The Revival of Confucianism in Contemporary China
March 9th., 2012, Munich
March 9, 2012, Konfuziusinstitute Munich organized the sixty-fifth cultural salon, with the theme "the revival of Confucianism in contemporary China ". The lecturer, Mr. Adolf Dietz is a Professor of Law from Max -Planck Institute in Germany. Approximately 80 people were present that evening.
The lecture started from the Confucius Statues located in the garden of Munich Ministry of Finance. Professor Adolf Dietz first introduced the life of Confucius and the core theory of Confucianism. Then he outlined the ups and downs of Confucianism in China. Anti-Confucianism began from the May Fourth Movement in 1919, and lasted until the Cultural Revolution. The most intense period of it was in the early days of foundation. The "great social debate" organized by DENG Xiaoping in late 1970s and early 1980s was the beginning of the modern revival of Confucianism. Since then, the "Confucius Association" was established in 1985, and the magazine Confucius Studies was published in 1986. In 1995, the People's University Press published Chinese Traditional Morality, which was designated as teaching contents in primary and secondary schools. Gradually China began to shift or return from Marxism-Leninism to the traditional doctrine. In addition to academia, governments, civil society and the media also played a role in promoting the revival of Confucianism. For example, Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in the world has played an important role in publicizing and promoting Chinese culture and language. Confucius Mansion and Confucius Temple were repaired in Qufu, the hometown of Confucius in Shandong Province. In 2006, "Analects of Confucius" lectured by Prof. YU Dan on CCTV " Lecture Room" Programme caused great repercussions in the community.
However, Professor Adolf Dietz objectively described about the different voices in the process of the revival of Confucianism, such as "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", which once objected to the establishment and promotion of Confucius Institute. In September 2010, Social and Cultural Development Foundation set up a "Peace Prize of Confucius", and the first and second session of this award went to Lien Chan and Putin. But the effect of it was not enough, and did not receive the expected results. In addition, some factors that might affect the revival of Confucianism were from the academic itself, such as the ideology of Confucianism in the three cardinal guides and the five constant virtues, and the discrimination against women.
Professor Adolf Dietz said, "In any case, the revival of Confucianism in contemporary China is beyond doubt. This revival also reflects on people's demand for the standard of public morality in the rapid economic development of China. Under the influence of various factors, how far the revival of Confucianism will go, it can not be determined."
After the lecture, Mr. TANG Kaihang, the academician of the Institute of Chinese Calligraphy, the member of Chinese Hard Brush Calligraphers Association, presented his calligraphy works to Konfuziusinstitute Munich, the five Chinese characters “仁”、“义”、“礼”、“智”、“信”, which represent the five constant virtues of Confucianism core.
