Ancient Chinese Eco-Environmental Philosophy

The Chinese nation respects and loves nature, and preserves harmony between humanity and nature. The 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization has an abundance of ideas about nature and the environment. Philosophical views abounded such as "unity of humanity and nature" and "observance of the laws of nature"; farming and husbandry experience such as "follow the timing and adapt to geographical conditions, and there will be more success with less effort"; popular verses such as "never shoot the birds on branches, as their hungry nestlings are waiting for them to bring back food"; and family mottos such as "when eating, one should know that food does not come easily; when wearing clothes, one should remember that even a thread is made with great effort." These views about nature are all simple, but very insightful.

The ancient Chinese classic Laozi contained well-known sayings about the laws of nature: Man patterns himself on the operation of the earth; the earth patterns itself on the operation of heaven; heaven patterns itself on the operation of Dao; Dao patterns itself on what is nature. The contemporary Chinese axioms – follow the laws of nature, have more natural restoration and less human interference, and apply bio-measures, farming techniques and engineering methods to restore the original eco-environment of rivers and address both symptoms and root causes – all come from the ancient belief that humanity should follow the laws of nature.

The ancient Chinese philosophy also talked about the relationship between opening up the source and regulating the flow, and between protecting resources and developing the economy. It held maintaining rational development and proper utilization of natural resources. The idea of taking from nature at the proper time and to the proper extent has inspired contemporary China to address today's problems and achieve harmony between humanity and nature. Traditional ideas are closely relevant to our respect of nature today.

中國古代生態智慧

中華民族向來尊重自然、熱愛自然，追求人與自然和諧共生。綿延5000多年的中華文明積淀著豐富的生態智慧和生態文化。“天人合一”“道法自然”的哲理思想，“順天時，量地利，則用力少而成功多”的農牧經驗，“勸君莫打枝頭鳥，子在巢中望母歸”的經典詩句，“一粥一飯，當思來處不易；半絲半縷，恒念物力維艱”的治家格言，都蘊含著質樸睿智的自然觀。

比如，中國傳統哲學中以萬物順應自然規律生長為“天文”“地文”，《老子》中的名言：“人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然”，這個“自然”，就是指自然規律。當代中國順應自然，堅持自然修復為主，減少人為擾動，把生物措施、農藝措施與工程措施結合起來，袪滯化淤，固本培元，恢復河流生態環境等，就是從中國自古以來順應自然的觀念中提升出來的舉措。

再比如，中國古代哲學中常常談到節流開源、保護資源與經濟發展的關系，主張合理利用、合理開發自然資源。這種對自然取之以時、取之有度的思想，對當今中國解決好人與自然和諧共生的問題具有深刻的現實意義。中華傳統文明的滋養，為當代中國開啟了尊重自然、面向未來的智慧之門。