Beijing Review: History Unfolds Eternal Truths

BEIJING, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2026 edition of the Hehe Culture Forum opened in Tiantai County, Zhejiang Province, on October 27. The term "Hehe" combines two Chinese characters meaning "harmony" and "cooperation," respectively. Participants from 23 countries gathered in Tiantai, known as a meeting point of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, to explore how and why Hehe culture remains relevant today.

The forum's mission to revisit traditional wisdom for today's world echoes a famous observation from Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) philosopher Gong Zizhen: "From facts of the past rise laws eternal. Only through in-depth study of history can one comprehend the laws that govern its course." It means that to understand the fundamental laws governing the world and why a nation has developed along a particular path, we must first read and learn about that nation's history.

In May 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping quoted this remark during a group study session of the Political Bureau of the 19th Communist Party of China Central Committee focusing on the history of the Chinese civilization. It underlines the importance of seeking truth from facts in studying the history of the Chinese nation and promoting the best of traditional Chinese culture.

The Chinese people cherish their history and traditional culture through deeds rather than words alone. In recent years, China has carried out its fourth national survey of cultural heritage and achieved key progress. The newly revised Law on Cultural Relics Protection entered into force in 2025. Major initiatives, including a project to trace the origins of the Chinese civilization, have yielded new findings. Historical traces scattered across China are being systematically organized and preserved, laying a solid groundwork for cultural innovation in contemporary China.

A wide array of cultural heritage has not only shaped China, but also deepened global understanding of the Chinese civilization. The Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital and the Xixia Imperial Tombs were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Traditional tea-processing techniques and associated social practices as well as the Chinese Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) joined the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2022 and 2024, respectively. A growing number of cultural icons are serving as "national envoys," showcasing the wisdom of a time-honored civilization.

For China, history is more than memories of the past; it offers an important lens for understanding the present and envisioning the future. Reflecting on shared historical events to appreciate the achievements of diverse civilizations helps people from different cultural backgrounds find points of resonance, as well as provides a shared foundation for countries to rise above ideological divides and conduct inclusive dialogue.

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