Zhang Fanfan
Table of Contents:
I.The Concept and Connotation of Freshness
1．The Concept of Freshness
2．The Meanings and Foundations of the Twelve-Character Guiding Principles of Philosophy of Freshness
3．“True” and “Righteous” Freshness
4．“Vulgarity” Does Not Equal “Turpitude”
II.The Era Necessity of Freshness
1．The Voices of the People and the Requirements of the Times
2．The Urgent Need for Freshness to Adapt to Social Development
3．The Philosophy of Freshness Embodies a Deeper Humanistic Truth
4．Traditional Ideological Theories Cannot Be Applied as Strategies for Governing a Country
III.Carriers of Freshness
1．Fresh Corporate Culture
2．Fresh Lifestyle
3．Nine-Palace Dragon: The Identification Symbol of the Philosophy of Freshness
IV.Prominent Features of Freshness
1．Pursuing the All-Round Development of Individuals and Resolutely Resisting Deformed Development
2．Pursuing the Common Development of Society
3．Pursuing Innovation and Opposing Conservatism
4．The Combination of Hardness and Softness
5．Pursuing “Following the Natural Course” and “the Unity of Man and Nature”
6．The Harmonious Unity of Richness and Clarity
7．Opposing Formal Refinement Detached from Content
8．Universal Applicability: not Limited by Region or Time
V.Effective Practical Approaches to the Philosophy of Freshness
1．Promote the Philosophy of Freshness Nationwide
2．Regularly Organize Various Series of Activities on Freshness
3．Create and Promote Theme Songs on Freshness
4．Establish a Sound Business Order through a Fresh Corporate Culture
5．Establish Freshness Academies in Countries Around the World
6．Promote the Strategy of Fresh Governance for Adoption by Countries Worldwide
The Following Text
Thought is power, and theory is weapon. Truth can stand up to thousands upon thousands of troops, just like using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds. Looking back at history, among many theories, some are confined to a single field and lack systematicness; some have a short time-effect and are difficult to last; others are restricted to specific regions and cannot be universally applied globally. Contemporary world is in urgent need of a scientific core philosophy, which can not only serve as a governance strategy, but also has no limitations of specific political systems and national systems, so that all countries in the world can realize the integration. Nowadays, many people are lacking in spiritual beliefs, have an incomplete temperament, and are ideologically empty. Mankind needs a new philosophy to remedy the imbalance of civilization. However, referring to it as a “new philosophy” idea is too general and vague, lacking specific profound meaning. Therefore, it is necessary to add a character before “new” for limitation. Not all new things are good; only the “new” limited by “purity” is good and is an unceasing truth. Just “freshness”(qingxin) consists of “purity” (qing) and “new”(xin)，so there is no more accurate word than “purity” to represent the core of the excellent theories and common spiritual pursuit. It can be said that “freshness” is the word of a heaven-chosen choice. To arm the people with the theory of freshness is an important strategic choice to realize the revival of civilization and global unity.
Law is the bottom line of morality, and those without a sense of morality are even more lacking in legal awareness. Since ancient times, the way of governance has lied in attaching equal importance to morality and law, and combining rigidity with flexibility. The two complement each other and are indispensable. Rule by morality guides citizens to abide by the law consciously, effectively reducing the burden on the rule of law and lowering governance costs. The law reflects heteronomy, and morality advocates self-discipline, which echoes the governance wisdom of the philosophy of freshness of combining rigidity with flexibility. Both moral governance and the rule of law should be fresh. Only when the two are combined can we maintain social order and promote fairness and justice. Any traditional ideology needs to innovate and develop with the times, and cannot be simply copied. The philosophy of freshness adheres to the equal emphasis on morality and law, inherits tradition and innovates constantly. It is a vital theoretical system.
Thought directs action. The reason why people do evil is that there is something wrong with their thinking. Solving ideological problems solves all problems. The humanistic environment shapes philosophy， just as the natural environment determines survival. When the water is turbid, the fish die; when the humanistic environment is foul, people perish. A fresh natural and humanistic environment are the necessities for human survival and development.
On February 22, 2003, My article The Fresh School of Literature in My Mind was published, in which I put forward the concept of “Fresh School Literature” for the first time, which later developed into the concept of “Fresh Culture.” After more than 20 years of theoretical exploration and practical summary, a relatively systematic and complete The Theory of Freshness has gradually taken shape.
I.The Concept and Connotation of Freshness
1．The Concept of Freshness
On “purity” (qing):
“Freshness”(qingxin) consists of “purity” (qing) and “new”(xin). “Purity” is the essence and core of Chinese traditional philosophies, and also the common meaning of the beliefs of all mankind. “Purity” extracted from traditional philosophies, absorbs the essence of “purity” from various global ideologies and represents a common realm pursued by them all.
Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism together constitute the main soul of the Chinese people’s beliefs and literary and artistic spirit, and have a profound impact on their thoughts and behaviors. Taoism advocates tranquility, and establishes the theory of “Three Purities”; Confucianism advocates being a person of “purity and uprightness”; Buddhism pursues coolness, tranquility, and the purity of the three karmas.
Christianity teaches people to be pure in heart. In the Bible, qing means purity. Jesus stated in the “Sermon on the Mount” in the Bible: “Blessed are the pure in heart.” “Pure in heart” refers not only to a clean soul, but also to pure, sincere, and kind thoughts, emotions, and desires, as well as humility, selflessness and innocence. Islam is also known as the Qingzhen religion. It is recorded in the Hadith that “cleanliness is half of faith”: maintaining the purity of the body and the heart is regarded as an important part of faith. Various beliefs around the world aim to purify the soul and regulate behavior, all containing a common pursuit of “purity”. They use methods such as repentance, observing precepts, self-cultivation and self-reflection to achieve a fresh state.
Most of the connotations of the philosophy of freshness are most similar to the native Taoist thought. The Dao De Jing says that “Heaven is pure by one.” “If heaven were not pure, it might split;” “Tranquility and purity are the rectitude of the world.” “Heaven is pure by one.” Here, “pure” represents the inherent state of the universe’s operation: limpid and orderly, while “the One” stands for “Tao”. This sentence can be interpreted in three ways. First, “Tao” is the fundamental condition for forming “pure”; “pure” is the purpose of heaven obtaining “Tao” and the manifestation of heaven; only by following the way of heaven can the state of “pure” be achieved; “pure” is the ultimate pursuit of heaven; “pure” is the result of Tao acting on heaven; “pure” is the way of heaven. Second, heaven attains the Tao through the method of “pure”: heaven can only attain the Tao (the fundamental principles and laws of the universe) through the channel of “pure” (the philosophy of freshness). Third, “the One” can also be interpreted as unification, meaning that heaven achieves the unification of the world and the convergence of all laws into purity through the method of “pure” (the philosophy of freshness). This sentence sufficiently reveals the important status of the philosophy of freshness: “pure” is the true state of the universe, the ideal realm of the soul, the highest criterion for governing the world, and the right path to guide society back to natural harmony; governors must follow the “pure” of the way of heaven to lead the world onto the right path.
“If heaven were not pure, it might split”: If heaven is not pure, it will collapse. If heaven is not pure, the earth will not be peaceful; if people lack fresh vitality, they will struggle to survive; if a country loses its purity, it may be in danger of collapse. At the social level, if “Heaven loses its clarity” (meaning governors are muddle-headed and tyrannical), it will lead to “Earth losing its tranquility” (referring to social unrest and chaos), making it difficult for the people to survive. Therefore, cultivating one’s moral character and governing a country must go through the “freshness” process of promoting purity and eliminating turbidity.
