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.
While it is an ancient philosophical term, 大同 remains relevant in modern China.