- Cited in "Speech at UNESCO Headquarters", etc

■Interpretation

"Harmony without difference" is a basic attitude of the Chinese in dealing with "relationship issues": harmony, but not seeking unity. This old saying from "Zuo Chuan" also talks about this problem. Just like cooking soup, water, fire, salt, vinegar, soy sauce, etc., must be present to make good fish and meat; Just like playing music, the instrument, the player, the feelings, the melody, and the lyrics must all be present in order to complement each other. Now there are more than 200 countries and regions, more than 2,500 nationalities and many religions in the world. Who wants to live in such a monotonous place if there is only one way of life, only one language, only one kind of music, and only one kind of clothing? Comrade Xi Jinping also quoted the French writer Victor Hugo: The widest thing in the world is the ocean, wider than the ocean is the sky, and wider than the sky is the human mind. He used this sentence to illustrate that in dealing with different civilizations, we need to be broader than the sky, seek wisdom and nourishment from different civilizations, provide spiritual support and spiritual comfort for people, and work together to solve various challenges faced by mankind.

■Original text

The Marquis of Qi went to Zitian, and Yan Zi served in the 遄 (chuá

Taiwan, the son is still galloping and making. Gong said: "Only with me and my husband!" Yan Zi said: "According to the same thing, how can it be peaceful?" Gong said: "What is the difference between harmony and similarity?" He said, "Different." 和如羹焉, 水火醯 (xī) 醢 (hǎi) salt plum to cook fish meat, (chǎ

Salary. …… Not today. The so-called yes, according to the law, can also; The so-called no, according to the same no. If water is used for water, who can eat it? Who can listen to it? The same cannot be true. ”

——(Spring and Autumn) Zuo Qiu Ming "Zuo Chuan: Twenty Years of Zhao Gong"

■Definition

The "according to" in the above refers to the Liangqiu of the Qi State in the Spring and Autumn Period. Liang Qiu is good at figuring out Qi Jinggong's thoughts, and never dares to slack off on the affairs of Qijing Public Transport, and always works hard, so he is deeply appreciated by Qi Jinggong. Yan Zi, the doctor of Qi State, regarded him as a "social rat" (a rat in the temple of the society, referring to a dangerous person who endangers the country and society). In the dialogue between Qi Jinggong and Yan Zi, Yan Zi criticized Liang Qiu for being able to agree but not being able to reconcile: if the monarch thinks it is okay, Liang Qiu also says that it can; If the monarch thinks it is not possible, Liang Qiu also says that it is not possible. Then, Yan Zi used two metaphors, "If water is used to help water, who can eat it?" Who can listen to it? "Meaning, if you use water to add flavor to water, who can drink it? If it's just a piano or a seer, who can listen to it? And concluded: "The same cannot be the same." ”

"Harmony" and "same" are very similar on the surface, but they are very different in substance. "Same" is absolute unanimity, neither change nor diversity, so it represents monotony, dullness and dead silence. "And" such as "and soup" (to flavor the soup), must be flavored. "Qin Se Zhuan" is the same, "Rites and Music" Kong Yingda Shuyun: "There is only one voice, and it cannot be happy." "The harmony of the qin and the sei can play beautiful music, so the "Book of Songs, Deer Song" said: "The drums and drums are harmonious and harmonious." ”