“Purity and quietness are the rectitude of the world”: Purity and quietness serve as a means to overcome restlessness and chaos, thereby becoming the criterion (“rectitude”) for the world and restoring a fair and just order to it. Purity and quietness refer to the state characterized by the adjective “fresh”; however, when used as a verb, without being purified, there can be no quietness. To achieve tranquility (peace and calm), one must first undergo a process of purification. Chaos in the world often stems from unchecked expansion of desires, excessive and reckless actions, the people’s inability to see fairness and justice, and overwhelming conflicts and commotion. In contrast, purity and quietness enable a return to essence, allowing all things to follow a natural and orderly course. When people’s minds are not at peace, it is difficult for the world to be stable. Only by solving problems at their root can true “purity and quietness” and “rectitude of the world” be achieved. On a personal level, amid an impetuous and noisy environment, upholding purity and quietness helps avoid anxiety and maintain rationality and composure. Humans are prone to being influenced by external circumstances, experiencing emotional fluctuations, and even falling into predicaments. Purity and quietness facilitate rational decision-making, preventing people from losing their way. Conversely, managers who are eager for quick success and consumed by anxiety often make wrong decisions due to their short-sighted pursuit of immediate gains, exacerbating difficult situations. From a governance perspective, rulers should abandon excessive and harsh decrees, uphold fairness and justice to genuinely resolve conflicts, and use purity and quietness to defuse chaos caused by impetuosity (greed and strife). This allows the people to live in peace and comfort, thereby realizing natural harmony in society. Furthermore, “purity and quietness” also embody wisdom at the ecological level: respecting the laws of nature, avoiding man-made destruction, and safeguarding the balance of coexistence among all living things.
The core status of purity has its historical origins. The concept of purity first appeared in Cao Pi’s Theory of Literary Air:” Literary works are dominated by vitality… The purity or turbidity of vitality has its inherent nature.” Humans are born with vitality, which can be either pure or turbid. Vitality refers to the spiritual temperament composed of an author’s personality, moral character, and talent. “Literary vitality” is a distinctive style and taste manifested by the inherent vitality of the author. The purity or turbidity of a person determines that of their writing. All great masters must have a pure style. As Goethe put it, “Style is the man himself”—a pure and upright personality is bound to be reflected in the style of one’s works.
The philosopher Cheng Yi said: “Talent is endowed by vitality. Vitality can be pure or turbid—those who are endowed with pure are virtuous people, while those who are endowed with turbid are foolish people.” Zhu Xi said: “Those who are endowed with pure vitality become sages or virtuous people,” and “Those who are endowed with turbid vitality become foolish people or unworthy people.” It means that a person’s virtue, foolishness, kindness, or evil is determined by the amount of pure and turbid vitality they are endowed with: those with more pure vitality are intelligent and kind, while those with more turbid vitality are foolish and evil. Pure vitality is inherent in a person from birth and is a blessing bestowed by heaven.
“One who stays near vermilion becomes red; one who stays near ink becomes black.” Interacting with people with pure vitality nourishes you and brings blessings, while being around those with turbid vitality inevitably taints your spirit, harms your health, disrupts your fortune, and may even invite misfortune. Similarly, living in an environment saturated with turbid energy leads to mental exhaustion and adversity, whereas being surrounded by pure energy radiates vitality and good fortune. Therefore, the principle of freshness is crucial wisdom: stay away from those with impurities and avoid places filled with turbid energy to preserve your well-being and achieve lasting peace and prosperity.
If one is deficient in pure vitality innately, one can enhance it through acquired learning of good codes of conduct and the Theory of Freshness. On a personal level, by regulating one’s behavior with the philosophy of freshness, promoting pure vitality and dispelling turbid vitality, one can maintain physical and mental health and improve their spiritual aura; the principle of governing a country follows the same logic.
Thus, “purity” is also the core criterion for evaluating people and selecting talents. Pure vitality is upright vitality (the righteous vital force). Traditional concepts have always valued purity and disparaged turbidity. The Dao De Jing states, “If a ruler cannot uphold righteousness, their regime will surely collapse.” This means that if a leader is not upright, their organization is bound to be overthrown. When ancient people selected talents, they took “purity” as the main standard; appointing those with pure vitality would surely lead to a fresh and upright politics and a prosperous national fortune.
Purity is not only an important criterion for judging people, but also the artistic soul and the soul of artistic conception in classical literature and art. Because it has been connected with the ultimate aesthetic ideal of classical literature and art from beginning to end, this determines its important position in literature and art. From Lu Ji to Qian Qi, over a period of more than 600 years, the aesthetic style of purity had gradually taken shape. There were discussions about “purity” in pre-Qin musical criticism, such as “the ear can distinguish the purity and turbidity of sounds”. The story of Shi Kuang playing the stringed instrument contains specific descriptions of different pieces of music such as “Qing Shang”（Qing means pure）, “Qing Zheng”, and “Qing Jue”. Zhang Heng of the Western Han Dynasty wrote in Western Capital Rhapsody: “The fairy maiden sits and sings, her voice pure and smooth, winding and lingering.” This linked purity to the auditory impression of music, making it a core concept for describing the beauty of music, which has been continuously used by later generations. In the Six Dynasties period, “purity” was used in literary criticism. By the time of poetic theory in the Tang Dynasty, it had become an active concept of poetic beauty, and a poetics of “purity” took shape in the Ming Dynasty. In Western literary theory, “moral principle” holds an important position, meaning that excellent works must conform to moral norms. Heidegger’s pursuit of “the realm of clarity” is an interpretation of purity in the philosophical sense.
In short, “purity”, as the core and common pursuit of the spiritual belief of all mankind, is the foundation for the universal applicability of the philosophy of freshness, across all countries in the world.
On “New”:
The “new” in “fresh” refers to innovation and keeping pace with the times. Only when any theory grasps the pulse of the times can it remain vibrant forever. “Freshness” keeps innovating and evolving with the development of the times, forming an open theoretical system. “New” has three meanings:
Innovativeness and revolutionary nature. “Pure” itself contains the meaning of “bringing forth the new”, and when combined with “new”, this meaning is further strengthened. “Freshness” cannot be divorced from the times and become rigid. As stated in The Commentary on the I Ching: “When things reach an impasse, they change; with change, they become unblocked; with unblocking, they endure.” Innovation is the source of vitality for a psychology.
Distinction from the “old”. Although people have a strong desire for change and novelty, and there is a psychology of craving the new and loathing the old, objectively speaking, not all “novelties” meet people’s expectations. That is why “pure” is used to qualify “new”. Wang Fuzhi emphasized that “one should discard the old to attain the new in a unique way”: true innovation is achieved through critical inheritance.
Pragmatic and truth-seeking innovation. The “new” in “fresh” is not an unfounded innovation. Instead, it is an innovation that absorbs the essence, discards the dross, inherits the excellent, and adheres to the truth. It is a creative transformation based on historical accumulation and the requirements of the times.
In short, “freshness” embodies a combination of firmness and softness, and a harmony between motion and stillness. Without “purify”, there can be no “new”. If one does not constantly and timely cleanse away the turbid and impure, it is impossible to radiate a “new” appearance or present the realm of “freshness”. As Zhuangzi stated in Zhi Bei You (Wandering to the North to Seek Knowledge): “Cleansing oneself with snow refreshes the spirit”—purification is the prerequisite for renewal.
The ideology of “freshness” embodies simple yet profound dialectical wisdom, which must be applied at all times and in all aspects. In the field of health, it is manifested as the regulatory principle of “promoting purity and dispelling turbidity” to achieve mental tranquility and smooth energy circulation, which constitutes the fundamental essence of life and health. Similarly, the spiritual practice of “promotion of purity and dispelling of turbidity”—which means promoting uprightness and purging muddled thoughts—is not only a personal need, but also a fundamental requirement for the health of the state and society, as well as an effective remedy for contemporary social governance. The psychology of freshness leads the modern return of the essence of excellent traditional thoughts, and is deeply in line with the philosophical conception of “returning to one’s original nature” in Taoist health preservation. It advocates mental purity and upright vitality, which can effectively enhance an individual’s energy field, optimize interpersonal relationships, and thus create more development opportunities. When people’s hearts are filled with positive energy, the world will be harmonious; when the social atmosphere is fresh, the people will live in peace. In short, the freshness psychology critically absorbed the essence of concepts related to freshness from various schools of thoughts, endowed them with new-era characteristics, and thus demonstrated stronger adaptability and vitality.
