Abstract: Japanese thinker Daigo Ikeda studied China based on its historical and traditional culture, pointing out that China is the key to achieving world peace and development. He talked with intellectuals around the world, analyzed the difficulties in Western modern civilization, and studied the cultural heritage of Chinese civilization from the perspective of “people-orientation”. In order to break the limitations of exclusivity and homogenization in Western modern civilization, Ikeda interpreted the modernity of Chinese civilization, pointing out that the “universality” of Chinese civilizations pacifism and the unity of axiology and ontology have the possibility to surpass Western modern civilization. Therefore, Ikeda is full of expectations for China in the 21st century, and believes that Chinese civilization will play an important role in forming a new world civilization order that truly conforms to the interests of human beings. Ikeda's interpretation of the modernity of Chinese civilization provides a comparative dimension between Eastern and Western civilizations for understanding the five outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization: continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness, and peace. It provides some inspiration and reference for the construction of modern Chinese civilization.

Key words: Ikeda Daisaku, Chinese civilization, Western modernity, people-orientation