Out with the Old and in with the New

The idea originated in The Book of Changes. "Ge signifies doing away with the old; ding symbolizes setting up the new," reads the full quote. It stresses the importance of timely changes to foster progress and social advancement. The ancient Chinese believed that the only constant in the universe was change. Thus, men should understand the law of the universe and adapt to changes to strive for innovation. This explains to a certain extent how the Chinese civilization has maintained strong resilience and vitality for so long.

A pioneering and enterprising spirit, which is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture, has provided an inexhaustible source of strength and vitality for Chinese civilization. Such a spirit is reflected in many historic changes through national reforms and social progress. Prime examples include the reforms of Shangyang (390-338 B.C.) and the Revolution of 1911. In contemporary China, the nation maintains the tradition by deepening reform and opening up, which has created many miracles of development. The idea of "out with the old, in with the new" has become a quintessential cultural trait of Chinese civilization.

革故鼎新

革故鼎新出自《周易·雜卦》，原文是“革，去故也；鼎，取新也”。“革”是除去舊事物，“鼎”是建立新事物。“革故鼎新”意指破舊立新，推動事物發展和社會進步，其核心是適時變革、去舊更新。中國古人認為，永恒變化是宇宙萬物存在的基本狀態，因此應把握規律，適應變化， 推動創新。這正是中華文明保持強大韌性和生命力的一個重要原因。

從古至今，中華文明之所以歷久彌新、生生不息，就是因為它在堅持傳統的同時，保持銳意進取的態度，與時俱進、開拓創新。中國歷史上的商鞅變法、辛亥革命等，都是以破舊立新的改革精神探尋國家變革與社會進步之路，推動了歷史的發展。當代中國秉承革故鼎新的精神，深化改革、擴大開放，創造了發展奇跡。革故鼎新已經成為中華文明永恒的精神氣質。