====== dàtóng: 大同 - Utopia, Great Harmony ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** datong, dàtóng, 大同, Chinese utopia, Great Harmony, Confucian philosophy, Chinese world peace, tianxia wei gong, Book of Rites, Chinese idealism, 小康 (xiaokang)
  * **Summary:** Discover the profound meaning of **大同 (dàtóng)**, a cornerstone of Chinese philosophy representing the ultimate utopian ideal of a "Great Harmony." Originating from Confucian classics, **dàtóng** envisions a world of peace, equality, and universal brotherhood, where all resources are shared and "the world belongs to the people." This entry explores its historical roots, its comparison to the Western concept of "Utopia," and its practical use in modern China, from political rhetoric to everyday conversation.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** dàtóng
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** N/A
  * **Concise Definition:** A classical Chinese concept of a utopian society characterized by universal harmony, equality, and the common good.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **大同 (dàtóng)** is the traditional Chinese vision of a perfect world. Imagine a society where there are no borders, no selfishness, and no conflict. Everyone treats each other like family, the elderly are cared for, the young are educated, and all property is held in common. It's not just a political idea but a deep-seated cultural and moral aspiration for ultimate peace and unity for all of humanity.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **大 (dà):** This character means "big," "great," or "grand." It originates from a pictograph of a person with their arms stretched out wide, signifying size and importance.
  * **同 (tóng):** This character means "same," "together," or "common." It depicts a mouth (口) under a cover, suggesting people speaking or agreeing in unison.
  * Together, **大同 (dàtóng)** literally means "Great Sameness" or "Great Togetherness." This powerfully evokes the core concept: a grand state where all people are united as one, sharing a common world and a common destiny, free from the divisions that cause conflict.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
The concept of **大同 (dàtóng)** is one of the most profound and enduring ideals in Chinese thought. Its most famous description comes from the classic Confucian text, the **《礼记》(Lǐjì - The Book of Rites)**, in a chapter called "The Conveyance of Rites" (礼运).
The text describes **大同** as an era when "the great Dao prevailed, and the world was shared by all" (**大道之行也，天下为公 - Dàdào zhī xíng yě, tiānxià wéi gōng**). In this ideal society, rulers are chosen for their virtue and ability, trust and harmony are universal values, and people care not only for their own family but for all of humanity. This vision contrasts with a lesser, but more realistic, age called **小康 (xiǎokāng)**, or "moderate prosperity," where society is organized by hereditary rule and family units.
**Comparison to Western "Utopia":**
While **大同 (dàtóng)** is often translated as "Utopia," there's a key difference. The Western "Utopia" (a term from Sir Thomas More's 1516 book) literally means "no-place" and often describes a fictional, perfectly designed political or geographical state. **大同**, however, is less a place and more a **moral state of humanity**. It's an achievable, though distant, social and ethical condition rooted in Confucian values of benevolence (仁), righteousness (义), and harmony (和). Its focus is on the moral transformation of society, where everyone internalizes the value of collectivism and public good over personal gain.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
While it is an ancient philosophical term, **大同** remains relevant in modern China.
  * **Political Rhetoric:** The term is frequently invoked by political leaders to express a vision for a better future. Sun Yat-sen, the founder of the Republic of China, was a major proponent of **大同**. Modern leaders also use it to frame goals for global cooperation and a "community with a shared future for mankind" (人类命运共同体), which echoes the spirit of **大同**.
  * **Idealism and Aspiration:** In everyday conversation, mentioning **大同** signals a high-minded, idealistic goal. It can be used earnestly to talk about hopes for world peace, or sometimes with a hint of gentle cynicism to imply that an idea is "too good to be true."
  * **Place and Company Names:** **大同** is a common name for places, most famously **Datong City (大同市)** in Shanxi province, a major historical and industrial center. It is also used in company names to evoke a sense of grand vision and cooperation.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 中国古代哲学家们描绘了一个**大同**世界的美好蓝图。
    * Pinyin: Zhōngguó gǔdài zhéxuéjiāmen miáohuìle yí ge **dàtóng** shìjiè de měihǎo lántú.
    * English: Ancient Chinese philosophers depicted a beautiful blueprint for a world of **Great Harmony**.
    * Analysis: This sentence uses **大同** in its classic, philosophical context, referring to the utopian ideal.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 实现世界**大同**是全人类的共同理想。
    * Pinyin: Shíxiàn shìjiè **dàtóng** shì quán rénlèi de gòngtóng lǐxiǎng.
    * English: To achieve world **harmony** is the common ideal of all mankind.
    * Analysis: Here, **大同** is paired with "world" (世界) to mean "world harmony" or "global utopia," a common modern usage.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 你这个想法太不现实了，简直就是**大同**社会。
    * Pinyin: Nǐ zhège xiǎngfǎ tài bù xiànshí le, jiǎnzhí jiùshì **dàtóng** shèhuì.
    * English: Your idea is too unrealistic; it's practically a **utopian** society.
