General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "the ocean is of great significance to the survival and development of human society. The ocean nurtures life, connects the world, and promotes development." The great Chinese nation has a long tradition of caring about, understanding, and managing the ocean, and has accumulated a colorful ocean culture in more than 5000 years of cultural development history. Ocean culture is not unique to Western societies. In recent years, with the continuous deepening of research on the history of Chinese marine culture, people have a deeper understanding of the long history and rich connotations of the Chinese nation's marine culture. Marine culture has also become an important perspective for a deeper understanding of Chinese civilization, especially the five prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization. Grasping the five prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization from this perspective not only helps deepen the scientific understanding of Chinese civilization and excellent traditional culture, but also injects spiritual motivation and provides cultural support for building a maritime power. Reflecting the outstanding continuity of Chinese civilization. China has had a long coastline since ancient times. The development, utilization, and protection of the ocean by the Chinese nation have never been interrupted and have continued to this day, forming a marine culture that emerged from the sea. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the benefits of fishing and salt became the foundation of prosperity for vassal states such as Qi. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, fishing tools were more advanced, and ship equipment was gradually improved. Cultivating the sea, herding and fishing had become an important way of production and life for Chinese people. Subsequently, the marine economy further developed, overseas trade flourished, and the Maritime Silk Road gradually became an important foreign trade channel comparable to the Land Silk Road. Porcelain, tea and other Chinese products flowed to various countries by sea and gradually became the bulk commodities for China's export. The number of coastal trade ports and countries and regions that facilitate trade has also changed accordingly, and the focus of China's foreign trade is gradually shifting towards the sea. The ocean has become an important resource for the continuous inheritance of Chinese civilization, and the marine culture born into the sea is a historical witness to the outstanding continuity of Chinese civilization. Inspire the outstanding innovation of Chinese civilization. The production and life of farming, animal husbandry, and fishing, as well as the trade exchanges connecting the world, not only left many historical traces of ancient Chinese people standing by the sea, but also promoted the continuous innovation and development of the Chinese nation in fields such as science and technology, trade system, etc. For example, in shipbuilding technology, ancient China had the world leading invention of "mortise and tenon joint", which can improve the wind and wave resistance strength of the ship's hull and the stability between its components, greatly enhancing the ship's long-distance navigation capability. In addition to using a compass, ocean navigation also involves the use of transoceanic navigation techniques, which determine the direction and latitude of navigation by observing the sea level height of stars, fully reflecting the development level of ancient Chinese navigation technology. Throughout the feudal dynasties, emphasis has been placed on managing overseas trade, creating a system of overseas trade management represented by the Market Import Department system. The Municipal Import Department is responsible for managing ships and their goods entering and leaving ports, imposing tariffs on imported and exported goods, encouraging foreign trade in China, representing the government in welcoming and sending off foreign envoys, and showcasing the developed institutional civilization of ancient China. The ocean culture standing by the sea constantly inspires the creative spirit of the Chinese nation. Enhance the prominent unity of Chinese civilization. The outstanding unity of Chinese civilization fundamentally determines the integration of various ethnic cultures of the Chinese nation. The prosperity of overseas trade has provided favorable economic conditions for the migration and settlement of different ethnic populations, as well as the exchange and integration of different ethnic cultures. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, the role and status of sea routes in foreign trade have become increasingly prominent, and prosperous coastal cities such as Quanzhou and Guangzhou have emerged in China. These seaport cities, known as "gathering of foreign ships" and "gathering of precious goods", can provide people with rich and superior living conditions, attracting people of different ethnicities and dialects to migrate. They gathered by the sea and laid the foundation for their survival in various aspects of the marine economy, gradually forming similar lifestyles, behavioral patterns, and cultural charm, which played an important role in promoting the formation of a unified multi-ethnic country. For example, Mazu culture is an important component of China's marine culture, serving as a common cultural bond that unites Chinese people at home and abroad. The maritime culture gathered by the sea further enhances the prominent unity of Chinese civilization. Shaping the outstanding inclusiveness of Chinese civilization. The outstanding inclusiveness of Chinese civilization determines the open mindedness of Chinese culture towards world civilization, which is manifested in the formation of a harmonious pattern of diverse religious beliefs coexisting. The ocean is an important foundation for the flourishing of Chinese civilization. Using the sea as a medium, Chinese civilization absorbs and draws on all beneficial achievements of human civilization. The ocean culture based on openness and inclusiveness has become one of the key factors in shaping the outstanding inclusiveness of Chinese civilization. With frequent overseas trade exchanges, the breadth and depth of China's exchanges with Southeast Asia, West Asia, and even North Africa have expanded unprecedentedly. Starting from the seaport cities where foreign businesses gather, Chinese culture has spread to the world, and foreign cultures have also spread to China, injecting new cultural elements into the development of Chinese civilization and deeply influencing itself. The development process of civilization that emerged from the sea has shaped the cultural genes of Chinese civilization, which embrace all rivers and have great tolerance. Highlighting the prominent peace of Chinese civilization. Chinese civilization has outstanding peace. The Chinese civilization advocates harmony in the relationship between people, and stresses harmony in the relationship between people and nature, reflecting the unique wisdom of the Chinese nation. The "harmony" culture it carries is widely recognized by the Chinese people today. Peace is also an important prerequisite for conducting overseas trade, facilitating the flow of ships and bringing benefits to the world. The "harmony" culture has long been deeply integrated into China's long-standing maritime culture. For example, harmony has always been the business principle of Chinese trade. For example, Zheng He's voyages to the West, reaching as far as the east coast of Africa, were not intended to invade and colonize like Western countries, nor to bully the weak or the few, but to develop friendly relations with other countries, sow the seeds of peace and friendship, promote trade and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. The prominent peace of Chinese civilization has been further demonstrated in the historical practice of the Chinese nation's reliance on the sea. (New Society)