An Introduction to An Introduction to Confucius Institute, and Confucius Institute, and

Confucianism in Modern ChinaConfucianism in Modern China

KeqianKeqian XuXuProfessor of Chinese Literature and Culture, Professor of Chinese Literature and Culture,

NanjingNanjing Normal University,Normal University,Visiting Professor and deputy director of Visiting Professor and deputy director of

the Confucius Institute at NCSUthe Confucius Institute at NCSUXu_keqian@ncsu.eduXu_keqian@ncsu.edu

About Confucius About Confucius InstitutesInstitutes

Confucius Institute program is a world wide program supported by China National Office for China National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (HanbanHanban)). The goal of this program is to promote a better understanding of the Chinese language and culture among the people of the world; develop friendly relationships between China and other countries; accelerate the development of multiculturalism at the international level; and help bring about global peace and harmony.

The Confucius Institutes shall provide the following services:

Developing Chinese language courses for various social sectors;Training Chinese language instructors for local institutions and providing them with Chinese language teaching resources;Establishing local facilities for the holding of the HSK Examination (Chinese Proficiency Test) and for the administration of procedures for the Certification of the Chinese Language Teachers; Providing information and consultative services concerning Chinese education, culture, economy and society;Promoting research about Contemporary China.

Since the first Confucius Institute in the world was officially opened in Seoul, the Republic of Korea on November 21, 2004, about 130 Confucius Institutes have been established in 50countries over the past few years.

In USA, there are:• Confucius Institute at the University of Maryland• Confucius Institute at San Francisco State

University• Confucius Institute in Chicago• Confucius Institute at China Institute (New York)• Confucius Institute at the University of Kansas• Confucius Institute at the University of Hawaii• Confucius institute at North Carolina State

University

and many moreand many more……

All the Confucius Institutes get financial support from the All the Confucius Institutes get financial support from the Ministry of Education of China, through the National Ministry of Education of China, through the National Office of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language , or Office of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language , or ““HanbanHanban””. .

Chinese president HuJintao meet with the students of Confucius Institute as Nairobi, Kenya, April 29,2006.

The Confucius Institute at North Carolina State University declared its official opening in April 23,2007

It is a cooperative project of North Carolina State University, National Office of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (Hanban) and Nanjing Normal University in China

The goal of the Confucius Institute is to enhance intercultural understanding in the U.S. by sponsoring programs in Chinese language and culture. NC State’s institute will promote the mission through a range of educational and outreach activities to students, teachers, businesses, and community members. The institute will contribute to the expansion of Chinese language instruction at NC State and in North Carolina schools, enrich cultural opportunities and help North Carolina businesses understand and compete in the Chinese market.

Nanjing Normal University

It was originally funded in 1902, and is among the one hundred top Chinese Universities included in the national “211”project, and get enhanced investment from both the central and provincial government.

Located at Nanjing, the capital city of Jiangsu Province, and historically the old capital of more than 7 dynasties in ancient China.

There are about 30,000students, more than 4000 faculty in Nanjing Normal University

Some disciplines such as Chinese Language and Literature, Education, Law, Biology, and Geography are ranked very high on most of the Chinese University ranking list.

http://http://www.njnu.edu.cnwww.njnu.edu.cn//

Nanjing Normal University is also one of the first few educational institutes assigned by the Education Ministry of China to provide Chinese as second language courses to international students.

The Confucius Institute at NCSU will be located in the Mckimmon Center. It will provide the following services:

Supporting expanded Chinese language courses offered by the DFLL at NC State;Teaching non-credit Chinese language courses;Providing professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers of Chinese;Partnering with local schools to promote Chinese language and culture and develop new Chinese programs;Expanding NC State-Chinese partnership activities;Economic development opportunities for area businesses.

Hanban will also provide 3000-5000 pieces of books and multimedia materials concerning Chinese Language and culture for each Confucius Institute.

Confucius , Confucius , the founder of the founder of ConfucianismConfucianism

Confucius (circa 551-479 BC）

Confucius was a famous sage and social philosopher of China whose teachings deeply influenced China and East Asia for more than 25 centuries.

On the eastern pediment of the Supreme Court building，there is a sculpture entitled “Justice the Guardian of Liberty” by Hermon A. McNeil, which was intended to be a symbolic representation of three of the Eastern civilizations from which the laws of the USA were derived, personified by the figures of three great lawgivers: Moses, Confucius, and Solon (surrounded by several allegorical figures representing a variety of legal themes).

