Traditional Chinese economic thought constitutes a significant aspect of traditional Chinese culture. The systematic analysis and thorough comprehension of traditional Chinese economic thought, guided by the significant concept of “Second Integration”, constitutes a research topic of considerable theoretical and practical significance. To date, no systematic statistical or thematic evidence has been undertaken by scholars regarding the extent and depth of traditional Chinese economic thought.

This paper investigates the extensive and profound implications of traditional Chinese economic thought through literature review, statistical analysis, and comparative evaluation, commencing with a problem-oriented approach. The ancient Chinese economy, throughout its history, has revealed 18 categories of significant economic issues, which form the basis for at least 18 distinct areas of substantive material within traditional Chinese economic thought. Furthermore, along with the complexity of economic problems and the accumulation of experience in practical exploration, traditional Chinese economic thought gradually evolved into a rich connotation with three levels: economic philosophical thought, economic policy thought, and economic theoretical analysis. The comparison between ancient and modern eras reveals that the main economic concerns and ideas present in ancient China are still highly relevant in modern economic theories. Additionally, a comparison between China and other nations indicates that the depth of traditional Chinese economic thought is at least comparable to that of the West, and may even possess advantages in certain areas. It is possible to accelerate the inheritance and innovation of China’s excellent traditional culture and provide the building blocks for the development of China’s autonomous economic knowledge system by fully acknowledging and comprehending the rich and problem-oriented connotation of traditional Chinese economic thought.

This paper has the following contributions: First, in terms of research perspective, it directly approach from a problem-oriented perspective and positively responds to the depth of traditional Chinese economic theory. Second, in terms of research approach, it intuitively explores the unique expression of the depth and breadth of the connotation of traditional Chinese economic theory in a comprehensive manner. Third, in terms of research viewpoint, it aims to foster the development of consensus, which promotes in-depth discussions regarding the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese culture.