The Principles of Chinese Harmony Idea and Its Inspiration to the Sustainable Development of Modern Olympic Movement AIHONG ZHANG
Advanced Institution for Olympic Study, Beijing Sport University, Beijing
Abstract
Introduction:
In the practice of modern Olympic Movement, there are not only the ideological and practical conflicts, but also the misapplication of the original understanding of the theory. The sustainable development of the Olympic Movement has encountered a bottleneck and Chinese harmony theory may be an alternative solution to these problems.
Harmony, or ^He^ is an important cultural concept in China and Japan. In Chinese traditional philosophy, harmony is the relative stability of the movement of Yin and Yang and it depends on these following principles. First, the integrating of harmony and difference. In ancient Chinese literature, Harmony means different things or even the opposite ones combined together. Second, complementation and advantage seeking. The relationship of allelopathy different elements contributes to achieve the optimization of a functional system. Third, continuous renewing by disharmony. In Chinese language, ^He^ means the process of integrating all different elements or even the opposite elements. The addition of new elements broke the balance of the system but it can promote the integration and then achieve a new balance and stability. Fourth, the objective principle of people-oriented. In ancient China, there are three harmonies for human beings, harmonious life, interpersonal harmony and the harmony between man and the universe. In short, that is being harmonious with one^s self, harmonious with society and harmonious with ecology.
Methods:
Using the methods of documentary review and the historical analysis, this paper intends to explore the principles of Chinese Harmony Idea and its inspiration to the sustainable development of modern Olympic movement
Results:
The theoretical basis of the Olympic Movement is western philosophy which carries some certain rigid principles. As a result, there is a sharp conflict between the practice and ideal of Olympic Movement. To some extent, the concept of harmony of the East puts forward some inspiration theoretically for solving the problems of modern Olympic movement.
Firstly, The harmonious symbiosis of different things lies in finding the basic points of interconnection. The principle of integrating the harmony and difference provide provide a possibility to find the balance between commerce politics and the Olympic principles.
Secondly, the principle of structural principle of complementation and advantage seeking supports the degree and range of political and commercial participation meanwhile a necessary cautiousness to the negative impact on the Olympics.
Thirdly, the principle of continuous renewing by disharmony provides a theoretical explanation for the inheritance and the discarding, the reformation and innovation of the Olympic Movement.
Fourthly, the people-oriented principle is both the eastern idea and the foundation of the core theory of the Olympic Movement which sets an optimization goal for the system of Olympic movements. All the programs implemented by the IOC must contribute to the achievement of the people-oriented principle.
Discussion and Conclusion:
New theoretical complements are necessary to the sustainable development of Olympic movement. The idea and principles of Chinese Harmony Idea inspire us to rethink the problems arising during the evolution of the Olympic Movement.
Keywords: Chinese Harmony Idea- Inspiration to IOC- People-oriented Principle- Sustainable Development- Community with a Shared Future for Mankind
Topic: Traditional sports and physical culture in Asia