Since “purity” is the common realm and ultimate goal pursued by various ideological systems around the world, using “purity” to rectify behaviors will yield faster and more significant results. Diverse, complex, and difficult-to-learn ideologies, which have evolved into religious systems, possess a solid foundation of faith. They are not easily accepted by people from other regions, subject to rejection, so cannot be used as a governance strategy. However, the philosophy of freshness has not yet developed into a religion. With its precise and universally shared core meaning, it can easily gain recognition from all humanity. The freshness does not accept these systems in their entirety; instead, it extracts and integrates the connotations of “purity” from them. It is the crystallization of the combination of “purity” and “new”, guided by the principles of “justice and benevolence, innocence and purity, freshness and nature”. It encompasses “freshness qualities” such as “constantly striving for self-improvement, having the courage to struggle, daring to innovate, and taking responsibility”, while also reflecting the people’s spiritual pursuit of a freshness.
2．The Meanings and Foundations of the Twelve-Character Guiding Principles of Philosophy of Freshness
The guiding principle, which is also the essence, of the freshness psychology is “justice and benevolence, innocence and purity, freshness and nature”, and it is rooted in traditional philosophy, and other behavioral norm systems around the world.
“Justice and Benevolence”:
Justice originates from Legalist thought, which is generally recognized as a branch of Taoism. Fairness and impartiality are the basic requirements for human survival, the necessary conditions for people’s happiness, social stability, and national strength. They are the fundamental demands of the people on the government and the top priority at all times. Only a fair and just society can be harmonious and progressive, where the people are happy, andtrends of thought, culture, and life are fresh. In contrast, a society rife with contradictions is decadent and declining, where the people are resentful, and trends of thought, culture, and life are also evil vulgar.
A lot of schools of thought offer interpretations of justice. Taoism holds that the “Way of Heaven” represents the highest form of justice. Buddhism emphasizes karma and maintains that justice must align with righteous paths such as “righteous deeds”. The encounter between God’s fairness, justice, and love is the core and most profound theme of Christ. Allah is inherently just and upholds legalism.
Freshness advocates eternal justice, demonstrating the inevitability of truth, goodness, and beauty triumphing over falsehood, evil, and ugliness, and the decline of evil forces. However, in reality, some people are keen on hyping up evil and turbid tendencies, and depicting the scene where petty people gain power while justice fails to prevail over evil. Some people cannot see the emerging forces of the future in real life; instead, they grovel before the magic of money, which can invert right and wrong. Some people fundamentally deny these future forces. From certain phenomena, we cannot feel the inevitability of justice triumphing over evil. All these phenomena run counter to the freshness. Sometimes, defending justice requires struggle, so justice embodies the fresh character of having the courage to struggle. Goodness does not bully others, yet goodness must not be bullied by evil. Struggle is not reckless action; it requires ability and wisdom.
Benevolence manifests as care and respect, and is the core of Confucian thought. The concept of benevolence exists in many ideological systems around the world. Love is a core value in Christianity. The Dao De Jing regards “compassion” as the first of the “Three Treasures”. Buddhism emphasizes “mercy and compassion”. One of the names of Allah (God in Islam) is “the Most Gracious and Most Merciful”. Benevolence is not pedantic kindness, nor is it a concession to evil. One must not blindly do good deeds, for assisting a tyrant in doing evil is to commit evil. An advanced governance strategy can achieve the ideal situation where the evil refrain from doing evil and the good are not bullied. Confucius governed the State of Lu with Confucianism, which greatly enhanced its national strength, brought about orderly governance, and made evil people flee one after another. Punishing evil and promoting good means: for falsehood, evil and ugliness, we should sweep them away with the thunderous means of upholding justice; for truth, goodness and beauty, we should carry them forward with the broad mind of safeguarding truth.
Justice is the prerequisite for benevolence. A society without justice is bound to be one of the law of the jungle and chaos. In such an environment, benevolence cannot survive. Only when people have their basic need for security met can they pursue benevolence, a higher-level pursuit. Benevolence without the constraint of justice may be fragile, fleeting, and dangerous. Without fairness and order as its foundation, the lofty ideal of benevolence can never be realized. The objects of benevolence must conform to justice; showing mercy to evil is cruelty to good. To prevent abetting evildoers, benevolence must ally with justice.
“Innocence and Purity”:
“Pure” does not mean being simple or naive, but the absence of evil intentions. “True” in the meaning of innocence refers to truth—being based on truth, free from artificial fabrication, and maintaining one’s original authenticity. The phrase “seeing simplicity and embracing plainness” in Dao De Jing embodies this sense of simplicity and innocence. Laozi used the word “marvelous” to describe the characteristic of “Tao” in lines such as “Therefore, by constantly abiding in the state of ‘non-being’, one can observe its subtle wonders” and “Mysterious and more mysterious, it is the gateway to all wonders”—this “wonders” state is precisely the state of human innocence and original authenticity. The freshness pursues truth and pragmatism, and strictly avoids drifting with the tide or wavering in one’s stance; it holds high the torch of truth that illuminates life and dispels darkness. In an era where only strength is recognized and truth or falsehood is ignored, a person can possess the ideological weapon and personal strength to fight against all kinds of falsehood, evil, and ugliness only if they choose truth as their highest value and ideological belief. A country can have a future and hope, inspire boundless strength, and embody the fresh qualities of having the courage to struggle and dare to innovate, only when it takes truth as its driving force. By leading the people to discard falsehood, evil, and ugliness, it will present a situation where politics are smooth, people are harmonious, the country is peaceful, and the people are safe.
“Purity” means being free from flaws and stains. It refers not only to the state of mind but also to the natural environment and humanistic environment, which is also the ultimate goal of “freshness”.Many ideological systems around the world hold that the pursuit of truth is a process of returning to innocence and purity. The Origin of Tao states: “Being pure, tranquil, soft and yielding, purely simple and unadorned, this is the supreme virtue, the way of heaven and earth; thus, one is called a ‘true person’.” Only through innocence and purity can one become a true person and attain the great Tao. Innocence is not foolishness, nor is it like a blank sheet of paper scribbled on wantonly by others; rather, it entails the wisdom and ability to struggle, while maintaining one’s own purity in the process—just like the plum blossom that stands firm against the snow and cold, unchanged in its true nature despite wind and frost. Confucianism advocates the internal and external purity of “keeping one’s body clean” and “performing one’s duty of righteousness”. Buddhism requires purity in one’s body, diet, and speech, maintaining that spiritual practice is like a thorough “clean-up of the mind” — as the saying goes, “When one’s mind is pure, the Buddha’s land is pure.” The Bible says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Those with a pure heart have a pure soul and no evil thoughts, and they will obtain happiness and God’s grace. On the contrary, if one’s own heart is impure and their energy field is unclean, they will not be able to gain the favor, care, and blessings from heaven. It can be seen from this that only through innocence and purity can one reach the realm of freshness, become a “true person”, and “see God”.
“Freshness and Nature”:
“The Dao follows nature”—abiding by the laws of things’ development, namely the way of heaven (the operating laws of the universe and natural laws) and human nature (the inherent authenticity of humans)—is the core thought of Taoism. The ideology of “freshness” holds that: for all things in the world, any violation of the way of heaven or human nature is bound to lead to harmful consequences. Freshness must be natural, that is, it conforms to objective laws, accords with the way of heaven, human nature and the will of the people, and is loved to see and hear by the public. This is in the same line as the concept of “the unity of heaven and humanity”. Conversely, going against the way of heaven and human nature is bound to stir up intense popular resentment and throw the world into turmoil. Zhuangzi advocated “following heaven and valuing authenticity” which profoundly reveals the importance of respecting natural laws. The Scripture of Purity and Tranquility states, “If people can always remain pure and tranquil, the heaven and earth will all return to them,” emphasizing that if the human mind can maintain a state of purity, tranquility, and comply with the nature, it can align with the way of heaven, earth, and nature. In his Discourse on the Sciences and Arts, Rousseau’s call for “returning to nature” also includes a critique of artificial affectation and a yearning for the authentic state of nature. Minimalism pursues the combination of texture, light and natural materials. Romanticism and pastoral style advocate the integration of natural elements into life. Whether it is the Zen-like charm of landscapes in the East or the contemplation by lakesides in the West, both embody the philosophical wisdom of freshness and nature.
