中國文化復興 佛教當擔大任  / zhōng guó wén huà fù xīng fó jiào dāng dān dà rèn /
Selections on the Revival of Chinese Culture and the Great Responsibility Shouldered by Buddhism 
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9月29日

中國文化復興 佛教當擔大任
習近平 ( 1953~ )

佛教產生於古代印度,但傳入中國後,經過長期
演化,佛教同中國儒家文化和道家文化融合發展,
最終形成了具有中國特色的佛教文化,給中國人的
宗教信仰、哲學觀念、文學藝術、禮儀習俗等留下
了深刻影響。中國唐代玄奘西行取經,歷盡磨難,
體現的是中國人學習域外文化的堅韌精神。根據他
的故事演繹的神話小說《西遊記》,我想大家都知
道。中國人根據中華文化發展了佛教思想,形成了
獨特的佛教理論,而且使佛教從中國傳播到了日本、
韓國、東南亞等地。

有關人類文明交流互鑒,主要有三個問題。第一、
戰爭起源於人之思想,故務需於人之思想中築起保
衛和平之屏障。第二、文明因交流而多彩,文明因
互鑒而豐富;文明交流互鑒,是推動人類文明進步
和世界和平發展的重要動力。第三、以文化人,讓
文化為人類進步助力,推動中華文明創造性轉化和
創新性發展。

一九八七年,在中國陝西的法門寺,地宮中出土
了二十件美輪美奐的琉璃器,這是唐代傳入中國的
東羅馬和伊斯蘭的琉璃器。我在欣賞這些域外文物
時,一直在思考一個問題,就是對待不同文明,不
能只滿足於欣賞它們產生的精美物件,更應該去領
略其中包含的人文精神;不能只滿足於領略它們對
以往人們生活的藝術表現,更應該讓其中蘊藏的精
神鮮活起來。

實現中國夢,是物質文明和精神文明均衡發展、相
互促進的結果。隨著中國經濟社會不斷發展,中華文
明也必將順應時代發展煥發出更加蓬勃的生命力。

近代以來,以儒釋道為代表的中國傳統文化當中,
佛教的發展相對較好,逐漸成為中國文化復興的最重
要載體。而新世紀以來的中國佛教,也日益建立起這
一文化自覺,主動投身於中華文明創造性轉化與創新
性發展的歷史洪流之中。

拿破侖說過:「中國是一頭沉睡的獅子,當這頭睡
獅醒來時,世界都會為之發抖。」中國這頭獅子已經
醒了,但這是一隻和平的、可親的、文明的獅子。中
國要成為和平、可親、文明的獅子,最根本的,就是
中國文化的復興。而在中國文化復興的征程上,中國
佛教可謂天降大任,任重道遠。

──選自鳳凰網〈習近平巴黎論佛教 ‧ 中國文化復興佛教當擔大任〉

September 29

Selections on the Revival of Chinese Culture and the Great Responsibility Shouldered by Buddhism
Xi Jinping (1953 - )
English translation: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China

Buddhism originated in ancient India. After it was introduced into
China, the religion went through an extended period of integrated
development with the indigenous Confucianism and Taoism and finally
became the Buddhism with Chinese characteristics, thus making a deep
impact on the religious belief, philosophy, literature, art, etiquette and
customs of the Chinese people. Xuanzang, the Tang monk who endured
untold sufferings as he went on a pilgrimage to the west for Buddhist
scriptures, gave full expression to the determination and fortitude of the
Chinese people to learn from other cultures. I am sure that you have all
heard about the Chinese classics Journey to the West, which was written
on the basis of his stories. The Chinese people have enriched Buddhism
in the light of Chinese culture and developed some special Buddhist
thoughts. Moreover, they also helped Buddhism spread from China to
Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and beyond.

There are three main issues regarding cultural exchange and mutual
learning. First, as the origins of war are from human ideology, it is
imperative to nurture the ideas of protection and peace. Second, as
how civilization is enriched and flourishes, it is vital to have exchanges
and mutual learning to promote the improvement of humanity and the
peaceful development of the world. Third, to allow culture to become
the motivation for human improvement in order to promote creative
transformation and the innovative development in the Chinese culture.

In 1987, twenty exquisite pieces of colored glaze were excavated
at the underground chamber of Famen Temple in China's Shaanxi
Province. These East Roman and Islamic relics were brought into China
during the Tang Dynasty. Marveling at these exotic relics, I thought hard
and concluded that as we approach the world’s different civilizations,
we should not limit ourselves to just admiring the exquisiteness of
the objects involved. Rather, we should try to learn and appreciate the
cultural significance behind them. Instead of satisfying ourselves with
their artistic presentation of people's life in the past, we should do our
best to breathe new life into their inherent spirit.

The Chinese dream will be realized through balanced development
and mutual reinforcement of material and cultural progress. As China
continues to make economic and social progress, the Chinese civilization
will keep pace with the times and acquire greater vitality.

In recent years, if we were to compare Confucianism, Buddhism, and
Taoism in their respective representations of traditional Chinese culture,
the development of Buddhism could be said to be better. It has gradually
become one of the most important elements for the revitalization of
Chinese culture. In the new century, Chinese Buddhism has increasingly
established cultural awareness and has proactively ventured into the
mighty torrent of creative transformation and innovative development of
Chinese culture.

Napoleon Bonaparte once compared China to a "sleeping lion" and
served that "when she wakes she will shake the world." Now China the
lion has awakened, but it is a peaceful, amicable, and civilized lion. But
even more fundamental is the revival of Chinese culture, a journey and a
responsibility shouldered by Chinese Buddhism.

── from Phoenix Satellite Television's Broadcast of Xi Jinping’s Speeches

References:
《獻給旅行者們365日──中華文化佛教寶典》365 Days for Travelers: Wisdom from Chinese Literary and Buddhist Classics 
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