Cultivating self, family, state: An ancient path to good governance

"Cultivate yourself, regulate your family, govern your state, and bring peace to the world." This core tenet from The Book of Rites outlines the Confucian political philosophy.

This ancient wisdom offers profound lessons for the self-revolution and governance capacity of the Communist Party of China in the new era. For officials, "cultivating the self" means strict self-discipline and Party spirit – the foundation for exercising power within bounds. "Regulating the family" means managing those closest to you, as family conduct shapes Party conduct. "Governing the state" means turning personal cultivation into effective governance and fulfilling duties on the job.

This logic applies equally to cultural welfare: Cultural workers must first cultivate themselves to keep their creative direction on track; project managers must regulate their families to ensure fair resource distribution; and in public cultural services, intangible heritage protection and people-centered programs, only by governing responsibly can cultural resources truly reach the people.

More than an ideal for ancient scholars, this principle now serves as a spiritual compass for Party members in the new era – starting with oneself, with one's family, and with one's post, to turn cultural welfare projects into initiatives that win public trust.