If Greek antiquity for centuries was thought by Europeans (and Russians) as their own, "native" and glorious past, then China was assigned the role of "other," some eternal exotic. The modern French philosopher François Julien invites the reader to travel West through the East: through Chinese classics to their own origins. Comparing the two traditions, the author sees in them the implementation of two possible strategies of activity (including, first of all, activities that are meaningful and meaningful). For the Greeks, this is a direct path of valor in fair combat and in litigation, an intense search for truth in dramatic action and philosophical dialogue. For the Chinese - the path of evasiveness, allegory, playing with hints in poetry and politics, the skill of reading between the lines and statements in between... But perhaps, having made a distinction to the end, we will find in China a lot close and understandable to us, and in ourselves - a lot of "Chinese"?