To sum up, the twelve-character guiding principle of the ideology of “freshness” distills the essence of various advanced ideological theories and embodies the core of the ideology of “freshness” system.
The “fresh qualities” extended from the twelve-character guiding principle, namely “constantly striving for self-improvement, having the courage to struggle, daring to innovate, and taking responsibility” are the world spirit needed by all mankind. Mr. Liang Qichao advocated in his “On New Citizens” the spirits of “enterprising and adventurous” and “valuing martial spirit”, which echo the fresh qualities of “having the courage to struggle” and “constantly striving for self-improvement”.
3．“True” and “Righteous” Freshness
The ideology of freshness advocates pure “truth” and pure “righteousness,” and promotes truth, goodness, and beauty. Specifically, it includes the following aspects:
Seeking truth and being pragmatic: Freshness holds high the torch of truth that dispels darkness, and strictly avoids drifting with the tide or wavering in one’s stance. Only innovation that seeks truth and is pragmatic can be regarded as “freshness”.
Seeking true beauty: Freshness holds that beauty is an objective existence, not a fabrication of the author.
Promoting positive energy: Freshness advocates eternal justice, reflecting the inevitability of truth, goodness and beauty triumphing over falsehood, evil and ugliness, and justice prevailing over evil.
Upholding fairness and practicing pure “righteousness”: Social fairness and legal justice are necessary conditions for people’s happiness, social stability, and a country’s consolidation of its foundation and strengthening of its basis.The philosophy of freshness is an anchor for social stability and harmonious development. The principle of “justice as fairness” put forward by John Rawls in A Theory of Justice is highly consistent with the pure “righteousness” pursued by freshness.
4．“Vulgarity” Does Not Equal “Turpitude”
The philosophy of freshness is profound, inclusive, and in accordance with the way of heaven and human nature; it does not entirely reject “vulgarity” that is down-to-earth. One cannot completely negate “vulgarity” with a single stroke. What freshness opposes is evil “vulgarity,” because evil vulgarity breeds turbid tendencies, represents crooked ways, disturbs the mind, and corrupts thoughts. We should not only provide the public with fresh spiritual nourishment but also meet the people’s diverse and multi-level spiritual needs. In other words, “vulgarity” is not “turpitude”; allowing the development of diverse trends of thought and cultures, while freshness serves as the mainstream guide, can ensure the healthy and vigorous vitality of individuals and society. Zhu Xi distinguished between “elegance” and “vulgarity” in his discussion of poetry, holding that if “vulgarity” can express true feelings and be beneficial to moral education, it can also be “elegant.” This view is consistent with the essence of “vulgarity is not turpitude.”
II.The Era Necessity of The Freshness psychology
1．The Voices of the People and the Requirements of the Times
Social life inevitably involves contradictions, problems, and even sordid phenomena. The coexistence of good and bad is bound to be reflected in social consciousness. Inevitably, two phenomena, “purity” and “turpitude”, will emerge in life and culture, just like a mixture of mud and sand, and a confusion of good and bad people. The general public is deeply dissatisfied with this, and some parents even cry out “Save the children!”. It is in this sense that promoting purity and eliminating turpitude is the aspiration of the people and the need of the times. To punish evil and promote good, to discard the false and retain the true, the freshness has emerged as the times require, coming into being with great significance.
On Cultural Construction points out that if positive, progressive and healthy culture fails to develop well, negative, backward and decadent culture will inevitably take advantage of the gap. The “dual attributes” of spiritual products—commodity attributes and aesthetic attributes—bring about economic benefits and social benefits. In most cases, the two are unified. However, there are also times of contradiction and conflict: for example, high-value academic works have poor economic returns and are even difficult to publish; while some evil vulgar things are popular in the market, but they bring spiritual pollution, with extremely bad social benefits and great harm. Therefore, we must always put social benefits first as the highest criterion. When there is a conflict between economic benefits and social benefits, we must resolutely subordinate ourselves to social benefits. However, in reality, some individuals, by unscrupulous means, seek profit through vulgar content and forms. They deceive the public, violate morality, rules, and laws, thereby seriously corrupting social ethics, damaging fairness, polluting the environment, disrupting public discourse, and undermining the foundation of the country. Lu Xun once severely criticized the “literature and art of concealment and deception” and called for “pioneers who break through all traditional ideas and methods”, which is precisely a profound criticism of “turbidity” and a strong call for “freshness”.
2．The Urgent Need for The Freshness Psychology to Adapt to Social Development
The combination of hardness and softness: “Freshness” integrates hardness with softness, truly achieving purity without being flimsy, elegance without being extravagant, and ingenuity without being delicate.
Artistic conception and belief: “Freshness” is a kind of artistic conception. In fresh works, we see truth, goodness and beauty. The reason why classics are immortal is that they perfectly integrate human emotions with nature, meeting people’s desire for the fresh realm to purify the soul. “Freshness” is also a kind of belief, in which people can elevate their personality and purify their soul. With its characteristics, the freshness effectively promotes the all-round development and quality improvement of people, and shapes noble personalities.
Advocating simplicity: It meets the needs of social development. With economic growth and the improvement of living standards, the trend of arrogance, extravagance and dissipation has fueled the one-sided development of society, which is not conducive to the sustainable development of the economy nor to the cultivation of positive ethos.
Promoting spiritual root-seeking and opposing speculative maneuvering: It conforms to the development requirement of consolidating the foundation and strengthening the basis. Upholding the concept of freshness and integrity, we must face reality squarely, adhere to fairness and justice, speak up for the people, safeguard and defend their fundamental interests—rather than plundering or harming them, and we must never distort facts or cover up the truth. Covering up the truth is a foolish act, essentially concealing an initial mistake with a greater one and trading short-term gains for long-term disasters, which will eventually lead to an irreversible vicious cycle. Attempting to maintain superficial stability by “covering up problems” actually means conniving at crimes, persecuting the innocent, and lacking justice. This exacerbates social injustice and division, hinders the real resolution of issues, leads to the spread of evil deeds, fundamentally undermines the people’s trust in the government, and damages the country’s image and international reputation. Conversely, confronting the truth with honesty, transparency, and accountability is the fundamental path to resolving issues and achieving healthy societal development. Only by having the determination to investigate thoroughly and establishing a sound mechanism for correcting mistakes and accountability can we completely eliminate falsehood, evil, and ugliness, gain the people’s lasting trust, and ultimately achieve long-term stability.
Opposing evil vulgarity and advocating health and progress: It conforms to the rising momentum of development in the contemporary era.
In short, the diversified development of ideological trend needs to be guided by a direction and cannot be completely left unchecked or without a sense of belonging. Diversification will inevitably lead to the coexistence of progress and backwardness, and even negative and harmful elements. We must resolutely resist and criticize the erosion of beneficial psychology by alien ideological trends, and guide the people to create a thriving situation in the process of eliminating turbidity and promoting purity.
3．The Freshness Psychology Embodies a Deep Humanistic Truth
The freshness psychology embodies a profound humanistic truth. Just as the line in a poem goes, “It comes with the wind, stealing into the night, moistening everything softly and silently,” freshness easily makes people feel the simplicity of a “land of idyllic beauty,” alleviates pressures from society, life, work, and other aspects, helps form a positive and healthy mindset, and creates a sound psychological foundation and social atmosphere. It is beneficial both to individual health and social stability, purifying social atmosphere and maintaining order.
It is evident that the freshness psychology plays a guiding and promoting role in optimizing the humanistic environment. With far-reaching intentions, it is rooted in excellent traditions while discarding their dross. It exerts a subtle influence, strikes a chord in people’s hearts, and can boost the healthy and prosperous development of individuals, society, the country, and even the entire world. The universality of freshness determines that it can be applied to different countries. Therefore, the long-term goals of the freshness psychology are: to revitalize the glory of civilization, achieve comprehensive rejuvenation, promote the healthy and prosperous development of the world, advance the great integration of the world, and benefit all mankind.
4．Traditional Doctrines Cannot Be Applied as Governance Strategies
When drawing on the essence of traditional doctrines, we should discard their dross, for not all traditions are applicable to contemporary society.
