Abstract: In the special era of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, Gu Yanwu made a deep reflection on historical traditions and realistic issues, and put forward the famous distinction between "the state" and "the world".Gu Yanwu's "state view" summarized the historical commonality of "state" and believed that "state" is a political entity that integrates the three elements of the ancestral temple, community and territory. Gu Yanwu's "view of the world" is based on the history culture and language traditions of "the world"; "benevolence and righteousness" are the core connotations of "the world"; the construction of "customs and morals" is the practical strategy of "protecting the world"; "protecting civilization from barbarism" is the highest principle with national interests and civilized life as the top priority. Gu Yanwu determined the prerequisite importance of "the world" to "the state", clarified the division of responsibility within civilization, and established everyone's "subjectivity of responsibility" for the development of civilization and nation.Gu Yanwu completed the reconstruction of the meaning of "the world" through reflection on "history" and "reality". It constitutes an important content in the historical semantic change of the concept of "the world", and has played a huge role in Chinese history. It has also become an important cultural resource for the social construction and ideological development of modern China.

Key words: Gu Yanwu, the state, the world, benevolence and righteousness