Save Those in Danger and Help Those in Hardship
This concept originated in the Outlaws of the Marsh (Shui Hu). As a traditional virtue, the idea is reflected in many Chinese classics. For example, the Book of History, a pre-Qin classic, advised the ruler to avoid oppressing the helpless or neglecting the poor. In The Analects of Confucius, the sage declared that a gentleman helps the distressed instead of further enriching the rich. In his eponymous book, Mozi (c. 468-376 B.C.) advocated universal love. "Let him who has strength be alert to help others, let him who has wealth endeavor to share it with others, and let him who possesses the Dao (Way) teach others persuasively," he wrote. "In this way, the hungry will be fed, and the cold will be clothed.When tumult is brought to an end, sound governance will be secured." A more vivid expression of the idea is captured in the Chinese proverb, "Better send charcoal in snowy weather than add flowers to a brocade." The notion not only stresses a sense of responsibility but also expresses sympathy for those in distress. It gives the benefactor a sense of joy.
Influenced by this idea, the Chinese developed a spirit of unity and mutual assistance to navigate difficulties. In recent years, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government have been promoting core socialist values in society to preserve and revive the traditional virtues of unity and mutual assistance as well as assistance to people in need, calling on people from all walks of life to get involved in the cause of poverty reduction and take concrete actions to help the impoverished. Relentless efforts resulted in China securing a complete victory in the fight against poverty and welcoming a moderately prosperous society in all respects by lifting nearly 100 million rural population out of poverty, eliminating overall regional poverty, and eradicating extreme poverty, which now serves as a shining example of how the Chinese practice this traditional virtue.
扶危济困
扶危济困出自《水浒全传》，意为扶助面临危难的人，救济陷入困苦的人。扶危济困是中华民族的传统美德。先秦典籍《尚书》告诫执政者，不要虐待那些鳏寡孤独求告无门的人，不要抛弃困苦贫穷无所依靠的人。孔子提出，君子应当帮助有急需的人，而不是本来富有的人。墨子（约前468—前376之间）希望人们爱人如己（兼相爱），主张有力气的人尽力帮助他人，有钱财的人努力分给他人，有知识的人勉力教育他人，才能让饥饿的人得到食物，寒冷的人得到衣服，从而结束混乱，实现善治。中国民间谚语中还有“与其锦上添花，不如雪中送炭”的形象说法。扶危济困不仅是一种外在的义务或责任，更是对他人困难感同身受的同情心。扶危济困不仅能帮助他人渡过难关，还能给施助者带来内心愉悦。
基于扶危济困的传统美德，中国人培养形成面对困难时团结互助的精神。近年来，中国共产党和中国政府推动全社会践行社会主义核心价值观，传承中华民族守望相助、和衷共济、扶贫济困的传统美德，引导社会各界关爱贫困群众、关心减贫事业、投身脱贫行动。经过不懈努力，中国近1亿农村贫困人口全部脱贫，脱贫攻坚战取得了全面胜利，区域性整体贫困得到解决，完成了消除绝对贫困的艰巨任务，全面建成小康社会。这正是扶危济困精神在当代中国的生动实践。
