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Pax Romana and Pax Sinica: A Tale of Two Empires
Choong, Chee Pang
Choong, Chee Pang
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Choong, Chee Pang
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Keywords
Pax
stability
harmonious society
Christianity
Confucianism
stability
harmonious society
Christianity
Confucianism
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Abstract
For the ancient Romans the Pax Romana had to be maintained at all costs for the socio-political stability of the great Roman Empire. Modern China' s current quest for a“harmonious society"seems to have been prompted by a similar concern,hence the Pax Sinica. There is no question about the legitimacy of the respective concerns of the two “Empires" for this matter,although fundamental questions on the means by which the pax is maintained may justifiably be raised. Recognizing the vast contextual differences between the two Empires,this paper does not attempt to do a comparative study in this paper in any technical sense. Yet what links the two cases together is the consistency of the Christian understanding of the“two kingdoms" and the nature of powers and authorities throughout the ages. While recognizing the raison d'etre of China's quest for socio-political harmony and stability,the paper takes a strong view that the end alone should not be allowed to justify the means without equality and justice. “Ancient wisdom" in both Chinese and Biblical resources are readily available for those who are seriously and sincerely committed to such a laudable project. But its use will require a great deal of modern wisdom,as well as political will and moral courage.
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2011
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With permission of the license/copyright holder