Ancient Chinese Eco-Environmental Philosophy
The Chinese nation respects and loves nature, and preserves harmony between humanity and nature. The 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization has an abundance of ideas about nature and the environment. Philosophical views abounded such as "unity of humanity and nature" and "observance of the laws of nature"; farming and husbandry experience such as "follow the timing and adapt to geographical conditions, and there will be more success with less effort"; popular verses such as "never shoot the birds on branches, as their hungry nestlings are waiting for them to bring back food"; and family mottos such as "when eating, one should know that food does not come easily; when wearing clothes, one should remember that even a thread is made with great effort." These views about nature are all simple, but very insightful.
The ancient Chinese classic Laozi contained well-known sayings about the laws of nature: Man patterns himself on the operation of the earth; the earth patterns itself on the operation of heaven; heaven patterns itself on the operation of Dao; Dao patterns itself on what is nature. The contemporary Chinese axioms – follow the laws of nature, have more natural restoration and less human interference, and apply bio-measures, farming techniques and engineering methods to restore the original eco-environment of rivers and address both symptoms and root causes – all come from the ancient belief that humanity should follow the laws of nature.
The ancient Chinese philosophy also talked about the relationship between opening up the source and regulating the flow, and between protecting resources and developing the economy. It held maintaining rational development and proper utilization of natural resources. The idea of taking from nature at the proper time and to the proper extent has inspired contemporary China to address today's problems and achieve harmony between humanity and nature. Traditional ideas are closely relevant to our respect of nature today.
中国古代生态智慧
中华民族向来尊重自然、热爱自然，追求人与自然和谐共生。绵延5000多年的中华文明积淀着丰富的生态智慧和生态文化。“天人合一”“道法自然”的哲理思想，“顺天时，量地利，则用力少而成功多”的农牧经验，“劝君莫打枝头鸟，子在巢中望母归”的经典诗句，“一粥一饭，当思来处不易；半丝半缕，恒念物力维艰”的治家格言，都蕴含着质朴睿智的自然观。
比如，中国传统哲学中以万物顺应自然规律生长为“天文”“地文”，《老子》中的名言：“人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然”，这个“自然”，就是指自然规律。当代中国顺应自然，坚持自然修复为主，减少人为扰动，把生物措施、农艺措施与工程措施结合起来，袪滞化淤，固本培元，恢复河流生态环境等，就是从中国自古以来顺应自然的观念中提升出来的举措。
再比如，中国古代哲学中常常谈到节流开源、保护资源与经济发展的关系，主张合理利用、合理开发自然资源。这种对自然取之以时、取之有度的思想，对当今中国解决好人与自然和谐共生的问题具有深刻的现实意义。中华传统文明的滋养，为当代中国开启了尊重自然、面向未来的智慧之门。