A Daoist Approach to Ecological Civilization

Ecological civilization, proposed by Hu Jintao of the CCP in 2007, is a future-oriented principle for scientific, social, and economic development, based on the high price paid for the economic miracle. It requires further exploration and refinement, especially from a Daoist perspective. Comments published in the China Daily have touched on three connotations: the relationship between humanity and nature, the cultural dimension, and nature as part of life. This paper criticizes them as an extension of mainstream meta-narrative, and proposes a Daoist Ecological Personhood identity, the only possible approach to actualize ecological civilization, in three steps: 1. Lifestyle promotion: Currently, messages from the government and mass media are in conflict. On the one hand living out an ecological life is taken as an ideal; on the other, the overwhelming tendency towards wealth accumulation and consumerism is prettified. The party should promote a saving life style. 2. Education reform: Currently the education reform is focused more on form than on the essence. From elementary education, a sense of empathetic understanding of the nature should be nurtured and reinforced. 3. Production guidance: Currently, domestic mass production is guided by the invisible hand of the “free market.” In fact, mass production is not value free. The government should provide guidance for mass production. With the listed steps and more, a context for ecological personhood identity can be established. And this is a very important grounding step for a ecozoic era.