Integration was a very prominent feature of the civilizational process in prehistoric China, and has continued to be a dominant development characteristic of Chinese civilization across time. Archaeological discoveries and research over the past two decades have profoundly changed our understanding of the civilizational process in prehistoric China, and archaeology has become central to the exploration of the origins of Chinese civilization.

Trend of “unity in diversity”

“Unity in diversity” has been a long-standing trend in the development of Chinese civilization. Continuous integration has produced an enduring civilization of enormous size, which is very rare in the history of human civilization. Among notable breakthroughs in archaeological research over the past two to three decades is the recognition that “diversity” indeed existed in the civilizational process in prehistoric China. The beginning of the Neolithic Age witnessed the prelude to cultural differentiation, leading to the formation of multiple centers of civilizational development.

The civilizational process in prehistoric China can be divided into three distinct stages: differentiation, integration, and unification. Differentiation and integration occurred at the same time, while the main trend varied from one period to another. Typically, differentiation was succeeded by integration, and the pivotal moment occurred about 6,000 years ago when differentiation began to give way to integration. This pattern of development resulted from a mature ecosystem of primitive agrarian culture.

Around 6,000 years ago, there was a clear trend towards integration in the civilizational process, and China in the cultural sense began to take shape. From 6,000 to over 4,000 years ago, integration was accompanied by differentiation. The Central Plain, with its superior geographical location and better agricultural foundation, widely absorbed neighboring cultures in the process of integration, providing a solid foundation for later development towards unity in diversity.

Over 4,000 years ago, the civilizational process entered a radically new stage with the onset of the Bronze Age. This era saw a significant improvement in the organizational efficiency of social power, and the characteristics of civilizational diffusion became apparent. The development from the formation of agricultural societies to regional civilizations and eventually to a unified civilization reflects the gradual evolution of complex social organizations in prehistoric China and the integration of diverse regional civilizations.

Chinese civilization endures

There are three major systems in the history of human civilization: China, West Asia, and Central and South America. The American civilization emerged relatively late and was situated in a remote plateau area with high maintenance costs. The four civilizations that formed on the western side of the Eurasian continent, i.e. Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt, the Indus Valley Civilization, and ancient Greece, are often compared to China in terms of their ancientness. However, these four civilizations were not unified, and became increasingly fragmented over time.

Due to its unique natural and geographical conditions as well as effective social integration strategies, Chinese civilization began the process of integration marked by unity in diversity in the prehistoric era. This feature has been developed in various historical periods, endowing Chinese civilization with an integrative nature. The enormous scale of Chinese civilization has enabled it to endure and play the role of mainstay in a turbulent world.

Civilizational integration at all levels

Violence and war were common byproducts of both ethnic and cultural integration throughout history, and their scale and degree of brutality continued to expand as technology improved. Against this backdrop, we can find unique moral factors in the civilizational process in prehistoric China.

Political integration was accompanied by cultural integration. The Central Plain culture that emphasizes the fundamentals, secularity, and codes of etiquette became the dominant core idea and formed a rather inclusive culture. It embraced and endorsed the value that “all humans are my brothers and sisters, all creatures and things are my friends” when dealing with different cultures. Cultural integration has been present throughout Chinese history. The Central Plain culture has not been abandoned, but rather strengthened.

Civilizational integration is comprehensive and reflected in politics, cultural significance, and material heritage, ultimately forming a unified and stable structure, which is the Chinese civilization that we know today. The integrative nature of Chinese civilization has fundamentally ensured its enduring and strong vitality, of which we take great pride. This prominent feature will continue to play an important role today and even in the future, and the culturally inclusive Chinese civilization gives us hope in a chaotic world.

Chen Shengqian is a professor in the Department of Archeology and Museology in the School of History at RenMin University of China.