Moses SolonConfucius

The basic Confucian doctrines are The basic Confucian doctrines are embodied in the following 5 characters:embodied in the following 5 characters:

Benevolence, love, to be humanity, Benevolence, love, to be humanity, mercy and kindness;mercy and kindness;

Justness, to be righteousness, persist Justness, to be righteousness, persist on principles;on principles;Rituals, custom and law, to be polite, Rituals, custom and law, to be polite, respect, modest, harmonious with each respect, modest, harmonious with each other;other;Wisdom, to be knowledgeable, Wisdom, to be knowledgeable, enlightened and well educated;enlightened and well educated;

Sincerity, reliable, obligated, Sincerity, reliable, obligated, creditable, accountablecreditable, accountable

The Analects of The Analects of ConfuciusConfucius

The Lun Yü (The Analects of Confucius), a work compiled by some of Confucius’ disciples, is considered the most reliable source of information about his life and teachings. It contains the most important Confucius teachings, and was the most widely read books in ancient China.

Confucian ClassicsConfucian ClassicsOther basic Confucian Classics include Other basic Confucian Classics include the the I I ChingChing (or (or the Book of Changethe Book of Change), ), the the Book of SongsBook of Songs, , the Book of Ritualsthe Book of Rituals, , the the Book of DocumentsBook of Documents, and , and the Spring and the Spring and Autumn AnnalsAutumn Annals. Thousands of . Thousands of annotations and commentaries annotations and commentaries composed by scholars from generation composed by scholars from generation to generation, constitute one of the most to generation, constitute one of the most important parts of Ancient publications important parts of Ancient publications and Library collections.and Library collections.

Since the Han Dynasty, Study of the Confucian Since the Han Dynasty, Study of the Confucian classics became the basis of the government classics became the basis of the government examination system and the core of the educational examination system and the core of the educational curriculum. curriculum.

No serious attempt to replace Confucianism arose No serious attempt to replace Confucianism arose until the May 4th Movement in the 20th century. until the May 4th Movement in the 20th century.

“May 4th Movement” 1919: Down with the old shop with Down with the old shop with

the Confucian brandthe Confucian brand！！

Chen Duxiu, One of the founders of CCP, and a fierce fighter to Confucianism during the May4th”movement in 1919.

The magazine The magazine of of New YouthNew Youth

In 1912，Cai Yuanpei, the first Education Ministry of the newly established civic government of the Republic of China, give orders twice to abolish the reading of Confucian Classics as a subject in any schools.

CaiCai YuanpeiYuanpei

（（18681868--19401940））

Lu Lu XunXun, one of the , one of the most famous writers in most famous writers in modern China, believe modern China, believe that all the Confucian that all the Confucian doctrines can be only doctrines can be only summarized as two summarized as two Chinese characters: Chinese characters: ““ ””，，meaning meaning cannibalism.cannibalism.

Lu Lu XunXun

（（18811881－－19361936））

Mao Zedong’s opinion is that Qinshihuang, the first emperor who united the Warring States, was much greater than Confucius. He said that the difference between CCP and KMT is that “they relay on Confucius, while we relay on Karl Marx”.

Yet Mao had quoted Confucius in his articles frequently, and he said that we should draw essence from the thought of all the thinkers in Chinese history, from Confucius till Dr. Sun Yat-Sen.

During the Cultural Revolution of During the Cultural Revolution of 19661966--1976, Confucius was 1976, Confucius was compared with the former compared with the former Chinese President Liu Chinese President Liu ShaoqiShaoqi, , who was criticized for who was criticized for ““trying in trying in vain to restore the Capitalism in vain to restore the Capitalism in ChinaChina””

The cover of a picture book The cover of a picture book entitled entitled ““The Evil Life of Kong the The Evil Life of Kong the Second (Confucius)Second (Confucius)””, published , published during the Cultural Revolution.during the Cultural Revolution.

The former Chinese President Liu Shaoqi was being denouncing by ordinary folks in a mass meeting.

Confucius was also been linked with Lin Biao, a long term “close comrade in arm” and potential successor , but finally a betrayer of Mao. Lin was dead in a airplane crush when he tried to escape to former Soviet Union after a failed coup in Sept.13,1971.

Marshal Lin Biao

Cartoons of the campaign of Denouncing Lin and Kong

But there are also some But there are also some intellectuals, who are intellectuals, who are considered as the newconsidered as the new--Confucian, have been Confucian, have been adhered to Confucian values. adhered to Confucian values. LiangLiang ShumingShuming was one of was one of the representatives of the so the representatives of the so called called ““New ConfucianismNew Confucianism”” in in Mainland China, who has Mainland China, who has been persecuted for many been persecuted for many years, yet survived till after years, yet survived till after the cultural revolution.the cultural revolution.

LiangLiang ShumingShuming(1893(1893--1988)1988)

现代新儒家

熊十力 马一浮

冯友兰

贺麟钱穆

牟宗三

唐君毅

There are more such kind of New Confucian thinkers in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong in the 50s, 60s and till later time.

