To explain the present, the Chinese Communist Party often turns to the past. One of its favorite pastimes is to deploy China's decorated history and the wisdom of its ancients to explain its policies and bolster its authority.
For example, the CCP frequently offers the (largely nonviolent) 15th century maritime voyages of Zheng He, who projected Chinese power and carried Chinese treasure to destinations as far flung as the Middle East and Africa, to support the notion of its "peaceful rise" in the 21st century. For his part, Mao Zedong was fond of quoting Sun Tzu and the Chinese classic "Three Kingdoms," and today Xi Jinping keeps a Rolodex of wise sayings from political philosophers at the ready.
Despite the homage paid to these leading lights, Beijing's behavior is growing increasingly at odds with much of their counsel. That is to the detriment of China and the world.