Illustration: Xia Qing/GT

 

A 40-year journey through China reveals how an ancient philosophy of harmony offers practical solutions for today's fractured world.

When I first arrived in China in 1985 as a curious 19-year-old, I watched elderly men hanging birdcages in tree branches, listening quietly as their birds sang in the fading light. This was my introduction to hexie: the cultivation of art, friendship, and harmony with nature and to a deeper truth that real understanding begins in simple human connection, eye to eye, heart to heart.

I have come to see that memory as my first encounter with Hehe culture, an ancient Chinese philosophy that may hold vital lessons for our turbulent modern age.

Hehe culture is often misunderstood. When we hear "harmony," we imagine silence or passivity. But harmony is neither. Harmony is active. It is a choice, a discipline, choosing understanding before judgment, listening before speaking and seeking balance in all our relations with people, with nature, and within ourselves.

Hehe culture teaches that genuine harmony begins within oneself and extends outward to family, community and ultimately to governance. As Confucius reminded us, true leadership rests not on power but on virtue, and respect in small acts builds harmony in great societies.

I have witnessed Hehe culture alive as a lived practice. During my first retracing of the Long March in the mountains of Sichuan, my film crew entered a remote village where residents had never seen a foreigner. At 193 centimetres tall and blue-eyed, I must have seemed alien. Yet, without hesitation, the villagers welcomed us into their homes. We ate and drank together, and suddenly, all barriers dissolved. That moment embodied harmony: warmth, respect, trust. 

True strength is not power; true strength is care for the land, for each other, for harmony itself. The principles of Hehe culture extend naturally from daily life to the world. Harmony requires discipline and awareness of one's place in the greater whole. It offers not resignation but resilience - the ability to navigate change while maintaining balance.

These ancient principles have found renewed relevance in contemporary diplomacy and global affairs. In today's fractured global landscape, where nations struggle with the climate crisis, economic inequality and geopolitical tensions, Hehe culture suggests a different path forward for the world.

He er bu tong, harmony without uniformity. We can differ completely and still unite.

Tian ren he yi, unity of heaven, earth and humanity. When we harm Earth, we harm ourselves. 

Qiu tong cun yi, seeking common ground while respecting differences - the foundation for coexistence.

China offers these principles to a fracturing world. These concepts represent a profound alternative. They suggest that multilateralism and genuine cooperation reflect Hehe principles applied at the global level - nations can maintain their identity while working together.

I have come to believe that Hehe culture is not only Chinese; it also belongs to all humanity. In an era of rising nationalism, climate emergency and technological disruption, Hehe culture teaches diversity while seeking true connection. It tells us to hold onto what endures, embrace what is new and measure success not in power, but in balance.

At its core, Hehe philosophy teaches us that balance and peace are active practices, not mere ideals. When nations recognize that security comes from interdependence rather than dominance, global peace becomes possible. By choosing to listen first and remember our fundamental connection to one another and the Earth, we create conditions for lasting peace at every level.

The question is: Can we translate this ancient wisdom into modern practice, choose harmony over discord, understanding over judgment, cooperation over confrontation? Harmony is not abstract goodwill but a concrete effort to improve people's lives through cooperation.

China's invitation is to build this together, through genuine exchange and mutual learning woven into our diverse cultural contexts. Not work for governments alone, but for educators, artists, scholars, communities. That is how humankind builds a shared future.

History is not behind us; it is a dialogue between the past, present and future. Hehe culture sends a message: Humanity's greatest strength lies not in dominance, but in balance. Buddha teaches, "With our thoughts we make the world" - let us continue to hope for the harmony of humanity.

The author is an Australian sinologist and vice president of the publishing company Weldon's. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn