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In its classical form, the term can be interpreted as 文教(wénjiào, “humanistic education”) + 化育(huàyù, “transformational development”). Often cited are the following examples:
We observe the patterns of the skies in order to inspect seasonal changes. We observe the patterns of human behavior in order to transform and actualize all under Heaven.
Spread humanistic education in order to manifest its transformative potential. Establish military capabilities in order to have a grasp on (its) power.
Humanistic education, based on the tradition of rites and propriety 禮教/礼教(lǐjiào) have the transformative potential to actualize all under Heaven 人文化成. This is often juxtaposed or contrasted with the use of punishment 刑(xíng) or military might 武(wǔ) to establish power and control over a populace, as can be seen in the quote below:
南北朝, 齊王融, 〈從武帝琅邪城講武應詔詩〉, quoted in 《藝文類聚》卷五十九 ,武部,戰伐:
早逢文化洽,復屬武功宣
Having reached an ideal state of (governance by the means of) transformative education at an early stage, we can now focus on the establishment of military power (in the region).
文化 over here is synonymous with 文治(wénzhì, “governance by means of culture, education, rites and music”). This is not the same as culture in the modern sense of the term.
It is within this classical context that the Japanese first coined the term 文化(bunka) to name an era during the Edo period.
When used to translate Kultur during the Meiji restoration, 文化(bunka) is possibly a contraction of 文明開化(bunmeikaika, “to open up and transform through civilization”),[2] which takes the meaning of a civilizing agent i.e. Culture.
Like the term "culture" in English, 文化 (wénhuà) can refer to both culture in the sense of a society's arts or customs, as well the attitudes and behaviours of a particular group of people, as in a "company culture". However, 文化 (wénhuà) cannot refer to "culture" in the biological sense; instead the term 培養物/培养物 is used. The verb 培養/培养 (péiyǎng) is to cultivate.