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From Datong (great Unity) to Common Prosperity: the Evolution of Confucian Ideals in Contemporary Chinese Governance

Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study analyzes the evolution of the Confucian concept of Datong (Great Unity) and its influence on China’s contemporary Common Prosperity strategy. The research is based on a historical-comparative method, discourse analysis of Confucian texts (Liji, Shijing), and an analysis of modern Chinese government documents. This approach allows for tracing the transformation of Datong within Chinese political thought and assessing its practical application in the country’s socio-economic policies. The novelty of the study lies in its examination of the connection between traditional Confucian concepts and China’s modern socio-economic strategies. Particular attention is paid to how classical philosophy adapts to the realities of socialist modernization and how it is integrated into the country's state ideology. The primary objective of this research is to identify similarities and differences between Datong, Xiaokang (Moderate Prosperity), and Common Prosperity, assess their practical implementation, and evaluate the impact of traditional ideology on China’s state policy. The findings of the study indicate that the concept of Common Prosperity incorporates elements of Datong, such as social justice and wealth redistribution. However, unlike the utopian ideal, Common Prosperity maintains a market economy and state regulation, making it a pragmatic policy rather than a purely ideological construct. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the evolution of Chinese political philosophy, demonstrating how China’s governance system integrates historical ideological concepts into its modern socio-economic development strategies.
DOI: 10.63051/kos.2025.1.34
Authors: Asel Bayram, Dinara Dauyen
Language: English
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4410450306
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