Principle of Equality in Chinese Culture

Discussion

Ma Rong:

"Chinese civilization advocates the principles of "do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you" and "respect others' elders as you do to your own, and care for others' children as you do to your own." However, the fact that it does not emphasize individualism does not mean that it does not have the concept of equality. The Chinese concept of equality is reflected both in exchanges with other cultures and groups and in respect for the diversity of traditions and local cultures of different ethnic groups within the country.

For example, property inheritance in the Central Plains was based on the equalization of male heirs, rather than on the primogeniture system of European or Japanese societies. In fact, the Chinese did not have the stereotype of family heredity as in the European society but had the belief that "the ruler is a boat, and the people are water. Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it." Not only could the imperial lineage be changed, but also the people and scholars could accept rulers from different ethnic groups of the country who would respect and inherit the Chinese culture, and the nobility was not entitled to wealth forever. As the sayings go, "The benefits brought by the merits of a gentleman will go no further than five generations of his descendants." "Were the nobles and dignitaries born noble? Many would doubt that."

Taking another example, in Chinese dynastic history, the main channel for selecting the best and brightest talent was the imperial examination system, which was open to all subjects. The French Enlightenment thinker Voltaire was so appreciative of China's imperial examination system that he once commented, "Only those talents selected through many levels of rigorous examinations can enter government offices ... it is impossible to envision a better government than this." Voltaire believed the system of imperial examination reflected the spirit of equality more than the hereditary system of titles that was adopted in European countries."

(https://deepchina.substack.com/p/three-perspectives-for-an-in-depth)