Wisdom of Words: Selected Entries from Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Late Qing Dynasty

Author: Zhong Shaohua
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-10-01
Features: Books are not necessarily better the newer they are; people do not necessarily become more vibrant with age. This is why it is necessary to occasionally look back at history—such as reading good books that have not completely lost their relevance. (Chen Pingyuan) This book is part of the "Twentieth-Century Chinese Spiritual Life Series." Excerpt:
【One-Party Rule】In general terms, "one-party rule" refers to a situation where the entire region is under its jurisdiction, starting after the feudal system was replaced by the prefecture-county system, where the sovereign ruled over fragmented and isolated states. Broadly speaking, it also refers to a continuous lineage without any interruptions, such as political authority, moral tradition, or bloodline. It is now commonly used in academic contexts. Confucianism's "Great Unity" refers to the era.
【A Moment】Derived from Buddhist texts, it refers to an extremely short period of time. The scriptures state that "in one thought, there are ninety moments." Similarly, piercing ninety layers of paper with a sharp needle is considered one thought, and moments are divided accordingly. It is now a commonly used term for the swift passage of time.
【Monogamy】In modern Western civilizations, countries generally practice monogamy, prohibiting concubines. However, in Eastern countries, polygamy is still practiced. In fact, China has long banned polygamy, and in theory, it is monogamous. Yet, polygamy is common among women who remain steadfast. Western customs, though praised, often involve free divorce, leading to multiple partners at once or over a lifetime. It is unclear whether this is better or worse. Moreover, the Islamic faith, which advocates polygamy, has influenced millions in civilized and equal nations. John Stuart Mill, a staunch advocate of freedom, equality, and liberty, did not strongly oppose polygamy. Even the great German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer directly stated that the lack of moral superiority in Western women compared to Eastern women is due to gender equality.
【Right to Join an Association】The right to join an association refers to multiple individuals exercising rights over the same object through mutual agreement. Civil law also covers this, including rights to fishing, forestry, and other resources. For example, if a village has a forest owned by someone, but the villagers use it under certain conditions—such as collecting leaves or cutting grass—the owner becomes a co-owner. Thus, civil law's right of co-ownership already includes this, and no separate "right to join an association" is needed. This is because customs vary, and laws adapt accordingly. Although China has not formally recognized the term "right to join an association," its essence is fully present.
【Naturalization】China does not have a nationality law. Within the country, except for the same city, if someone resides in a different county and wishes to become a local, there is a process for naturalization. They must acquire property within the jurisdiction, apply to the local office, and register in the household register. Alternatively, those who have lived abroad for three generations may also be naturalized. However, this only grants the new nationality and does not allow renouncing the original one. As a result, it is common for one family to hold multiple nationalities.