百川归海 — “All rivers run into the sea”

Liu An, a thinker and writer during the Western Han Dynasty, was a grandson of Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang and inherited his father's title as the Prince of Huainan. He enjoyed reading and playing the zither, possessing a quick and agile mind. He once gathered thousands of scholars and guests, including experts in astronomy, medicine, calendrical calculations, and divination, to collectively compile a multi-hundred-thousand-character book called 'Honglie,' also known as 'Huainanzi.'

One chapter in 'Huainanzi,' titled 'Jilunxun,' discusses aspects of human social development, with its fundamental views aligning with historical materialism. The chapter describes how our ancestors originally lived in caves and by the water, dressed very simply, and endured extremely difficult lives.

Later, sages emerged, leading people to construct palaces; thus, people moved out of caves into houses that offered shelter from wind, rain, cold, and heat. The sages also taught people to make farming tools and weapons, used for cultivation and hunting fierce beasts, ensuring a more secure life than before.

Subsequently, the sages established rituals and music, setting various rules that instilled etiquette and discipline among people. From this, it can be seen that society is constantly evolving, and people do not always live in the same way. Therefore, ancient systems, if no longer suitable, should be abolished, and current ones, if appropriate, should be promoted.

All of the above illustrates that, just as thousands of rivers from different sources ultimately flow into the sea, people's diverse actions, though different, all aim to achieve better social governance and lead more prosperous lives.