Great Virtue Accommodates All Things

The idea of virtue accommodating all things originated  in The Book of Changes. "The earth is generous and peaceful, and similarly, a man of virtue should have ample virtue and accommodate all things," it reads. This means that the earth, being generous and peaceful, sustains all things. Men of virtue should model themselves after the earth by caring for all things and fellow human beings with an open heart and virtues. The idea demonstrates the Chinese outlook on self-cultivation and social interaction. It instructs people to cultivate virtues of gen- erosity, broad-mindedness, and mildness, respect differences and diversity, and seek harmony in relationships with others and society.

Alongside the notion of continuous efforts to strengthen oneself, it constitutes a fundamental trait of the Chinese nation which was fully embodied in pursuits of change and openness during the reform and opening up in contemporary China.

厚德載物

厚德載物出自《周易·坤卦·象傳》，原文是“地勢坤，君子以厚德載物”。意為大地寬廣和順、涵養萬物，君子為人處世應像大地一樣，以博大寬厚的德行包容萬物。厚德載物體現了中國人自身修養與社會交往的信念追求。在中國人看來，一個人應修養自身德行，培養寬厚、包容、柔和的道德品格，尊重不同、維持多元，與他人和社會和諧相處。

自強不息、厚德載物構成了中華民族精神的基本品格。當代中國改革開放的進程，集中體現了這樣的變革和開放精神。