“Across the tides of history, many civilizations have faded into dust, yet Chinese culture endures—not through conquest, but through resilience, harmony, and reflection.”
With these words, Dr. San-Pao Li opened his lecture Exploring Chinese Culture, hosted by the Irvine Book Club on November 5.
He traced how Chinese civilization renews itself—from the harmony of Heaven and Man, to the moral strength of scholars, and a forward-looking cultural spirit.
Heaven in Harmony All Things as One
Dr. Li explained that Chinese philosophy begins with coexistence between humanity and nature.
Unlike the Western notion of divine creation, the Chinese believed that all things arise naturally and endlessly — “From the Infinite comes the Great Ultimate; from the Great Ultimate come the Two Forces.”
This idea of oneness with nature fostered balance and endurance. “Chinese culture is never static,” he said. “It flows — and because it flows, it endures.”
Cultivating Virtue Governing by Culture
China, he noted, is the only civilization ruled for centuries by scholars.The imperial exam made learning the key to governance and morality, shaping a people who value education and ethics.
“The greatness of China lies in moral strength,” he said. “Its weakness lies in moral rigidity.” For him, the Confucian path of self-cultivation, family order, and harmony under Heaven united intellect and virtue as one civilizational axis.
Family as Nation Filial Piety Through Time
Dr. Li described how China centers on the family as its moral and social core.
“Filial piety is not just love for parents,” he said, “but a belief that binds the living and the dead into one community.”This “family-as-nation” ideal brought stability yet limited individuality and reform.
He cited foot-binding as an example — once a symbol of grace, later a mark of constraint. “Cultural continuity,” he reminded, “sometimes comes at the cost of diversity.”
Stillness and Motion Art as Self-Cultivation
Turning to aesthetics, Dr. Li compared East and West: “Western art values form and perspective; Chinese art breathes rhythm and space.
The highest beauty is unspoken; the greatest power unseen.”
He called calligraphy “a reflection of the Chinese soul — soft yet strong, still yet alive.”
“Every stroke is discipline in motion,” he said. “Calligraphy is not just writing– it is cultivation.”
Bridging Eras Wisdom in Creation
On science and civilization, Dr. Li cited British scholar Joseph Needham, who in Science and Civilisation in China praised the four great inventions — gunpowder, the compass, paper, and printing — yet asked:
Why did such a brilliant tradition never produce modern science?
Dr. Li answered, “It wasn’t a lack of intellect, but a cultural choice. Chinese science sought harmony, not domination — the wisdom of doing, not just saying.”
He also highlighted Ming scholar Song Ying-xing and his Tiangong Kaiwu (The Exploitation of the Works of Nature), the world’s first encyclopedia of technology.
“Song observed the world with a craftsman’s eye and a humanist heart,” he said.
“From Needham to Song, the lesson is the same: Science is not to conquer nature, but to understand it.”
Tested by Hardship Reborn Through Strength
Dr. Li identified three forces behind China’s endurance: a strong sense of nationhood, the spirit of perseverance, and the will to overcome nature.
“From flood control to medicine,” he said, “China is a civilization born from struggle. History made us suffer — but it also taught us to rise again.”
Renewing the Ancient Uniting East and West
In closing, Dr. Li urged, “To move forward, Chinese culture must keep its roots but transform its form — preserving moral values while embracing freedom and innovation.”
Obedience once ensured survival, he said, but renewal now requires courage and openness.
“The greatness of Chinese culture lies not in its age, but in its ability to change. Maturity is not conquest — it is understanding.”
Quoting the yin-yang principle, he added,“In black there is white, in white there is black; true wisdom is not opposition, but coexistence.”
His closing words drew a long moment of silence, then warm applause.Many attendees stayed behind to ask questions, moved by his insight and clarity.
Irvine Book Club President Rose concluded,“We’re deeply honored to have Dr. San-Pao Li share his profound understanding of Chinese civilization.”
The energy in the room shows how much his words resonated.We look forward to welcoming him again — to continue this dialogue of culture, wisdom, and light.
Profile ：
Professor San-Pao Li graduated from Tunghai University in Taiwan and went to the United States in 1966.
He earned a master’s degree in East Asian Studies from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in History from the University of California, Davis.
He has taught at major U.S. universities and later chaired Asian and Asian American Studies at Cal State Long Beach, advancing Chinese culture and global education for over four decades.
His research centers on modern Chinese thought, especially 19th-century reformer Kang Youwei. A skilled calligrapher, he remains active in promoting Chinese culture after retirement.