Feb 12, 2016
Confucianism, with its emphasis on virtue and social harmony,
served as the foundation of Chinese civilization for over two
thousand years. The teachings of the famous Chinese sage had an
impact on every aspect of Chinese life and social structure and
ultimately spread and flourished throughout East Asia.
Confucianism’s prominence in Chinese culture was shattered during
the twentieth century as reformers and revolutionaries labeled the
ancient sage an outdated relic preventing China from becoming a
strong, modern State.
China’s great philosopher is experiencing a revival in China today.
President Xi Jinping routinely promotes some of Confucius’s ideas
in an attempt to resurrect traditional culture as a bulwark against
unwanted foreign influence. Ordinary Chinese are revisiting
Confucius’s teachings and enrolling their children into Confucian
schools.
In his new book, Confucius and the World He Created, Michael
Schuman notes that the unprecedented resurgence of Confucianism may
be one of the most significant trends in Chinese politics and
culture. Will Confucius’s doctrine become a tool to solidify
authoritarianism in China, as it was during the country’s imperial
era? How do the 21st century versions of Confucianism compare to
earlier understanding of his ideas? Is Confucian humanist thought
just what a rapidly changing Chinese society needs? Michael Schuman
addressed these questions and discussed his book with the National
Committee on February 2, 2016, in New York City.
Michael Schuman is a Beijing-based journalist with over 20 years of
experience writing about Asia and the global economy. He has served
as a correspondent for theWall Street Journal and TIME magazine. He
is also the author of The Miracle: The Epic Story of Asia’s Quest
for Wealth (2009).
The National Committee on U.S.-China Relations is the leading
nonprofit nonpartisan organization that encourages understanding of
China and the United States among citizens of both countries.