locusts with strong drug resistance would be The design of the Fish Mouth and the Bottle preserved and propagated in large numbers, Mouth of Dujiangyan Project achieves perfect which would cause difficulties in the future work

The Development of Chinese Ecological Civilization Theory in the Ancient and Modern Times

22 Volume 21 | Issue 3 | Compilation 1.0 © 2021 London Journals Press integration of flood diversion and regulation, ecological civilization. China's environmental which was adopted in the Three Gorges and other protection started in the 1970s. The first projects later. Also, the engineers noticed the dam generation of CPC central leadership with alone was not sustainable to be conducive to the Comrade Mao Zedong as the core noticed the Yangtze River Basin’s biodiversity. As a result, the importance of resource conservation and engineers designed specific facilities for fish environmental protection and then put forward a migration. This design played a positive role in series of efficient measures. In 1973, the First protecting rare animals such as the Chinese National Conference on Environmental Protection sturgeons and the finless porpoises. It is a positive was held in Beijing. The conference deliberated expression of contemporary eco-centrism. and adopted the 32-word guidelines for Coincidentally, in the process of the urban environmental protection work and formulated construction, ecological and environmental the first comprehensive environmental regulation protection ideas are fully integrated. By local in China's history. The Several Provisions on the conditions, the city Jinan in Shandong Province Protection and Improvement of the Environment takes spring water specialty to build a beautiful (Trial Draft) was also the starting point of spring city and sets up abundant protection environmental protection legislation in New measures. These measures protect the spring China (1949). At the same time, resource water, and increase the ornamental value and conservation and environmental protection promote the building of the city as well. Paying became the part of the Constitution. In the attention to urban microclimate regulation is also beginning of reform and opening up, the second an innovation point of municipal development. generation of CPC central leadership with Deng Relying on lakes and pools, Hefei city in Anhui Xiaoping promoted environmental protection to a Province has built a complete Suburban Park new height. During this period, related legislation system. While enhancing the city view, it has also became the most active part of legislation, and fixed the dilemma of perennial dryness and the relevant environmental regulations were also excessive PM2.5 levels. Treating ecological transferred from trial drafts to special laws and problems with ecological methods should be the regulations. During the terms of Chairman Jiang new focus of environmental protection nowadays. Zemin and Chairman Hu Jintao, the CPC Central The original treatment plans didn’t solve water Committee put forward the concept of sustainable pollution problem of the two major water systems development, which called for building a in Shandong Province, mostly vanity projects resource-conserving and environment-friendly scratching the surface. The water quality of the society. We paid attention to the legislation for effluent sections in Shandong Province was environmental protection and put forward unqualified all year round. In recent years, after building an ecological civilization for the first time ecocentrism has become a trend, the provincial (Qin, 2018). Since entering the new era, General department decided to adopt the method for a Secretary Xi Jinping has advocated that "lucid construction with surface water and waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." subsurface flow purification to treat the Haihe We should vigorously build ecological civilization

River Basin and the Huang- System. and highlight the landmark of green development London Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences Soon, the efficacy of such ecological methods was on the road of economic construction. Xi Jinping apparent in reality. The quality of effluent water once quoted Xunzi's words to King Hui of Wei in and the biodiversity were improved significantly his speech, aiming to emphasize inheriting (Zhang et al., 2014). The advanced ecological ancient thought of taking nature in a timely and concept today is to attach importance to the appropriate manner and striving to achieve construction of ecological civilization, not to awe harmonious coexistence between human beings of the gods, and to connect people and nature. and nature. At the 2018 National Conference on Environmental Protection, Xi proposed six basic Besides the application, ideological guidance is principles for promoting ecological progress in the also an indispensable part of the construction of new era. He did a report to the 19th National

The Development of Chinese Ecological Civilization Theory in the Ancient and Modern Times

