Traditional Chinese Culture and the Construction of Ecological Civilization: From Cultural Genes to Practical Behaviors — Case Studies in Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism

Abstract

Traditional Chinese culture contains the thought of respecting nature and protecting the ecological environment, thus it is of theoretical and practical significance for the construction of ecological civilization in China. This paper uses textual analysis on the works from Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism to explain the cultural genes related to the harmonious development of man and nature, in addition to examining possibilities for adapting the cultural genes in the practice of ecological civilization construction. It concludes that by means of policy guidance and active adaptation, traditional Chinese culture can effectively realize its potential for ecological protection and be integrated into China’s ecological civilization construction.