Holism in the Traditional Chinese value system and its Modern Transformation

Holism is both a basic tendency of traditional Chinese culture and an important principle of traditional value system. It is rooted in social structure on one hand, and it is a theoretical self formation on other. It is based on division and union of human beings as a group and an individual and related with human pursuit after meaning and transcendence. Therefore, holism not only based on the human dependence of pre-modern society but also possessed widespread social psychological foundation. Due to restriction of historical conditions, modern enlightenment in China bears incompleteness in criticism of and reflection over holism.