THE CONCEPT OF 自由 / FREEDOM IN THE CHINESE LANGUAGE AND TRADITIONS

Currently, 自由 / Freedom is one of the twelve basic values of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which indicates the relevance of this study. The purpose of the article is to determine the content of the concept of “Freedom” and its specificity in the Chinese linguistic culture. The following research methods were used: analysis of written sources; semantic, etymological, derivational, contextual and conceptual analysis. The article identifies five stages in the formation of the name of the concept and its understanding; it is concluded that this concept is closely related to the development of philosophy, religion and politics of China in different historical periods. Initially, this concept has a negative connotation and is used to denote the behaviour that does not comply with moral norms. Under the influence of religious teachings, the understanding of “Freedom” as spiritual liberation and improvement is formed. At the beginning of the twentieth century in the Chinese ethnoculture, a new understanding of “Freedom” appears, the word 自由 / Freedom is used in the meaning of “liberalism”; further work on the translation of the works of Marxism-Leninism creates the basis for the creation of the ethnospecific concept of “freedom” in the Chinese linguistic culture. The author found that the concept of “Freedom” in the Chinese language is represented by the words 自在 [zìzài], 自由 [zìyóu] and 解放 [jiěfàng], and the concept of “Freedom” in Russian linguistic culture corresponds to the word 解放 / Liberation. The list of values of socialism with Chinese characteristics includes the word 自由 / Liberty, Freedom and Independence. The key to understanding the concept of 自由 / Freedom is its inextricable relationship with norms and rules. It is believed that only following the law can achieve real freedom, which is understood by native speakers as the possibility of free movement and achievement of wealth.