    * Analysis: This shows a slightly colloquial and cynical use of the term, equating **大同** with something impossibly idealistic.
  * **Example 4:**
    * “天下为公”是**大同**思想的核心。
    * Pinyin: "Tiānxià wéi gōng" shì **dàtóng** sīxiǎng de héxīn.
    * English: "The world belongs to all" is the core of the **Great Harmony** philosophy.
    * Analysis: This sentence directly links **大同** to its most famous principle, showing a deeper understanding of the concept.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 孙中山先生毕生追求的政治目标就是实现**大同**。
    * Pinyin: Sūn Zhōngshān xiānshēng bìshēng zhuīqiú de zhèngzhì mùbiāo jiùshì shíxiàn **dàtóng**.
    * English: The political goal that Mr. Sun Yat-sen pursued his entire life was to realize **Great Harmony**.
    * Analysis: This provides a specific historical context, linking the term to a famous modern figure.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 我们公司的名字叫**大同**集团，希望能和所有伙伴合作共赢。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī de míngzi jiào **Dàtóng** Jítuán, xīwàng néng hé suǒyǒu huǒbàn hézuò gòngyíng.
    * English: Our company is called **Datong** Group; we hope to achieve win-win cooperation with all our partners.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates the use of **大同** as a proper name for a company, leveraging its positive connotations of unity and cooperation.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 我下周要去山西的**大同**市出差。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ xià zhōu yào qù Shānxī de **Dàtóng** Shì chūchāi.
    * English: I'm going on a business trip to **Datong** City in Shanxi next week.
    * Analysis: This is a crucial example that distinguishes the philosophical concept from the place name. The context of "City" (市) makes it clear.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 在我们实现**大同**的理想之前，必须先建成小康社会。
    * Pinyin: Zài wǒmen shíxiàn **dàtóng** de lǐxiǎng zhīqián, bìxū xiān jiànchéng xiǎokāng shèhuì.
    * English: Before we can realize the ideal of **Great Harmony**, we must first build a moderately prosperous society (xiaokang).
    * Analysis: This sentence shows the relationship between **大同** and **小康 (xiǎokāng)**, positioning **大同** as the ultimate, long-term goal.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 消除贫困和战争是走向**大同**世界的第一步。
    * Pinyin: Xiāochú pínkùn hé zhànzhēng shì zǒuxiàng **dàtóng** shìjiè de dì yī bù.
    * English: Eliminating poverty and war is the first step toward a world of **Great Harmony**.
    * Analysis: This connects the abstract ideal of **大同** to concrete, practical steps, showing how the concept is applied to modern global issues.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 这本书探讨了儒家的**大同**与柏拉图的《理想国》之间的异同。
    * Pinyin: Zhè běn shū tàntǎole Rújiā de **dàtóng** yǔ Bólātú de "Lǐxiǎngguó" zhījiān de yìtóng.
    * English: This book explores the similarities and differences between the Confucian concept of **Great Harmony** and Plato's "Republic."
    * Analysis: This shows **大同** being used in a comparative philosophical discussion, highlighting its status as a major world philosophy concept.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Place Name vs. Concept:** The most common mistake is confusing the philosophical concept **大同 (dàtóng)** with the city **大同市 (Dàtóng Shì)** in Shanxi. Context is everything. If someone says they are "going to 大同," they mean the city. If they are discussing philosophy, ideals, or "world peace," they mean the concept.
  * **Not Just "Utopia":** Avoid treating **大同** as a simple, one-to-one translation of the English word "Utopia." While they are similar, **大同** is deeply tied to Confucian ethics and the idea of transforming human morality to create a shared, harmonious world (**天下为公**). "Utopia" is a broader, often more secular or political term from a different tradition. Using **大同** shows a deeper cultural understanding.
  * **Idealistic Connotation:** Be aware that in casual conversation, calling an idea "**大同**" can imply it's overly idealistic and disconnected from reality, similar to calling something "utopian" in English. The tone of voice will tell you whether it's meant sincerely or skeptically.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[天下为公]] (tiānxià wéi gōng) - The core principle of **大同**, meaning "The world belongs to the public" or "The world is for all."
  * [[小康]] (xiǎokāng) - A "moderately prosperous society." In Confucian thought, this is the realistic, achievable stage of societal development that precedes the ultimate ideal of **大同**.
  * [[乌托邦]] (wūtuōbāng) - The direct phonetic translation of the Western concept "Utopia." Used when specifically discussing the non-Chinese idea.
  * [[和谐]] (héxié) - Harmony. A key societal value and a necessary condition for achieving a **大同** society.
  * [[世界和平]] (shìjiè hépíng) - World peace. A modern, straightforward term that expresses the main goal of the **大同** ideal.
  * [[理想国]] (lǐxiǎngguó) - "Ideal State/Country." The Chinese translation for Plato's *The Republic*, another famous work of philosophy about an ideal society.
  * [[礼记]] (Lǐjì) - The *Book of Rites*. The Confucian classic where the concept of **大同** is formally described.