Chapter Two Prosperity and Strength:A Wonderful Dream and Century-old Anticipation of the Chinese Nation

Good life in the mind of ancient Chinese people is like this“people eat to their fill, dress beautifully, live comfortably and enjoy customs”.The ideal society conceived by sages and wise men is that“the old are supported, the middle-aged are employed and the young grow up healthily.Those who have no kin and cannot support themselves are all supported”in the ideal picture that“the aged dress decently and eat meat and common people are free from hunger and coldness”.Various ideal modes regard to life and society involve conditions of abundant material life based on stable social environment and abundant material wealth.To break away from poverty and pursue prosperity and strength, people have explored in all aspects.They lived on hunting to strive for survival; or found the state by agriculture and pursue adequate food and clothing; or rejuvenated the state by industry and pursued prosperity and strength; or prospered the state by trade and seek hegemony, etc.Although means adopted are different and realms reached are also different, pursuit for prosperity and strength has never been shaken.A human development history is human beings'pursuit for prosperity and strength.