Nestled in the lush landscape of Zhejiang Province, where mountains meet sea in perfect harmony, the city of Taizhou has long been a cradle of Hehe Culture. For centuries, this region has embodied the Chinese ideal of harmony but not uniformity and unity between heaven and humanity. Now, it is cultivating a unique spiritual ecology where ancient wisdom breathes through modern life.  

The 2025 Hehe Culture Forum, held in Taizhou from October 31 to November 2, has brought the ancient philosophy into contemporary global dialogue. Hehe is phrase formed by combining two homophonic Chinese characters, with the first denoting peace and harmony and the second cooperation and integration. 

This year’s forum is themed Hehe Culture and Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations. 

The opening ceremony saw addresses from prominent Chinese and international figures. Zhao Cheng, a senior official from Zhejiang, framed Hehe Culture not as a historical relic but as a momentum for development. He emphasized how the culture’s principles of inclusiveness and mutual assistance provide vital guidance for international relations in an increasingly divided world, enabling nations to find common ground while respecting differences. 

Chang Bo, President of China International Communications Group (CICG), positioned Hehe as practical wisdom actively shaping China’s approach to modernization, noting that CICG will use the forum as a platform to enhance global understanding of this important philosophy. 

The contemporary relevance of this ancient wisdom was further emphasized by Li Zhihui, Director of the Overseas Promotion Bureau under the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, who presented Hehe Culture as a timely antidote to zero-sum thinking and a foundation for genuine multilateralism in global governance. 

Shen Mingquan, Secretary of the CPC Taizhou Committee, detailed how the Hehe gene informs local initiatives in sustainable economics, ecological preservation, and community governance, becoming a tangible driver of the city’s progress and quality of life. 

The international dimension of the forum was highlighted by Thun Vathana, Second Vice President of the Senate of Cambodia, who spoke of the deep, centuries-old ties between Cambodia and China. He affirmed that the Hehe principle of “seeking harmony in diversity” offers essential guidance for navigating today’s global divisions and building bridges between civilizations. 

An important moment came with the appointment of Pino Arlacchi, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General, as a Hehe Culture ambassador. Arlacchi expressed his commitment to leveraging Hehe principles to foster international cooperation on peace and sustainable development, noting that this ancient Chinese wisdom offers valuable guidance for human progress. 

The forum also saw the release of the International Communication Report on Hehe Culture by the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies. The study reveals growing international recognition and appreciation for Hehe values, showing deepened understanding, diversified communication channels, and increasing audience engagement worldwide. 

A hub of Hehe Culture, Taizhou has been a place of cultural confluence. 

Just outside the Guoqing Temple at Tiantai Mountain in Taizhou stands the Hanshi Pavilion, a structure commemorating the monumental friendship between Han Shan, the renowned Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet, and Shi De, the esteemed Buddhist monk. Their deep bond embodied the Hehe ideal of “harmony as the supreme virtue” and they were revered as the incarnation of Hehe Culture, creating a legacy that would resonate through millennia. 

Then, during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, tea from Tiantai Mountain began its quiet journey along the Silk Road, subtly inspiring tea traditions in Japan and Korea. This was perhaps one of the earliest chances that Hehe—the Chinese philosophy of harmony and cooperation—reached distant shores long before the world spoke of globalization. 

Much later, in 1997, the quiet wisdom of this region would find an unexpected voice abroad. American author Charles Frazier opened his celebrated novel Cold Mountain with a line from poet Han: “Men ask the way to Cold Mountain. Cold Mountain: There’s no through trail.” The line encapsulates the hopeless longing of the novel’s hero for a life of happiness. Without naming the philosophy explicitly, the book strikes a profound chord with readers across the ocean and demonstrating the universal appeal of the ancient wisdom. 

Now, serving as the permanent venue of the five-year-old Hehe Culture Forum, Taizhou continues to promote cultural exchanges. As the forum continues to grow, it embodies a continuous practice of pluralism and inclusive development.  

(Reporting from Zhejiang Province) 

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon 

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