Application of the “Unity in Diversity” Concept in Tracing the Origins of Chinese Civilization

Abstract

The concept of “unity in diversity” serves as the foundational framework for tracing the origins of Chinese civilization. This paper critically reexamines the mechanisms driving this formative process, challenging the traditional “Central Plains–centered” model and the enduring pursuit of a singular “taproot system.” Archaeological evidence demonstrated that prehistoric local societies followed markedly different trajectories of social development. Rather than relying on a solitary core radiating outward, these distinct areas engaged in intense, leaderless interactions within an expansive “Chinese interaction sphere.” Elite exchange networks facilitated the sharing of advanced cultural innovations, which generated a collective recognition of a single community—forging a “Consensus China.” Furthermore, the Central Plains functioned not as an independent cradle, but as a dynamic melting pot. Ambitious leaders actively amalgamated multiple external political and religious practices to construct the core culture of the Erlitou period. This decentralized perspective reveals that the “great unification” ideal crystallized from the continuous fission, collision, and amalgamation of various regional cultures, establishing the true prehistoric foundation of a unified multiethnic country.