During the period of the contention of a hundred schools of thought, various schools such as Confucianism, Legalism, Mohism, and Agrarianism were adopted by rulers and played their roles in specific historical periods. Later, “upholding Confucianism alone” prevailed for more than 2,000 years, with Confucian theory occupying a dominant position. However, in modern times, the limitations of Confucianism have become prominent, making it difficult to adapt to the new era. Some traditional Confucian concepts, such as the “Three Cardinal Guides” which embody the feudal hierarchy, conflict with modern universal values such as equality, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. They are not applicable to contemporary China, let alone compatible with other countries.
In the way of governance, neither the rule of law nor the rule of virtue can be dispensed with, and both must be fresh. “Fresh” means upright. We absorb the principles of fairness and justice from Legalism, which are essential to the freshness. However, the drawback of Legalism lies in its excessive exaggeration of the role of law and its neglect of morality. Legalists hold that human nature is all about pursuing interests, with no moral standards to speak of, so they advocate using interests and honors to guide people’s behaviors. Law is the bottom line of morality; if people are only required not to break the law, such a society will be very dangerous. Therefore, governing solely by the Legalist thought is biased and incomplete.
Taoism and Buddhism are only suitable for individual cultivation. Taoism advocates inaction，while Buddhism downplays reality，neither aligns with the principles of governance. The religious ideologies that have taken shape across countries worldwide each possess distinct characteristics, making them difficult to be accepted by other nations. Additionally, some current concepts carry the attributes of specific political systems and state structures, and none of these can serve as a universally applicable governance strategy for the globe.
Throughout history, starting from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, some ideologies such as Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism and so on have taken deep root and been passed down from generation to generation. This is because people have found spiritual sustenance and beliefs in them, and human nature can be restored through ideological transformation. However, these traditional doctrines are overly complex and difficult to understand, and they have certain inherent limitations that can easily lead to the regression of thetimes. Therefore, they cannot serve as governance strategies to guide contemporary society. The freshness psychology extracted from these doctrines advocates equal emphasis on virtue and law. It is easy to understand, concise and clear, discarding dross and redundancy while absorbing essence and making innovations. It is sufficient to become a governance strategy suitable for guiding the current era and the whole world.
The theory of freshness also known as the Study of Freshness, is a form of the art of vertical and horizontal statesmanship. “Purity” represents the horizontal dimension, with no geographical boundaries, applicable globally; “New” represents the vertical dimension, with no time limits; “Fresh” thus means infinite vertical and horizontal extension, which is also the advantage of the freshness psychology over other doctrines. If an era lacks guidance from scientific psychology, it is as extremely dangerous as a ship sailing in the pitch-black sea without the guidance of a beacon. As a universal governance strategy, the freshness aims to provide theoretical support for global governance.
III. Carriers of The Freshness Psychology
The purpose of culture is to cultivate individuals. Fresh culture is the extension of the freshness psychology, while the freshness psychology is the core of fresh culture. The carriers of the freshness are not limited to a wide range of fields such as activities, media, literature, art, and daily life. They aim to inject a clear stream into the chaotic and complex humanistic environment, promote integrity and purge evil, resist and eliminate turbidity and unhealthy tendencies, and guide the renewal and development of social trends and culture with advanced psychologies and excellent culture. Fresh Culture is a critical inheritance of traditional culture, a re-creation based on fine traditions, endowing them with new-era connotations, weeding through the old to bring forth the new, and thus standing as an outstanding representative of advanced culture.
Fresh culture can be categorized into “fresh cultural undertakings” and “fresh cultural industries”. The former includes the theoretical construction and development of the freshness psychology system, as well as the governance implemented by the government using the freshness. For example, the publication of my work Theory of Freshness comprehensively promotes publicity, popularization, study and research. The latter includes the creation, display and sales of literary and artistic works, and the construction of fresh industries in various fields, such as the sales of my calligraphy and painting work Nine-Palace Dragon Diagram. Cultural undertakings advocate that people uphold “freshness” in real life and ideological understanding, encourage positive energy, and eliminate dirt. Cultural industries create fresh products in all walks of life that improve the humanistic and natural environment, endow them with fresh brands, and carry the fresh theme through products. Only when a theory is widely recognized can its products have an audience. According to the law expounded in On Cultural Construction: “Cultural undertakings depend on the government, and cultural industries depend on the market.” If the freshness psychology is not adopted by the government as a governance strategy, it will be difficult for the undertakings to develop, let alone the cultural industries. Fresh cultural undertakings and cultural industries complement each other and are inseparable: the undertakings are the premise and ideological guide of the industries, while the industries are the guarantee and foundation for the prosperity of the undertakings.
At present, the freshness psychology is reflected in various fields such as literature and art, corporate culture, and daily life, and will expand to more fields in the future. Here, only corporate culture, lifestyle, and logo symbols will be elaborated on.
1．Fresh Corporate Culture
Across the globe, nearly all mainstream ideological systems and doctrines oppose unbridled profit-seeking behavior. They emphasize that economic activities and wealth accumulation must abide by moral norms, and clearly define the boundaries between legal and illegal business practices. These moral principles generally take integrity, fairness, justice, social responsibility, and respect for people as their core values, and they remain an important cornerstone for building a sustainable and mutually prosperous business civilization to this day.
The spirit of Confucian merchants advocates “pursuing profit with righteousness and benefiting the world through profit”. It holds that integrity and commitment should be valued in business operations, and active social responsibility should be undertaken. Taoism advocates conforming to the laws of nature, as exemplified by the concept of “the highest virtue is like water”. Truly good deeds and successful business operations should nourish all things without contention, just like water, and achieve self-worth through benefiting others. In Buddhism, “right livelihood” – one of the Noble Eightfold Path – is an ethical precept for business. It requires making a living through legitimate occupations that do not harm sentient beings. The “law of cause and effect” points out that profits obtained through unethical means are “impure wealth” and will eventually lead to negative consequences; on the contrary, operating with integrity, giving alms, and helping the world can accumulate blessings. The idea of “compassion, joy, and renunciation” encourages entrepreneurs to have a compassionate heart, give back wealth to society, and benefit all living beings. Christian thought has profoundly influenced Western business values, asserting that wealth is not an ultimate goal, and that fair trade and honest business operations should be pursued. Reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin proposed that fulfilling one’s duties in secular work and creating wealth is a way to glorify God. However, wealth should not be squandered on personal pleasures; instead, it should be used frugally for social welfare. The Quran repeatedly affirms the principle of fair trade: “Give full measure and weight, and do not withhold from people the things that are their due.” The system of “Zakat” (alms-giving) requires the wealthy to help the poor, embodying the concept of social responsibility for wealth and wealth redistribution.
Kant’s “deontology” holds that moral actions must be motivated by duty, not by self-interest. It requires enterprises to regard honest business operations as a respect for moral laws, rather than a tool for seeking profits. Adam Smith, the “father of economics”, stated in his work The Wealth of Nations that the pursuit of profit must be based on the framework of morality and the rule of law; without integrity and justice, the market will struggle to operate effectively.
Some entrepreneurs adopt “external Confucianism”, “internal Taoism” and “emphasis on law” as methods of self-management. The proper use of traditional theories in management can become the way to win for enterprises. Fresh corporate culture abides by the way of heaven and human nature, that is, the laws of nature, social laws, the laws of historical development and the true essence of human beings. Based on excellent traditional philosophy, fresh corporate culture is a natural and harmonious corporate culture, which can be summarized into four characteristics: “truthfulness, sincerity, harmony and virtue”.
Truthfulness: The Authenticity of Nature. Taoism advocates cultivating one’s moral character and nurturing one’s nature, so as not to be controlled by external objects. Laozi stated: “Man models himself on Earth, Earth models itself on Heaven, Heaven models itself on the Dao, and the Dao models itself on nature.” This emphasizes that taking respect for the laws of nature as the highest principle and advocating conformity to nature as the guideline for behavior should be the core of human conduct. Business activities must abide by the “way of heaven” (natural laws) and human nature. The concept advocates the unity of man and nature, emphasizes respect for nature, and opposes excessive exploitation and destruction. This is highly consistent with the contemporary concept of sustainable development.
