Title: The Ancient-Modern Debate in the Clash of Civilizations

Abstract: The clash of civilizations is a fundamental phenomenon in human history. In the modern era, this has been characterized by modern civilization’s subversion of traditional civilization. In the Western world, this dynamic is where research interests in comparative civilization studies originate. In the non-Western world, this dynamic has precipitated convoluted transitions from the “traditional” to the “modern.” China’s historical transition from the traditional to the modern is often understood solely under the binary framework of Western influence and Chinese reception. Even though Western influences on China were historically true, they were not the only sources of Chinese modernity, which was simultaneously driven by the internal dynamics of Chinese civilization. Experiencing rapid material advancement in its process of modernization, China is integrating in the world of global modernity, which requires a more dialectical mindset that complicates the binary opposition between tradition and modernity, between China and the West.

Keywords: clash of civilizations, ancient-modern transformation, ancient-modern debate

Author: Jiantao Ren, Professor, School of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.

DOI: 10.19967/j.cnki.flc.2026.01.005