© 2021 London Journals Press Volume 21 | Issue 3 | Compilation 1.0 23 Congress of the Communist Party of China and principles of ecological civilization in the phrases put forward a refreshed view on ecological of "non-action," "by the times of agriculture," and progress, saying that the harmonious coexistence "white sand dike in the shade of green poplar." of man and nature has become an essential part of Similarly, we also need to pay attention to the the basic strategy for upholding and developing practical problems of ecological construction; we socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new should not limit superficial slogans and go against era. He devoted a part of his report to "strengthen the objective laws to build ecological homes the system’s reform for ecological progress and down-to-earth. The history of environmental build a beautiful China." The evolution of the destruction in the industrial civilization booming Party's ecological thoughts is the epitome of period teaches us that the evolutionary way for environmental protection in contemporary China. people is to reconnect with nature, not to conquer nature (Wang, 2021). Under the guidance of President Xi Jinping’s thoughts on environmental protection, never The idea mentioned by Mencius that “there will be before in history has this thought been more much more aquatic products to eat if we don’t use emphasized than now. As a privilege, a one-vote fine-mesh for fishing and there will be much more veto on local officials and enterprises can be wood available if we cut trees at the right time” implemented as the environmental inspection agrees with the proposal that tiny net should not policy. Those traditional industries featured with be used in winter in Lake Chagan. The Fixed high energy consumption and severe pollution are Fishing-Prohibiting Period Planning proposed shut down. Moreover, a special campaign recently is the best explanation of what is called targeting water and soil conservation in the doing farm work in the right season. The essence Yellow River has been launched. A plethora of of environmental protection has never been environmental projects, including the disappeared in China’s land and revives from the conservation of water and soil and the pollution thousands of year’s civilization. Artificial intellig- control alongside the Yangtze River has been ence and ancient classics enhance each other’s embarked on, the River Chief System has been emerging strengths. After numerous changes, the established and the Yangtze River Protection Law wheel of history, going through the Agricultural of the People's Republic of China has been carried Age, Industrial Revolution Age, and Information on since March 1st, 2021. Concrete actions have Age, finally gets on track. Human’s attitude been made to reduce energy consumption and towards nature changes from conquering nature environmental protection, and it is recognized by to getting harmonious with it. Trivial as it seems, all that efforts to global environmental protection it is a great leap that can turn the tide. have been made. It conforms to the law of development that Chinese thought on ecological civilization has been carried forward from ancient VI. CONCLUSION: LUCID WATERS AND to modern times. The thought that grows more LUSH MOUNTAINS ARE INVALUABLE mature and advanced has become an important ASSETS; ECOLOGICAL CIVILIZATION symbol of a prosperous country. CONSTRUCTION IS THE TOP PRIORITY London Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences We have approached issues from the perspective Not confine to books, contemporary enviro- of development, completely removed the nmentalists should make field investigations and "GDP-only" approach, and let the philosophy of seek the wisdom of the sages. After rejecting the ecocentrism take root in people's minds, which is whole theory of restoring the ancients and an important milestone in the human develo- historical nihilism, we critically carry forward the pment history the same as the "heliocentric historical thoughts and perspectives on ecology theory" replaced the "geocentric theory" (Li, and develop an ecological theoretical system by 2021). obeying the laws of nature. To truly take the road of sustainable development, we realize that " With the construction of environmental protec- tion in full swing, we seem to understand the Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable

The Development of Chinese Ecological Civilization Theory in the Ancient and Modern Times

24 Volume 21 | Issue 3 | Compilation 1.0 © 2021 London Journals Press " h h a t T o o e C m a t t i e a a c ( t c " S L n h o e e N ©2021 LondonJournals Press 1 3 4 2 5 6 7 i i h n c n n s s b f D i i h h n v u a a . s s o c . e s p o . . . . . a v d d e o i i i t t t N c c l c e d l s e n f l r i y u e o o