Sincerity: Operating with Integrity. Confucianism advocates the principle of “considering righteousness when pursuing profits”. Only by adhering to this principle can an enterprise establish a good image, and only then will its brand possess long-term competitiveness. Benjamin Franklin’s famous saying, “Honesty is the best policy”, reveals the long-term value of operating with integrity.
Harmony: Internal and External Harmony. Confucianism advocates a people-centered approach. The harmony in interpersonal relationships—such as between managers and employees, among different enterprises, and between an enterprise and society—is a fundamental condition for the normal operation of an enterprise. Guided by the leadership principles of “combining firmness with gentleness” and “balancing leniency with strictness”, effective management can be achieved. Harmony is a rigid requirement for enhancing production efficiency, innovation capability, and core competitiveness. Peter Drucker emphasized that the essence of management is to inspire people’s potential, and creating a harmonious organizational atmosphere is the key to achieving this goal. The Hawthorne Studies clearly reveal that a harmonious atmosphere makes employees feel they are part of the group, thereby motivating them to work more proactively. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs states that only when employees feel accepted, recognized, and respected within the team will they pursue higher-level self-actualization, thus creating greater value for the enterprise. An environment filled with conflicts and indifference cannot even meet employees’ safety needs, let alone stimulate their potential.
Virtue: Morality as the Foundation. On one hand, wealth should be acquired in a proper way: one should obtain legitimate money through competence, wisdom and the creation of value, while opposing the pursuit of “ill-gotten gains”. When striving for optimal profits, one must adhere to the bottom line of ethics. Confucianism advocates the principles of “guiding profits with righteousness” and “generating profits through righteousness”, and opposes unethical behaviors such as “forgetting righteousness in the pursuit of profits” and being selfish. “Profit” (material foundation) is essential for survival, yet one must uphold “righteousness” (morality) in conduct. On the other hand, entrepreneurs are not only business elites who create wealth, but more importantly, messengers of love who spread wealth. The concept of charity is a part of Values. Establishing a positive corporate image and promoting social harmony are inseparable from charity. Entrepreneurs, while excelling in business operations, should also possess a sense of social morality and responsibility. Donating to vulnerable groups and public welfare undertakings not only earns them reputation but also enables them to achieve better social and market effects. A strong sense of social responsibility reflects noble character and helps enterprises maintain long-term prosperity. Andrew Carnegie’s view on “the social responsibility of wealth” expounded in The Gospel of Wealth is consistent with the requirement of “Virtue” as defined in the context of Fresh Corporate Culture.
Specific manifestations. The fresh corporate culture requires enterprises to be rooted in society, with “prioritizing social benefits” as their fundamental value orientation, and to pursue optimal profits on the premise of ensuring social benefits. Entrepreneurs should focus on self-cultivation, possess fine qualities such as justice and benevolence as well as the “fresh character”, hold a sense of social ethics and responsibility, and enthusiastically donate to education, cultural undertakings and public welfare causes.
2．Fresh Lifestyle
The freshness not only promotes changes in spiritual life but also exerts an impact on various aspects such as material life and social life. As the embodiment of the freshness in daily life, the fresh lifestyle has gradually become a conscious aspiration of people. People’s recognition of the freshness has become increasingly widespread and conscious. These seminars, which featured in-depth discussions on the characteristics and development of the Philosophy of Freshness, have exerted a social impact.
“Freshness” is a fundamental element of a healthy life. If “ordinary life” mostly refers to the material dimension, then “fresh life” mainly centers on spiritual life and spiritual creation. “Freshness” has become a guiding value for life and a pursuit of character—it elevates the quality, appeal, and spiritual realm of life, pursues purity, novelty, elegance, and poetic charm, and endows life with a fresh style. As the saying goes, “A man of virtue loves wealth, but acquires it in the right way.” A fresh life requires a material foundation, yet it does not take material satisfaction as an end in itself, nor does it resort to evil vulgar means; instead, it places greater emphasis on spiritual independence, freedom, and creation. It can be said that most people who have made achievements tend to embody the character of a fresh life. Countless scholars, masters, and renowned figures throughout history have advocated the fresh lifestyle. They constantly transcended themselves and their life circumstances, made outstanding contributions to the development of human civilization, and have become role models for later generations. With such a fresh character, their lives are “fresh” through and through. The freshness psychology, life, culture, aesthetics, and character are integrated into one, demonstrating the vitality and role of freshness as a core aesthetic concept.
3．Nine-Palace Dragon: The Identification Symbol of The Freshness Psychology
（Nine-Palace Dragon Calligraphy and Painting）
The Nine-Palace Grid, originating from the Hetu (River Map) and Luoshu (Luo Chart), has long been regarded as the source of Chinese civilization and the “magic cube of the universe”. According to legend, during the reign of Fuxi in ancient times, a dragon-horse emerged from the Yellow River, carrying the Hetu on its back and presenting it to Fuxi. Fuxi derived the Eight Trigrams (Bagua) based on this map, which later became the origin ofThe Book of Changes (I Ching). During the era of Yu the Great, a divine turtle emerged from the Luo River, bearing the Luoshu on its shell. Yu the Great successfully controlled the floods by following the principles of the Luoshu, and subsequently divided the realm into nine regions. The Hetu and Luoshu are essentially three-order magic squares in mathematics, known as “vertical and horizontal diagrams” in ancient China. The Nine-Palace Grid evolved from these diagrams and is recognized as the first milestone of ancient Chinese civilization. Additionally, the “Nine Palaces” refers to a method used in ancient astronomy to divide the celestial sphere, which was employed for observing celestial phenomena, measuring geographical locations, and determining seasons. The Nine-Palace Eight-Trigrams Formation was a military formation created by Zhuge Liang, and later became a prevalent layout for arranging troops and encampments. In subsequent dynasties, imperial palaces were also constructed following the layout of the Nine-Palace Eight-Trigrams.
The dragon is the totem and symbol of the Chinese nation, and the Chinese people call themselves “descendants of the dragon”. Many countries across Asia, Europe, and other regions around the world also regard the image of the Eastern dragon as a sacred totem. The dragon symbolizes noble status, auspiciousness, vitality, integrity and courage. There are significant differences between Western dragons and Eastern dragons in terms of appearance and culture. Therefore, Westerners do not reject the positive image of the Eastern dragon; when they embrace fresh ideas and concepts, it is only natural that they also accept the positive image of the Eastern dragon.
（Nine-Palace Dragon Calligraphy）
Through calligraphy, painting, and sculpture, the Nine-Palace Dragon presents the nine styles of the character “dragon” and nine dragons paintings created by me, the founder in the form of a Nine-Palace magic cube, embodying themes such as “the dragon safeguarding the lands of the nine directions”. The nine styles of the “dragon” character and nine dragon paintings represent diverse forms and dispositions of dragons, which stand guard within the Nine-Palace Grid and emanate immense cosmic energy. The top divine totem dragon and the cosmic square grid combine with each other, maximizing the power of the dragon, inspiring a positive and uplifting spirit, and conveying the ancient unique charm, overwhelming power and endless vitality. The Nine-Palace Dragon is a seamless integration of these elements, infusing “freshness” with masculine vigor. It symbolizes auspicious power, embodies health and positivity, and makes the freshness more accessible to households everywhere—truly deserving its status as the symbol of the freshness psychology. Freshness is a vertical and horizontal pattern, which is exactly in line with the meaning of the nine-palace grid. The spirit of the dragon is consistent with the spirit of freshness.
Just like dragon generals, the nine dragons soar and stand guard in the infinitely extending cosmic order of the Nine-Palace Grid, promoting the freshness psychology. The infinite replication of the Nine-Palace Dragon symbolizes the vigorous and boundless development of the freshness. Carl Jung’s theories of the “collective unconscious” and “archetypes” hold that certain images (such as the dragon and the Nine-Palace Grid) are deeply embedded in the depths of the human psyche, possessing cross-cultural universal symbolic significance and powerful psychological energy. The Nine-Palace Dragon is precisely a potent cultural symbol that integrates the “dragon” (the archetype of power and sanctity) and the “Nine-Palace Grid” (the archetype of order and the universe).
