Confucians Do Not Understand “Heaven”: How Can Tianrenheyi Be Achieved?

“Tianrenheyi” (Unity of Heaven and Humanity) is a core proposition in the Chinese intellectual tradition. However, within the Confucian system it has often been moralized and interpreted under the assumption that humanity occupies the center of the cosmos. This has led, in civilizational practice, to ecological imbalance, technological risk, and systemic crises. From the perspective of scientific-philosophical inquiry, this paper critically examines the philosophical foundations and methodological deficiencies of Confucian Tianrenheyi, identifying its a priori assumptions, moralization, and anthropocentric bias as harmful to modern civilizational governance. The study further proposes the Lao-Yang Tianrenheyi model based on the Lao-Yang Genesis Cosmology, transforming Tianrenheyi from a purely philosophical ideal into a scientific, systemic, and operational civilizational model. Its core lies in the cosmogenic chain of Dao-sheng-wanwu (Dao generates all things) and Dao-fa-ziran (Dao follows natural law): Galaxy → Sun → Earth → Moon → Life → Civilization. Humanity functions as a node within the system, and civilizational development must follow natural constraints and hierarchical adaptation. Employing textual analysis, philosophical critique, cosmological evolution theory, complex systems theory, and natural cybernetics, this paper systematically analyzes the historical development, philosophical deficiencies, and modern dilemmas of Confucian Tianrenheyi. By contrasting it with the Lao-Yang model, it offers scientific-philosophical insights. The findings demonstrate that Lao-Yang Tianrenheyi is decentralized, non-moralized, and verifiable, providing scientific foundations for ecological governance, technological system control, and risk management in modern civilization. The paper further proposes future research directions, including modeling the cosmogenic chain, civilizational simulation, interdisciplinary applications, and long-term strategies for synchronizing civilization with cosmic law. This study demonstrates a possible path for integrating classical philosophy with modern scientific methodology, offering a theoretical and practical framework for the sustainable development of global civilization.