[HWPL Peace Education Textbook 1-2] Harmony | How All Things in Nature Live Together

[HWPL Peace Education Textbook Chapter 1] The Original State of All Creation

[1-2] Harmony | How All Things in Nature Live Together

[Learning Objectives]

1. Understand that all things in nature cooperate with each other to achieve harmony while maintaining diversity.

2. Explore the answers to world peace within the forms of nature.

◆ Learning Peace from Harmonious Coexistence of All Things

Harmony Based on Diversity

Diversity is an inherent characteristic of all things in nature. Harmony refers to a state where various entities coexist without conflict. It's akin to different colors of paint blending together to create a beautiful painting. As we observe the harmonious coexistence of all things in nature, let's contemplate the form of peace that humanity should aspire to.

Harmonious Forms in Nature

1) Spectrum of Light

Passing light through a prism causes it to refract into various colors and wavelengths. This dispersion and arrangement of light based on wavelengths are known as a spectrum. The reason we can see numerous colors is that light contains a variety of overlapping wavelengths, creating harmony.

Spectrum (Image from Pixabay)

2) Ecological Balance and Harmony Based on Diversity

Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans, while 29% is land. Both oceans and land are composed of diverse ecosystems, hosting countless species. Even within the same species, there exists a remarkable genetic diversity. Ecosystems achieve balance and harmony based on this diversity.

Marine Ecosystem (Image from Gettyimage)

Harmony Found in Human Society

1) Various Instruments and Sounds in an Orchestra

Orchestral music combines different instruments, each producing its unique sound, yet they harmonize together to create richness in tone and emotion, ranging from tranquility to grandeur, cheerfulness to mystery. When a particular instrument takes the lead, others support it, creating harmony. Like the harmony in nature, the beautiful music of an orchestra requires mutual respect between conductors and musicians, as well as among players of different instruments.

Orchestra (Image from Pixabay)

2) Diversity of Nations and Sports in the Olympics

Held every two years alternating between Summer and Winter, the Olympics are a global sports festival transcending race, nationality, and religion. Originating from the ancient Olympic Games in Greece, the modern Olympics were revived by Pierre de Coubertin in the late 19th century. The Olympics involve diverse nations competing in various sports. However, the Olympics are not merely about inter-country competition; they gather the world to engage in fair competition, accept the results, and learn mutual respect and cooperation. The Olympics are a celebration of humanity's pursuit of a beautiful world of peace.

Olympic Rings (Image from Pixabay)

◆ Common Knowledge in World History |Olympic Rings

The five-color rings symbolize the five continents

The modern Olympics, organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) every four years for both Summer and Winter Games, are the world's largest comprehensive sports event and the most prestigious one. Symbolically, they inherit the traditions of the ancient Olympic Games.

Founded by French nobleman Pierre de Coubertin, the modern Olympics aimed to promote friendship and harmony among the youth of the world through sports competitions. The IOC was established in 1894, and the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in Athens in 1896.

The Olympic flag, which features five interconnected rings in blue, yellow, black, green, and red, represents the five continents of Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas.

The five-ring symbol was officially used for the first time at the 7th Olympics in Belgium. The Antwerp Olympics of 1920 saw 29 countries and 2,626 athletes competing in 22 sports and 154 events. The Antwerp Olympics, featuring the five rings and the Olympic oath, were considered a significant event that solidified the format of the Olympics and played a role in healing the wounds of World War I.

On the other hand, the Olympic torch did not exist in ancient Olympic Games. It was introduced in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and was lit by Karl Diem, who laid the foundations of German sports.

◆ Reflection:

Observe the various ecosystems and diverse forms of life around you (meadows, forests, wetlands, etc.). Express your observations through writing, drawing, or photography, and explain them.

In the harmonious coexistence of all things in nature, respect is a value that humanity must learn. To achieve harmony, we need an attitude of respect that goes beyond acknowledging differences to truly honoring others. Think of someone you haven't respected before. Then, refer to the table below to find ways to respect that person and put them into practice.