In China, a search for modern values at Confucius' birthplace
| Qufu, China
As China鈥檚 rise sparks a search for enduring values, the Communist Party has increasingly put forth the ancient philosopher Confucius as one kind of answer.
The party originally denounced Confucius in the 1920s and Mao Zedong tried to wipe out his image during the聽tumultuous聽Cultural Revolution as a symbol of feudal thinking. In much of Asia, however, he remained a revered symbol of enlightenment who tried to balance principles like justice and benevolence.
Now Confucius is being presented 鈥� some critics say appropriated 鈥� by Beijing as a uniquely Chinese sage, if not a patriotic figure. And as China pushes harder to define itself as an Asian power not beholden to the West and its ways, Confucius has become a wellspring of interpretive wisdom on everything from personal growth and management to economics and team leadership.聽
The party is also using him to brand its 鈥渟oft power鈥� outreach to the world, in hundreds of 鈥淐onfucius Institutes鈥� around the world that teach Chinese language and culture.
Imbibing Confucian wisdom
No place more avidly promotes Confucius than Qufu, a small town about two and a half hours by fast train from Beijing. In Chinese official history Confucius was born here circa聽551 BC.聽
His rebirth in the nation's collective estimation has transformed Qufu. A stunning $35 million Confucius research center opened in 2010; luxury hotels, shops, conference centers, and visitor centers fill the downtown, and partly-built high rises ring the city. At visitor seminars and corporate retreats, participants imbibe Confucian wisdom.
Tourists can stroll solemn courtyards, terraces, gates, and pavilions surrounded by ancient evergreens where Confucius is said to have taught. There are cartoons exhibitions for kids and free daily lectures.
鈥淐onfucius tells us you can be smart, talented, and brave, but if you don鈥檛 have ethics, you aren鈥檛 really a person,鈥� Wang Chao Yang, the director of the Confucius Research Institute聽in Qufu, told a visiting corporate group.
Behind the promotion of Confucius is聽not only a hunger for values, but also a bid by leaders to offer deeper traditions as the nation enters a new era聽of increased wealth. In the eyes of many Chinese, that prosperity has created a moral void and fueled social instability, always a concern for China鈥檚 leaders.
Rehabilitation and civilization
China watchers say it's curious that a figure so long disregarded has been rehabilitated.聽
鈥淭he party never spoke of him with anything other than opprobrium if not rage,鈥� says Lionel Jensen of Notre Dame University and author of 鈥淢anufacturing Confucius.鈥� 鈥淭o suddenly become a new and uniquely Chinese symbol is quite a trick鈥t seems he鈥檚 become institutionalized.鈥澛�
During the Cultural Revolution students smashed or defaced many of Qufu's Confucius statues. One ancient obelisk was spared, a tour guide tells visitors, because it was inscribed with the Chinese character for 鈥減arty."
The re-appropriation of Confucius came in the wake of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests where students talked of loving China and its culture, but not the ruling Communist Party. It marked a rediscovery of Chinese history and culture that Maoism had tried to wipe out.聽
The party responded in 1992 with 鈥渟ocialist spiritual civilization鈥� 鈥� a concept aimed at curbing any wayward student impulses. In the new framing, Confucius and other ancients were reintroduced to help fuse the party, the nation, and the culture into one seamless whole.
Confucius鈥� actual historical record is quite fuzzy, Prof. Jensen says. Historians say he was probably a composite character rather than of a single person. 鈥淗e鈥檚 more a myth, a collection of teachings鈥ore like Homer... any actual record of a person at this point is fictive.鈥�
Respected, but not yet beloved
Even in his hometown, some Chinese are unfamiliar with Confucius. Others say he鈥檚 highly respected but not yet beloved. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 learn about Confucius when China was poor鈥� says a local driver, who was born in Qufu and served in the military. 鈥淏ut now that we are rich we can pay attention.鈥�
A couple from Beijing here on their honeymoon said they came because a fortuneteller had told the bride she had been a maid to Confucius in a previous life. A high school teacher on his summer vacation says he tries to get his students interested in Confucius but admits, 鈥渉e鈥檚 a little too serious for them. They are still into fun and videos.鈥�
Some Chinese intellectuals say that much of Confucius鈥� thought is about appreciating plurality and diversity, and that if he were alive today he would favor universal human rights. He might also be aghast at being framed as a Chinese nationalist, they say.聽
鈥淐onfucius questioned everything鈥 think if Chinese start systematically reading the texts of Confucius there would be an awakening that isn鈥檛 necessarily what the party would wish for,鈥� says Jensen.聽
