Philosophical foundations of traditional chinese cultural values

This article explores the philosophical foundation of Chinese traditional values and their internal structure, based on four main philosophical traditions: Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and Legalism. The article argues that the Chinese value system is not the product of a single philosophy, but was formed through the historical development via the interaction and synthesis of various philosophical resources. Confucianism established the basic framework for social organization through ethical relations and moral consciousness; Daoism, by understanding harmony with nature and the integrity of the cosmos, added flexibility and the principle of scale to the value system; Buddhism deepened the spiritual dimension of values through reflections on the nature of the human soul, desires, and the meaning of life; Legalism provided practical support to the value system through institutions, authority, and norms, enabling the implementation of principles in social organization and state governance. These four philosophical schools support the structure of meaning in Chinese culture from different perspectives: ethics, human nature, the cosmos, and institutions, and through their interaction, a stable and adaptive value system was formed. Studying this multifaceted philosophical foundation helps deepen our understanding of Chinese social behavior patterns, contemporary organizational principles, and political culture.