In the vast territory of China, ancient ideas are like ancient rivers that have a long history.
Mencius once said that Shun was born in Zhufeng, moved to Xia, and died in Mingtiao, and he was a native of Dongyi, while King Wen was born in Qizhou and died in Biying, and they were people from Xiyi.
Although these ancient place names have been blurred in the long river of history, the regional concepts they contain are like ancient inscriptions, deeply engraved in the hearts of the Chinese.
China's territory is vast, and the five ethnic groups and one family are all Chinese land, and they are all Chinese. However, in the Spring and Autumn Period, the boundaries between east, south, west and north were extremely strict, and this strict regional concept was like an insurmountable chasm in people's hearts. This kind of concept not only existed in the past, but even today, it is still quietly taking root in some places and in the hearts of some people.
People who have traveled far and wide may be more deeply aware of the existence of this regional concept. In a given area, people may experience discrimination because of their "sense of place". For example, southerners look down on northerners and call them "nephews", while northerners look down on southerners and call them "barbarians". This kind of discrimination, although it may seem small, is like a sharp thorn that pierces deep into people's hearts.
However, when the nation is invaded by external forces, we can
Unanimous and very united.
This sense of place seems to have become insignificant at this moment. However, when seeking internal governance and construction, this kind of regional concept often leads to many unnecessary disputes, and even affects the construction and progress of the entire country.
The concept of region is a characteristic of human beings, and perhaps from the standpoint of a patriarchal society, it has the legitimacy of its existence. However, from the standpoint of nation-state unity, this is undoubtedly a malaise. Although this ill is not obvious in daily life, its impact cannot be ignored.
We look back at history and can see
Shun and King Wen
Although they come from different regions, they are all great sages who govern the country. Their ambition is not because they became officials or emperors, but because they can carry out their great ambition to save the world and help people without being limited by the concept of geographical region. This gives us a profound revelation:
We should transcend the constraints of place-based concepts and look at the world and others from a broader perspective.
In modern society, we should abandon this concept of regional discrimination and treat everyone with an equal and fair attitude. No matter where he comes from, no matter what his background, we should give him equal respect and opportunities. Only in this way can we build a more harmonious and inclusive society.