This volume of our publication series deals with the term human dignity, which is taking a central position in the German constitution. "Human dignity is invioble" is the beginning of article 1, section 1 of the German constitution. The German idea of state is deduced from this concept. The term human dignity is central for the idea of man and the understanding of society as well as for all political decisions in Germany.

Also the Chinese constitution states that the dignity of persons is invioble. Art. 38:" The personal dignity of citizens of the People's Republic of China is inviolable. Insult, libel, false charge or frame-up directed against citizens by any means is prohibited." Instead of "human dignity" like in the German constitution, the Chinese constitution speaks about the "dignity of citizens". The German constitution does not clearly define the term "human dignity". The Chinese constitution relates the term to insult, libel, false charge and defamation. In general the term "dignity" does not appear as prominent as eminent as in the German constitution.

What kind of understanding the term "human dignity" meets in China and how the German text is interpreted from a Chinese Confucianist point of view is the subject of a second text in this publication. The renowned Hongkong theology professor Pilgrim W. K. Lo wrote the essay "In morality: Impulses from the text 'In the center - human dignity' as a Chinese reation to the German document.