. r o h h i i t o r s r a c e A l B A C a G B A D F S D H M P J A I L i U d e z g e d r r s d o g u e a n i i w r I t c n a o s i i t s . r l i r n n a i e m n n n e r i o s u . s m i n ) 2 t a s c c ” t o a o g a r w e a o t , n e h c o d o i r r . t v g g e a t n t f

a a n b 0 m r i n

r o n 2 c

t s a T o u n e r r i g a n o P

u r e a w t l e l l a i o s k q S a p s 2 , n g 0 k l a a s e r h i r i a o h r l n t t s e p l r a , . t s n n t h i u o , n e a r , 0 c g n c l e . e e t c 1 D r a e o n M i n e s a h . , t o h a H e n t t w p a d o r i e 8 d f a i i d Z K n i d i n

t N A t R t i s h e v y o s d s l U n s - c b m o A l m c i . o , Z . i a C a o d . , p r . m i n o . r i e o C o u . e e l u e a l

n p . n l s w 2 i K m R a E m e R a e L n t ( i s a M t i w f c f t c W c n F g : z u K ) h 5 1 i s n o T , n t h ( ( s . . s h o e s o t H v s C

h

a a 9 i m 1 t ) E e i i n 2 t t d . N , t e c . s a u n . n R e ( e Y i n t o ( , o 9 u t y o The Development of Chinese Ecological Civilization Theory in the Ancient Ancient the in Theory Civilization Ecological Chinese of Development The o , 3 e T 0 d p o n 2 : n 1 i l ( 1 r s c p , d o f n : t o

f d O

9 n a E n o ( 8 9 l 2 h S n s S 9 e 1 e . n P i o v h & V m p w o 1 u r r , w r n e 9 f n a p i 3 ) F S 5 c m 0 e a y h 7 W i n l e 9 r e k t u t s n o A s o a . v r o ) e i a a ) C 0 s n h i y h h 9 y w E 1 a e t 9 S h a : s o c r . n e : l n , o R g t T t t 8

, d . ) a ) o n c

o h t L c c l i e 7 R o M e n l t u

s P p n d T i c . . T t u e p d h C t o o n ) e l r o n c d c m o ) m o f E y e m r e l E a s e . d h T i s h o p s r . o

e a t p u A d n l r a s u o e 1 w t t A t n n i D : i n e t e o i N T l l m h m t e o i . c r e e o s . f s o n l t T h i a c H b r i m r g d A e , d u a e e t n t r n l i h e G d i n t T n t g u i a B C n a h i c a u r e i n s y C s t . h u n h z i n

t e e c g B o

b l o i u P t a i c t B i M n U d p e s a i N a o E l o m l n o t T e , v n y g t n n t l e y t t a c a w h l n t e a l R o n h N f o i t n T e c n d l S h o l u o . h t E

t s l T o c e i r , i a a i o C u i a l e c r e i t , e i r u t T a n e l r p s i e n o u t n o o n N n i v ’ t o e h k a s . y l o m s l w i o i n a m s c s o r u r t p l t H n a n e c t v t r t s e K e c f y t n a f e u a m T g i i l u o i o e r r s r m o e a o r a o a c c o l n g n p . n e g e r s y o s “ f u f S n i s t p l r v a o r n a r c r e a y F e i r

i s E a e f s D c p t e ( r d U D T a t e l h b c a l f o f a o s l l C n i k a t 1 o h y e a r o a r s : t M e p t o P t e i n h u y u t n o U s i 9 r e h

i t a o n c o n e , r r t e r e s n t P n n r o u y

e d r d c o i i 9 u a l w d - t j 1 g d o c t d n c o t o s v v i W s n r e a u b e Y y r f l - 8 c o E z r h t p e F u e e j c i e a t e a c n c i s u 1 r " m s i l a t e v T a e e l c U , ) n e h r n a s o o r i n r a l t t 9 o i o o c c d . e . a s o u m o y r o s d s s t e r n v ” t e g ( f 6 r t c g t h r ( r w p a u o i . l a c a t t m n V r u e s b T n N t i t o o s . i e h P t i n t t e p b a i i e r ( y c r i r n i a a h o t b h h a h g s n r t e o s i a o o o o o h t s t t l l a l . e s n l h n n h d g l y y y y e y e y e e e e s s r - t f f f l f . l . l . , . 8 9 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 3 4 2 5 6 7 8 ...... E L C E 2 L C J C N 4 S C C Q W 1 C X Y W o 1 R “ X H U T Y A a D Z 1 ( a C P ( Z C E 2 i I 1 - 1 n n i t 2 i - h h i i r o u r h h o h h h i h n n n n r a i i i i n a r 2 n e n , 7 i , , 0 v 5 a a e o e n f c d d -

