Abstract: In face of the conflict against modern individualism since the great social transformation with the eastward spread of Western culture in the late Qing Dynasty, it has been a core issue in the century-long debate between “the ancient versus the modern” to discuss the destiny of ancient Chinese concept of “family” in the modernity transformation and the value of “family” in modern Chinese society. In contrary to the anti-familism trend during the May 4th period, LIANG Shu-ming objects to simply denying family system based on progressivism and considers family as an important legacy of Chinese culture. According to LIANG, family in Chinese culture is not only a moral source that cultivates morality but also plays a religious role for people to find life meaning. Chinese people organize their society with ethics by extending the relationships in a family. Such organization is different from group organization for it doesn't have boundary or forms conflicts. The wisdom of relativism of Chinese culture based on ethics can eliminate the value conflicts between individualism and collectivism in Western culture.

Key words: LIANG Shu-ming, Chinese culture, family, individual, ethics