Abstract:

“Harmony of man and nature” is an outstanding achievement of ancient Chinese epistemology. Transforming it from a philosophical proposition into “Harmony is precious” in the political and legal practice of governing the country, and planning and arranging it in terms of legal concepts and systems, reflects the political wisdom and practical experience of the wise ministers and monarchs in ancient Chinese society. Beginning with a discussion of the relationship between “Harmony of man and nature” and “Harmony is precious”, this paper investigates the origins, connotations, evolution, and practice of the concept of harmony between man and nature. This includes the concept’s institutional embodiment in the Chinese legal system. Several traditional Chinese legal expressions value harmony, such as the preference for limiting, ceesing, and even barring litigation, the fusion of etiquette and law, and other ancient judicial practices. This paper posits that national concepts such as “Harmony of man and nature” and “Harmony is precious” still exert significant influence over the process of building a country under the rule of law in China.

Key words: harmony of man and nature, harmony is precious, governance, chinese traditional legal culture