New Interpretation of the Essence of Confucianism

Author: Ge Rongya
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-03-01
Features: Confucius was a great educator in ancient China and is widely recognized as one of the world's top ten thinkers. He founded Confucian culture, which forms the backbone of traditional Chinese culture. Confucian culture has evolved with the times and has continued to develop for over two thousand years. It has not only played an irreplaceable and significant role in the formation, prosperity, unification, and stability of the Chinese nation but has also spread far beyond its borders, constituting the core of East Asian civilization and becoming an important part of the world's diverse cultures. It has had a profound and far-reaching impact on the development of human civilization. The principles advocated by Confucianism, such as "education for all," "loving others as oneself," "valuing harmony," "harmony in diversity," "if you want to stand, help others stand; if you want to reach, help others reach," "do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself," "the world belongs to all," and "a world of universal harmony," have transcended the limitations of time and ethnicity and have become a valuable spiritual and cultural resource for humanity's future. In an era of global economic integration and cultural diversity, uncovering and promoting outstanding traditional Chinese culture, strengthening dialogue and exchange, as well as mutual learning and integration among different civilizations, are essential components of inheriting Chinese civilization and building a new national culture that faces modernization, the world, and the future. This is also a sacred historical mission for contemporary scholars.
Qufu Normal University, located in the birthplace of Confucius and the cradle of Confucian culture, has always been committed to researching Confucianism and promoting the essence of traditional Chinese culture. For nearly half a century since its establishment, Confucian and Confucian studies have never ceased, and the university has developed its own characteristics and advantages in scientific research, academic teams, and talent cultivation, achieving remarkable results. The university is a affiliated unit of Shandong Province's Confucian Studies Research Base. The Confucius Culture College is one of the earliest specialized institutions in domestic universities for Confucian studies. It has successively undertaken and completed multiple national and provincial key projects and published a series of high-quality and high-standard academic works. The college publishes Confucian Studies Dynamics and regularly issues The Confucius·Confucian Studies Series, and has hosted numerous international and domestic academic conferences on Confucian and Confucian studies. It places great emphasis on strengthening academic exchanges and cooperation with foreign institutions, having established partnerships with universities and research institutions in dozens of countries and regions, including the United States, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and others.
In May 2000, supported by the Shandong Province Confucian Studies Research Base and the Confucius Culture College, the university jointly established the Sino-foreign Cooperative Confucius University with the China Confucius Foundation and overseas investors. This marked a new phase in Confucian and Confucian studies. The Confucian and Confucian studies at Qufu Normal University have not only received support from scholars both domestically and internationally but have also been greatly assisted by international friends. Mr. Shinko Higashi, the president of the World Art and Culture Revitalization Association and a Japanese friend, established the "Shinko Higashi Confucian Studies Fund" through donations. This fund has made positive contributions to promoting Confucian and Confucian studies centered around the Sino-foreign Cooperative Confucius University (Qufu Normal University), upholding Confucius's thoughts and Confucian culture, fostering cultural exchanges between China and other countries, enhancing international friendship, and maintaining world peace.
Before the readers, this Qusi Academic Works Library is published with the support of the "Shinko Higashi Confucian Studies Fund." The library consists of ten volumes, each with over 200,000 words, compiled from previously published articles by full-time and part-time professors at Qufu Normal University who are dedicated to Confucian and Confucian studies. It reflects, from one perspective, that Confucian and Confucian studies are also evolving with the times and continuously deepening.