If we were to choose just one word to characterize the Chinese ideal way of life,
that word would be “harmony.”
Harmony is the most cherished ethical and social ideal in Chinese culture, particularly in Confucianism. Without understanding this concept, we cannot really understand Chinese culture and society. Unfortunately, this concept has been largely left out of serious scholarly study. While words for “harmony” are used frequently in the literature of Chinese culture, people seldom inquire what it means conceptually; few works have been dedicated to this subject. In our age, when conflicts are the trend, it is high time for serious study of the Confucian philosophy of harmony. What follows is the first book-length study of the Confucian philosophy of harmony in English. Integrating methods of textual exegesis, historical investigation, comparative analysis, and philosophical argumentation, I present a comprehensive treatment of this philosophy. My study traces the roots of the concept to antiquity, examines its subsequent development, and explicates its theoretical and practical significance for the contemporary world.