After the Cultural Revolution, revaluation of Confucius and Confucianism soon appeared. Conferences and symposiums related to Confucianism held almost every year in everywhere in China.

ConfuciusConfucius’’ statues statues gradually appeared in gradually appeared in many university many university campuses everywhere, campuses everywhere, replaced that of Mao replaced that of Mao once can be fund in once can be fund in there.there.

Recently, traditional rituals to celebrate ConfuciusRecently, traditional rituals to celebrate Confucius’’ birthday is held every birthday is held every year in front of the Confucius Temple in year in front of the Confucius Temple in QufuQufu, the Confucius home town, and , the Confucius home town, and many other places. Some of the central and local government offimany other places. Some of the central and local government officials are cials are also attend this kind of ceremonies. also attend this kind of ceremonies.

A Sacral Ceremony for Confucius held in Taipei, Taiwan, to memorA Sacral Ceremony for Confucius held in Taipei, Taiwan, to memory the birthday y the birthday of Confucius. Ma of Confucius. Ma YingjiuYingjiu, the former mayor of Taipei city and the Chairman of , the former mayor of Taipei city and the Chairman of KMT , was presiding the ceremony.KMT , was presiding the ceremony.

A sacral ceremony for Confucius, held by Chinese A sacral ceremony for Confucius, held by Chinese community in a Confucius Day in San Francisco.community in a Confucius Day in San Francisco.

Family based Family based ““Classic Classic ReadingReading”” groups groups appeared in resent appeared in resent years in many cities.years in many cities.

“Meng Mu Tang”——a traditional private school or “Sishu” in Shanghai

Someone goes even further, a group of parents in Shanghai, the most modernized metropolitan of China, voluntarily organized a traditional private school (called “Sishu” in the old time) for their own children, which beside teaching a quite limited Math and English courses, put an emphasis on reading Confucius Classics.

A Confucian classic A Confucian classic chant performance held chant performance held in in ZhejiangZhejiang province.province.

A community A community Confucian Classic Confucian Classic

reading test in Taipei, reading test in Taipei, TaiwanTaiwan

But there are also strong voice against this kind of trend, for instance, Wen Huaisha, a famous contemporary Chinese writer and scholar, in a conference, fiercely criticized the Children Reading Classics movement.

Jiang Jiang QingQing::

A contemporary Confucian recluse? Or a unrealistic “crazy Ru”?

Reconstruction of Reconstruction of Political Confucianism?Political Confucianism?

Yu Dan, a Yu Dan, a Chinese version Chinese version of Joyce Meyer?of Joyce Meyer?

Yu Dan: “the essence of ConfuciusAnalects, is to tell us how could we live a happy life that our spirituality demands.”Yu Dan’s Gains from

Learning the Analects

Yu DanYu Dan’’s Fans s Fans and Protestersand Protesters

Fierce debates on the issues related Fierce debates on the issues related to Confucianism and its function and to Confucianism and its function and value in contemporary Chinese value in contemporary Chinese society can be fund in many scholarly society can be fund in many scholarly publications as well as many internet publications as well as many internet forums.forums.

Some disputed issues:Some disputed issues:What’s the relation between tradition and modernity?What kind of roles Confucianism might play in contemporary Chinese society?Will Confucianism be an obstacle or an useful resource in China’s modernization, democratization, and market economy construction?Is it possible for Confucianism and its practice to come back, at lest in certain degree, to modern Chinese people’s daily live?What is the universal values in Confucianism? And its significance to contemporary world?

Some important references in English:Some important references in English:Bryan W. Van Norden, ed.: Confucius and the Analects: Confucius and the Analects: New EssaysNew Essays, New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.Tu Wei-ming: The Confucian Tradition in Chinese The Confucian Tradition in Chinese HistoryHistory, in Heritage of China: Contemporary Perspectives on Chinese Civilization, Edited by Paul S. Ropp. UC Berkeley Press,1990.Wm. Theodore de Bary: The Trouble with ConfucianismThe Trouble with Confucianism, Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University Press,1991.David L. Hall and Roger T. Ames: Thinking Through Thinking Through ConfuciusConfucius, Albany: SUNY,1987.Herbert Fingarette, Confucius: The Secular as SacredConfucius: The Secular as Sacred(New York: Harper & Row, 1972 Kam Louie:, New York: St.Martin’s Press.1980. Critiques Critiques of Confucius in Contemporary Chinaof Confucius in Contemporary ChinaRobert Cummings Neville: Boston Confucianism: Boston Confucianism: Portable Tradition in the LatePortable Tradition in the Late--Modern WorldModern World. Albany: SUNY press,2000.

Thank You!Thank You!