r n m a a a n o i i i i i i v v v t n i - . f 3 p i c . B l n , 2 a n n n n n n h 1 t k h , v

n n i n l 1 i i i n e g , a e e E 4 G i 4 C c i t r r r 4 p g : e e a e e e i . X e 1 a y n g g , z m N c n t

u o - o - J ) n , t s s s s s 8

. h r l G t . n Y , a S e , , t . R g 3 . e h n n J h l e e e e e s t i . v i . a i c e t , L t . . o n ’ h r t 6 K i o ( n H ) ) ) ) e . A e D m m e s i i t n Y n ( e t o 2 n S . . . . o . ( p r Y e . n u v e y 2 .

. ( H 1 d i t . v . o E S 0 n . S e e m E Volume 21|Issue3 |Compilation 1.0 E i P S i s e , . f 2 r ( 0 9 M C n e e n ( f n n ( T h ( o 2 . e d e 1 a a A o C c o c 0 ( e C 8 2 2 C

w 2 e 1 g h 9 m )

f t t a 0 P i r - r o u o c l . S d o r a 1 9 n 1 n 0 . 3 a , 0 o h i m a i ) a

i l (

l e r c 2 0 P r and Modern Times Modern and n c ) n t I j n 6 ( e a l 2 o . t ) o n 1 n 0 2 e n e u a e n . s n e 1 2 a . ) a d n C o s C l 9 a 0 g 0 g n s s T 0 s 1 e t x ) s . c l t 0 t s T ( n (

t i ) i t i s h l h . ) ) S ( R l g t e i r T 1 h e T c i o i c t , a r . P 1 . . A , 0

m y r P n u

n S i r 8 i c , T N

a u a e e e 2 t n h 0 n n a T T I r A S n 6 i o c c i T ) l o l S s c h c n J e e 4 o e c o o ) a C e h D h i . i t a ) S n p e ( h t f m h . n n . x i C e e c ( t i s n r , E i t h e e n a t u o a

e i 0 n M t n . o m e e t c i C 1 i C u H s C T P e r P i y l D l o g c n l v A e o ) I 6 n - c n c e y a c d h i l t a a h h . a n r o m i 5 B s . e l v t u ) i m Y s n h i B e t l , y D i a o n n o l s i p i . e o , a i i i i o X n o s s

n n

e n z i p c c a o l s g f U d & 2 C l e n u u n s e & o i f o a a a a t , u g i a e c r n y z n C i 2

) l ’ o i r h k n ' n n D r t e 8 k ” o s l a s . a a c s . C i t i - T s h s N E n S e e s i s d n n n a o t t ( a e 2 C R v t h o E S n s i t ( i i e i ) 2 o x l S e g n o r v n o o o 9 t e u ( i . N i a f c i u e , p n o f ) y U n h w v i i e n r n n n a . d h n . t n n s n l a T L v e l W s S e J h a ' n E o o S y o n g s c t t i i u h . o o e t r h r P u i u h p E C e , d R C o S P a P v y n n T o o S a C C e r r B e i m O ( u l h c h y h & e e . r 1 r t ’ u n g a o h c e r h h r s o e c i u s r a i 9 o “ e r e e s n ” g g e i m o o n i i a s l s o P n i o n w v 4 W . v n s n N T n o o h y g n g u i s F a t u i d r d e i t 9 , e e g i f , e , t t h i N n , g e i r o y Y o r a n n a o s s , i i 0 0 o r w h 0 c O c 0 m ( ( c ( : n t e u e e n t n X e e i i m e o i e o L o 4 9 t a a 7 w 1 A ) ) ) ) n n n n n d e g s s - s r f f f . i l . , . , l . , , , 25

London Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences