Zoulu (culture)

Zoulu culture () refers to lands and regions of cultural prosperity. The name of Zoulu originated from the combination of the names of the states of Zou (now Zoucheng) and Lu (now Qufu), which were in modern Shandong Province, and the hometowns of great Chinese philosophers Mencius and Confucius, respectively. During Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period, the Zoulu area, due to rich relics of Yin and Dongyi cultures, and also influences from Zhou culture alone, formed a strong cultural atmosphere. As a result, Zoulu became a descriptor for regions of flourishing and prosperous cultures.

In this ancient land, many thinkers such as Yanzi, ancient craftsman Lu Ban, Zengzi, Zisi and Mozi came to this fertile soil. Their ancestors were here since prehistoric times.

In history, the name became the synonym for places rich of culture and education. For example, the cities of the Chaoshan area (Chaozhou, Jieyang, Shantou) and Fujian area (namely Fuzhou, Putian, and Quanzhou) are referred to as the Haibin Zoulu () and the cities in the Yangtze valley, such as Jinhua, are known as the Jiangnan Zoulu ().

Quote

There is a quote from Mencius - Liang Hui Wang II, 19 (孟子-梁惠王下, 19):

鄒與魯鬨。穆公問曰：「吾有司死者三十三人，而民莫之死也。誅之，則不可勝誅；不誅，則疾視其長上之死而不救，如之何則可也？」

孟子對曰：「凶年饑歲，君之民老弱轉乎溝壑，壯者散而之四方者，幾千人矣；而君之倉廩實，府庫充，有司莫以告，是上慢而殘下也。曾子曰：『戒之戒之！出乎爾者，反乎爾者也。』夫民今而後得反之也。君無尤焉。君行仁政，斯民親其上、死其長矣。」

See also

• Chinese Cultural Renaissance
• Qilu culture
• Hundred Schools of Thought

References