By Qin Xiaoying

Some new cultural phenomena are becoming increasingly prevalent today. For want of a better word, this author would like to define them as the "trends of neo-classicism."

Careful observation shows that more and more people are, for example, reading articles on Confucius' Analects, books offering a modern interpretation of the classic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and also works dealing with China's 5,000-year recorded history.

Meanwhile, scholars and researchers are pointing their fingers at "cultural fast food", claiming its superficiality will do endless damage to society and the younger generation.

This author predicts that this "neo-classicism" will spread from the fields of historical studies and literature into music and architecture.

This would likely break the current monopoly of Western architectural styles in China today and, in turn, allow for more Chinese styles to make their presence felt on the country's architectural landscape.

This prediction may be borne out by two landmark architectural events.

One is the renovation of the National Museum, which is slated for completion in 2010, and is expected to attract attention both in China and internationally.

The second comes in 2020 when the revamped Forbidden City will present itself to the world. Its renewed grandeur is certain to have a major impact.

Why, in the context of China's rapid economic and scientific progress, are the Chinese starting to look back into their history, ancestry and antiquity with such great interest?

Does this conflict with importing the latest economic ideas and concepts from Western advanced countries and with learning from the world's outstanding cultural accomplishments? In a word, is the rise of this kind of "neo-classicism" good or bad?

To begin with, the rise of this trend has its roots in the public's desire for moral force, conscience and credibility.

In view of this, the trend towards "neo-classicism" does not go against the market economy, but cancels out some negative impacts that accompany the introduction of a market-economy system.

It will also dilute the materialistic desires that are bred by ever-busier economic activities and reconstruct the values and ethical code rooted in the core of Chinese civilization.

In view of all this, "neo-classicism" is expected to make a positive contribution towards the construction of a harmonious society.

"Neo-classicism" also heals social traumas. French writer Romain Roland once remarked that fine cultural legacies are like mountain peaks. We should climb up there to get fresh air, getting refreshed before plunging ourselves back into the rigors of everyday life.

His words mean that fine cultural legacies elevate people's spirits and raise their inner world to a new height. What humanity's spiritual forces can do is best illustrated by the Confucian teaching: "In the morning, hear the way. In the evening, die content."

"Neo-classicism" can serve a number of purposes, such as raising people's cultural level and offering some relief to the psychologically overburdened.

This author thinks of two things while pondering over the significance of the rise of "neo-classicism."

One was the "Classic Chinese Prose Movement", which was launched by Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan, both Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) literary masters. Taken at face value, the movement seems to have been aimed at restoring the free prose styles in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). In essence, however, it was a movement to free people's minds.

The other was the Renaissance. The Europeans seemed to be returning to the past. But actually they were creating new things. Eventually, man emerged victorious over god.

History is our "common childhood".

Everyone gets nostalgic at the mention of his or her childhood. Why? This is because childhood is marked by honesty, innocence, purity and simplicity. There are no ideas of money and rank.

Doesn't pursuing one's childhood mean reflecting upon one's more sophisticated years as an adult? Doesn't this mean one's thirst for honesty and harmony?

The author is a researcher from the China Foundation for International & Strategic Studies.

(China Daily April 21, 2007)