IV. Prominent Features of Freshness
1．Pursuing the All-Round Development of Individuals and Resolutely Resisting Deformed Development
In contemporary society, many people indulge in material desires and have lost their pursuit of spiritual nobility, leading to severe phenomena of deformed development. In particular, some people, while indulging in the enjoyment of fantasy visuals and illusions, erode their ability to judge the essence of human nature, society, and life—reducing themselves to wandering spirits with only physical shells, their souls captivated and drained. A great many others live a deformed life under the one-sided pursuit that prioritizes only technology and money while neglecting the spiritual dimension. The freshness advocates and reflects the healthy and all-round development of individuals. It criticizes deformity and one-sidedness, helps people develop a positive and healthy mindset, and fosters a sound social atmosphere.
2．Pursuing the Common Development of Society
In contemporary society, competition is fierce, and development cannot be absolutely balanced—just as it is impossible for all five fingers to be of equal length. The freshness pursues the common development of society and emphasizes that everyone should have equal opportunities for development. The general public does not resent the wealth gap per se, but rather the inequality in development opportunities and treatment. Therefore, the freshness, which emphasizes social equity and common development, reflects the universal aspirations of the people. Amartya Sen, in his work Development as Freedom, emphasizes that development should expand the “substantive freedoms” (including equality of opportunity) enjoyed by people. The emphasis of the freshness on common development opportunities is consistent with this view.
3．Pursuing Innovation and Opposing Conservatism
Time is boundless, and innovation is endless. The freshness psychology pursues innovations that drive the development of human civilization. This is determined by the current stage of social development: society has gradually shifted from the stage of imitative learning to that of independent creation and innovation. The freshness regards innovation as the core driving force for ideological and cultural progress as well as social development, and it has emerged precisely to meet the historical demand for independent innovation.
4．The Combination of Hardness and Softness
The popular fresh trend among the public reflects contemporary people’s longing for fresh aesthetics and aspiration for a fresh lifestyle. While absorbing the reasonable parts of the relatively soft fresh aesthetics, the freshness also pursues masculine aesthetics and advocates combining firmness with gentleness. Hence, there is the concept of “vigorous freshness”. When used as an adjective, “qing” (pure) refers to cultivating one’s mind and being gentle; when used as a verb, it denotes striving and being vigorous. Without “qing” (purify), there can be no “xin” (new): In many cases, freshness do not emerge automatically. It can only be achieved by thoroughly clear dirt to reach a state of “freshness”, thereby realizing true freshness. Dregs can emerge at any time. If we do nothing and only fantasize about achieving a fresh state, it will never be possible. As the old saying goes, “Running water never goes stale, and a door hinge never gets worm-eaten.” Only through continuous cleansing can we maintain vigorous vitality and combat effectiveness. The freshness embodies combativeness and transformativeness—and these are also the fresh qualities we advocate. The Book of Changes (I Ching) states, “The interaction of yin and yang is what is called the Dao (the Way).” The integration of hardness and softness is precisely a manifestation of how the freshness aligns with the great Dao of the universe.
5．Pursuing “Following the Natural Course” and “the Unity of Man and Nature”
The freshness pursues a state of “following the natural course”—this does not mean being arbitrary or willful, but rather a free state without artificial affectation, a realm of natural authenticity. Only works that show no trace of forced technique or artificial contrivance can be regarded as masterpieces. The “freshness” does not imply a lack of technical merit; instead, it represents a kind of natural beauty where skills have been refined to such perfection that no traces of craftsmanship remain. The beauty of “freshness” is inherently natural and in line with the natural course—it rejects artificial pretense. If something is twisted from its natural state like a “diseased plum blossom” (a metaphor for forced distortion), it can no longer be considered the beauty of “freshness”. The laws of nature can be understood as the principle that all things must be normalized, rationalized, and humanized to achieve longevity. Taoism’s “Dao follows nature”、Confucianism’s “interaction between heaven and humanity”、Buddhism’s “dependent origination and emptiness of inherent nature”、Western mysticism’s “union with God”：”The unity of heaven and humanity” is a common consensus across various ideological traditions worldwide. It emphasizes the interconnectedness and unity between the “way of heaven” (natural laws) and the “way of man” (human ethics), as well as between nature and human behavior. It holds that human actions must conform to the “way of heaven” and human nature—that is, the laws of nature.
6．The Harmonious Unity of Richness and Clarity
The concept of “freshness” encompasses connotations that are both rich and clear—it is neither simplistic nor an “unsoiled purity” untouched by hardships. Instead, it refers to the ability to retain one’s innocence and purity even after enduring trials and tribulations (like wind and waves). Thus, the virtue of “emerging unstained from mud” is not merely about “keeping oneself clean” in isolation; more importantly, it means maintaining purity while resisting the “mud”, and upholding integrity while striving for fairness and justice, rather than conforming to evil and join in the wickedness. Therefore, “freshness” is not about being naive, but about being clear; it is not about being complicated, but about being rich. Su Shi, a renowned poet, commented on literary writing: “The acme of splendor returns to plainness.” Here, “plainness” does not mean poverty of content, but rather the clarity and richness attained after experiencing extreme splendor. This realm is interconnected with the “rich yet clear” essence of “freshness”.
7．Opposing Formal Refinement Detached from Content
The concept of “freshness” pursues the unity of form and content, as well as the unity of “style” (external expression) and “substance” (intrinsic essence). As Confucius stated: “When substance outweighs style, one becomes uncouth; when style outweighs substance, one becomes ostentatious. Only when style and substance are in harmonious balance can one be called a virtuous person.” Only when content and form are completely unified can true “freshness” be achieved.
8．Universal Applicability: not Limited by Region or Time
The freshness pursues novelty and transformation. It is not limited to changing outdated forms; instead, it focuses more on creating brand-new future forms. Such innovation is of global significance. In the landscape of the contemporary world’s ideological systems, for a psychology to gain a foothold, it must make unique contributions to the development of human civilization. In other words, the more unique a theory’s contribution to world civilization is, the more globally relevant it becomes. This is an indispensable awareness for humanity, and it is also the awareness that the freshness emphasizes—an awareness of constant transcendence and unwavering adherence. The freshness possesses universal applicability: it is not only the core mainstream concept of ideological doctrines but also a common belief and pursuit of humanity, free from geographical and national boundaries.
“Freshness” is a common need of humanity and a form of “ventilation” for human nature. It is not restricted by the type of state or political system, and conflicts with no ideology. In other words, it is acceptable to all human beings: it can be adopted by capitalist countries as well as socialist countries; by the West as well as the East; in the present, and forever in the future. If an ideological system cannot be shared by all of humanity, it will be unable to benefit all mankind—for it will hardly arouse resonance. Only theories that can evoke resonance across all of humanity, such as the freshness psychology, can be accepted and adopted by the entire human race. Individuals may adopt it as a treasure for self-cultivation without needing authorization from me, its founder. However, when a country intends to adopt it as a governance strategy, due to the profound significance of such a decision, authorization from myself is required.
An Introduction to Art Studies states, “From the very day art came into being, it has been inextricably linked with religion.” The aesthetician Clive Bell also pointed out in his work Art, “Art and religion are both means to achieve the same type of mental state.” The origin of art is closely associated with religion. The “Three Pure Realms” in Taoism, Buddhist sculptures and paintings, and Christian church choirs all embody the shared transcendent realm of freshness. When people free themselves from mundane distractions, they can perceive the beauty of birdsong and blooming flowers, forget the troubles of the world, and immerse themselves in the realm of freshness. As detailed earlier, there is the quietude in Taoism, the tranquility in Buddhism, the pure heart in Christianity, and the cleanliness, a core concept in Islam. Freshness is a shared and interconnected meaning across various ideologies and beliefs worldwide.
