Global Celebrity Tan Shibo (Forty-Eight)

Zheng Shiling.

Professor, Institute of architecture and urban space, Tongji University, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, academician of French Architecture Academy, Shanghai 2010 World Expo theme deduction consultant, Tongji University professor.

A great World Expo symbolizes the progress of the world, condenses the essence of society and human thought, and develops and disseminates human ideals. It is a great experiment of human society.

The theme is the soul of World Expo. It is the meaning, content, method, orientation and goal of World Expo. It is the ideological pillar of World Expo. It runs through the history and process of World Expo, is the distillation of the evolution of world history, and embodies the world development and the spirit of the times in all historical periods.

The theme of every session of the World Expo is not the core and major issue shared by all countries in the world.

To carry forward the progress and explore the future is a strategic development issue that all countries and all parties are trying to explore. It is the expression of the spirit of the times and the orientation of value. At the same time, it can provide imaginative space for all countries and parties participating in the exhibition and give full play to their creativity and have universal significance.

World Expo has brought people around the world together to explore and look forward to the future.

Nishita Kenzabu, the Japanese architect who was responsible for the planning and venue design of Osaka World Expo in 1970, said: "the main purpose of the Modern Exposition should be to bring together people from all over the world who represent the wisdom and culture of all mankind, so that they can exchange ideas and feelings face to face."

World Expo encourages people's progress, promotes cultural integration and creates communication space. The theme of World Expo is the topic, bond and platform that connect and unite people.

The magazine "today's French architecture" published in August {page_break}1937 described World Expo in this way: "the great exposition has always expressed the shape of their times, expressing the prevailing custom of a prosperous period, some courageous leading attempts to coexist with them, and a vague recollection of the past fashions."

World Expo is the crystallization of human wisdom. The theme of World Expo is full of philosophies, inspiring people to think about the future and the reality that people can touch.

The theme of World Expo contains both broad connotation and deep concern for society.

The themes of past World Expo are related to industry, information, civilization, science, technology, culture, art, education, pportation, sports, ecology, environment, resources and so on. People, cities and nature are the eternal themes of World Expo.

This is the basic starting point of the theme of Shanghai World Expo in 2010. In 2010, the theme of Shanghai World Expo, "Better City, better life", pointed to the two important aspects of the future "city and life", involving the relationship between man and city, between man and nature, showing the progress of the city and the progress of mankind, and building a brilliant future in the ideal.

In 2010, World Expo will demonstrate the challenges faced by human society in the urban age, promote the protection and inheritance of urban culture and natural heritage, promote the concept of sustainable urban development, and seek the future urbanization of developing countries.

The city will continue for thousands of generations, and the city is formed in the long run. As a city, Shanghai has a history of more than 1000 years.

After the Expo, the city will continue for millennia, and will continue to develop towards a higher level.

Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, said, "people gather in cities. They live in cities for a better life."

This passage incisively expounds the theme of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. Its connotation is very profound. It means that the city is better than other regions.

But if we want to make progress in life, we can only achieve better city.

Human beings have created cities and urban life. Human beings have realized their dreams in the process of building cities, and have also reshaped themselves.

Lewis Mountfort, an American urban theorist, said: "people in cities can be as lofty as gods after getting rid of all kinds of prohibition and narrow sense."

The city is the crystallization of human civilization. The word "civilization" in many western texts derives from Latin Civitas.

The city is eclectic, inclusive and constantly updated, promoting the perfection of human social order, the accumulation of culture and the accumulation of wealth.

Man has created cities, and cities have rich, exquisite and beautiful life.

Shanghai World Expo's pursuit of the ideal city is embodied in the concept of "harmonious city". The concept of "harmony" is contained in ancient Chinese culture.

The harmony between man and nature, the harmony between heaven and man, and harmony between body and mind are respected.

The book of rites, when depicting the "Great Harmony Society", puts forward: "the journey of the road, the public for the world, the selection of virtuous and the ability, the faith and the reconciliation."

At the same time, "harmony" is also seen in many Western ideals.

Ancient Greek philosophers systematically put forward the theory of harmony, which includes opposites and unity.

In the Republic and the law, Platon, the Greek philosopher, seeks "the whole society will develop in a very harmonious way, and all classes will get the happy state that nature gives them".

The goal of urban development is like the Istanbul declaration of the UN Habitat in 1996. "Our city must be a place where human beings can live in dignity, health, safety, happiness and hope." this is also the theme of Shanghai World Expo.

We look forward to visiting World Expo next year, looking forward to the great event in World Expo, and looking forward to visiting the colorful exhibition hall.