Confucian Revival Expands China's Influence

Ancient portrait of Confucius (551-479 B.C.)

For a decade, the ancient philosophy of Confucianism has been experiencing a revival in China. And as China continues to gain economic and political prominence in the world, the revival could greatly influence the world as a whole.

According to Wikipedia, Confucianism “focuses on human morality and wrong action. It is a complex system of moral, social, political, philosophical, and quasi-religious thought that has had tremendous influence on the culture and history of East Asia.” In doing so, it puts great emphasis on relationships, not only between individuals but between people and the prevailing social order.

A recent article in Britain’s Guardian discusses how Chinese academics are active in the revival, determining how Confucianism can be most influential in the modern world. An example is:

Philosophers and historians could help to refine the questions posed in political attitude surveys. For example, the "Confucian" attitude measured by political scientists that children should blindly obey their parents should be made more conditional if the aim is to measure attachment to Confucian values rooted in classic texts. Philosophers might also suggest questions for research inspired by less well-known Confucian values, such as the idea that listening to different types of music or believing in different views of human nature have different moral consequences during the course of one's life.

It seems such academic efforts could in fact open doors previously closed to China’s scholars and, in so doing, could raise China’s profile in the world’s intellectual circles.

What is clear, however, is that academics need the freedom to discuss and publish their ideas and adequate funding to carry out research in order to pursue these questions in fruitful ways. Under the right conditions, China could well develop into a leading centre of global learning, with academics researching questions and values hitherto neglected in the west.

Click here for the complete Guardian article.