Thus, freshness can achieve the “unification” of diverse ideologies—and this is precisely the value and theoretical foundation for it to promote global integration and realize the notion of “all principles converging into freshness”. Freshness, as the great beauty of heaven and earth and the true essence of human nature, is exactly the “clear stream” needed by the spirit of the times, and is the spiritual foundation of humanity’s shared needs. The yearning for freshness in human nature is like sunlight and air—an essential human need. It is an eternal pursuit that transcends the barriers between civilizations, and a spiritual home embodying truth, goodness, beauty, fairness, justice, and harmonious coexistence. Therefore, freshness possesses commonality and universal value that transcends the barriers of religious sects. It enables the integration and interconnection of different ideologies, thereby resolving the “clash of civilizations”.
The newness in freshnessadvances with the times. Therefore, the freshness psychology is free from temporal constraints and can be applied permanently.
In summary, the universal applicability of freshness is jointly forged by two dimensions: the “purity” that transcends horizontal geographical boundaries, and the “new” that transcends vertical temporal limits. Just as the Commentaries on the I Ching embodies the adaptive spirit of “moving in tandem with the times”, this spirit ensures the enduring vitality of the freshness.
V. Effective Practical Approaches to the Philosophy of Freshness
Wherever there are people, there will be conflicts. Contradictions that deviate from morality must be resolved through strict legal and administrative means—this is an indispensable path to achieving fairness, justice, harmony, and stability. The purification of the humanistic environment is crucial to spiritual life and social ethos: a benevolent environment refreshes people’s minds, lifts their spirits, nurtures noble thoughts, and benefits society; a malicious environment makes people restless, dampens their spirits, corrupts their thoughts, and endangers society. To make freshness prevail, on the one hand, we must “promote freshness”—advocate the freshness psychology to guide the development of culture, life, and society; on the other hand, we need to “eradicate turbidity”—eliminate falsehood, evil, ugliness, and turbid, pernicious influences. Whether such a philosophy exists directly affects social trends of thought, the direction of literature and art, and the social ethos; it is also crucial to a country’s upward development, prosperity, and strength.
Thought guides action. If people’s thoughts lack freshness, society will become decadent and filthy, people’s minds will be unstable, the country will decline, and the world will fall into chaos. Therefore, whether social trends of thought are fresh is crucial to the healthy and harmonious development of individuals, society, countries, and the entire world. Antonio Gramsci’s theory of “Cultural Hegemony” emphasizes that the effectiveness of governance lies in winning the people’s voluntary recognition of cultural values. Only by adopting effective policy regulation, correct public opinion guidance, and strict legal means can we effectively curb and eliminate filthy thoughts and evil vulgar culture, and create a fresh, humanistic environment characterized by health, order, and fair development.
“The government is responsible for cultural undertakings, while the market drives cultural industries.” The promotion and application of ideological theories fall under cultural undertakings, and their success can only be achieved under government leadership. This is a law of cultural development revealed in On Cultural Construction. The “government” here can refer to governments of all countries around the world, as well as governments at all levels. There is no order of priority among them—adoption on a voluntary basis is sufficient. The profound, extensive, and practical nature of the freshness holds extraordinary significance at the governance level, enabling it to fully demonstrate its greatest value. Only when an ideological system is adopted by the government as a governance strategy can it be carried forward, truly take root in the hearts of the people, fundamentally improve society, and bring about a brand-new transformation of the country. Otherwise, it is nothing but empty talk—like a tree without roots or water without a source.
I, the founder, have held fifteen sessions ofthe Fresh Culture Seminar, which have been widely recognized by officials, experts, scholars, and prominent public figures at home and abroad. After more than two decades of research and empirical practice, the truth, scientific validity, and practicality of the freshness psychology have been fully verified. Only through government advocacy and the promotion of the freshness as a national will and policy can it effectively contribute to the realization of the great integration of the world. How can this grand plan be turned into reality? Several suggestions are put forward below for reference.
1．Promote the Philosophy of Freshness among the Whole People
Through media such as newspapers, periodicals, television, and the Internet, as well as governments and institutions at all levels, we will vigorously publicize and encourage the whole nation to study Theory of Freshness at multiple levels. We will promote concepts including “advocating Freshness” and “forging a fresh character”. We will print and distribute the book Theory of Freshness, and offer ideological courses on Theory of Freshness . We will build a social value system and atmosphere characterized by “Justice and Benevolence, Innocence and Purity, Freshness and Nature”, shape the people’s fresh character of “self-improvement, courage to struggle, daring to innovate, and taking responsibility”, and foster the spiritual vitality of the people and the nation.
2．Regularly Organize Various Series of Activities on Freshness
Collaborate with theoretical research institutions, cultural authorities, and governments at all levels to host activities including the Theory of Freshness study seminars and Fresh Culture Festivals. These efforts aim to make the philosophy of freshness reach every household and become the ideological weapon and beacon for action of the people..
3．Create and Promote Theme Songs on Freshness
Develop theme songs based on the founder’s poems such as Ode to Freshness, and vigorously promote their performance and singing. By leveraging the expressive power of music, the philosophy of freshness will be made more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
4．Establish a Sound Business Order through the Fresh Corporate Culture
“Only when granaries are full can people understand etiquette; only when clothing and food are sufficient can people distinguish honor from disgrace.” In the business operations of the enterprise, we will vigorously promote the fresh corporate culture slogan of “Truth, Sincerity, Harmony, and Virtue,” which means “The Authenticity of Nature, Operating with Integrity, Internal and External Harmony, Morality as the Foundation”. We will earnestly standardize market behaviors to foster a sound economic environment and create a atmosphere of national prosperity and people’s strength.
5．Establish Freshness Academies in Countries Around the World
Expand globally. Establish a Freshness Academy in the core area of the national capital to serve as the headquarters of the system development organization, and vigorously advance the cause of freshness. Set up a Freshness Development Fund to accept social donations. Establish Freshness Academies in countries around the world, which will replicate the headquarters’ management model, be subject to supervision, and fulfill the mission of promoting the philosophy of freshness and culture globally. The philosophy of freshness has been developed based on a variety of traditional philosophies. It is easy to understand and concise, and integrates the essence of “purity, tranquility, and benevolence” from various global systems, making it more likely to be loved and recognized by people in Western societies. Through the global layout of Freshness Academies and the symbolic communication of the “Nine-Palace Dragon”, the governance wisdom of Freshness and products will gain popularity across the globe.
6．Promote the Strategy of Fresh Governance for Adoption by Countries Worldwide
The philosophy of freshness can be applied not only to individuals’ self-cultivation but also to national governance. It can be adopted by governments at all levels around the world. It transcends national borders and carries no ideological overtones related to specific political systems or state structures. As a universal truth applicable across the globe, it enables the “global outreach” of an ideological system—a feat that has been difficult to achieve since ancient times. Governments around the world may, upon authorization by its founder myself, voluntarily adopt this governance strategy to benefit all of humanity and realize the ultimate goal of the philosophy of freshness.
The aforementioned measures can be selectively implemented based on actual conditions, with adjustments and improvements made according to local circumstances. Within the governance scope, we should actively promote the philosophy of freshness. Through systematic theoretical explanations, we must clarify the essence and value of freshness, explain why we pursue “freshness”, how to achieve “freshness”, and promote the atmosphere of “freshness”. This is the most important and fundamental aspect. Innovation knows no bounds. As time passes and the era advances, the concept of “freshness” will continuously draw on innovative momentum and demonstrate lasting vitality. It is expected that the atmosphere of “freshness” will spread across the world, making human life better.
Author Profile
Zhang Fanfan is a poet, ideological scholar, singer, founder of the Freshness Ideology system and Fresh Culture, and founder of Nine-Palace Dragon and new national trend songs. She holds a postgraduate degree in British and American Literature. She has achieved profound accomplishments in criticism, literature, calligraphy and painting, and music. She organized and hosted fifteen sessions of the Freshness Culture Symposium (focused on theoretical exploration) as well as various Freshness cultural activities. These endeavors have received inscriptions and wide recognition from insightful figures at home and abroad, including officials, experts and scholars, who have affirmed its contributions to ideological trends, cultural exchanges and the promotion of global integration.
Publisher：INN ，Please indicate the source of the reprint： https://news.ngoimo.org/global-vision/2025/11/21/archives/24137
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