Key Concepts in Chinese Thought and Culture constitutes the essence of what is considered the best of traditional Chinese culture. Accurately defining China’s core cultural concepts and better sharing Chinese way of thinking with the world are important means to promote China’s cultural exchanges with other countries. 

The purposes of this book series, Key Concepts in Chinese Thought and Culture project, undertaken by Beijing Foreign Studies University and its Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, are to select the concepts in Chinese thought and culture that reflect the characteristics of the country’s traditional culture and the Chinese people’s way of thinking, which embody the core values of China; objectively and accurately define the concepts in concise, easy-to-understand language; and encourage government offices, social organizations, and media outlets in China to use these concepts in international communication to tell China’s story well and effectively communicate what China has to say to keep the world better informed of China’s national conditions, history, and culture.