Chinese philosophy distinct from the West

Chinese culture has a rich history of 5,000 years. It is closely linked to the Chinese language, and facilitated the emergence of Chinese literature, and documentation in the form of written records and printed books. Books are closely linked to the rise and fall of a culture. Even in the downfall of a society, the historical facts are recorded in writing in order to provide posterity with the evidence of the achievements, failures and the reasons for the downfall of that society.

Chinese culture is unthinkable without these written testimonies, which are not only cultural expressions of self-assurance and representation but also artifacts of self-reflection. Literature and culture therefore have a relationship of reference.

Chinese culture owes its raison d'être primarily to three main philosophies, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, all of which could be considered to have gone through five phases.