Good Confucianism book (pdf) - Department of Physics

Confucianism and Modernity 191Why should we care about New Confucianism and the way in whichit plays out in governments and society? First, the government of Chinain particular has promoted Confucianism for a number of reasons, oneof which is to establish common ground with, especially, Taiwan, Korea,and Japan. 39 Second, China is a major player on the world stage, and itwill shortly be the major player on the world stage. How Confucianism isdefined and developed in light of Chinese cultural and governmental attitudeswill be crucial. How Confucius is evaluated and how Confucianismis taught is not just important in East Asia; it will affect the West in wayswe cannot imagine.SummaryThere is a new movement among Asian and Western scholars called “ NewConfucianism. ” This is a re - evaluation that finds tendencies to democracy,scientific thought, and economic growth in classical Confucian thought.New Confucians argue that Confucianism as it was practiced throughoutChinese history was not authentic Confucianism, but was a misunderstoodand manipulated Confucianism. These scholars say that, by understandingConfucius ’ teachings properly, we have a guide for modern life that issuperior to the morally bankrupt Western world.Confucianism is now taught in schools in Taiwan, Korea, Japan, andSingapore, and has been for the last 20 years in China; governments in thesecountries sponsor conferences, seminars, university chairs, and programs inConfucianism. The relationship between New Confucian scholars and governmentpolicy and support is not always a direct one. The Confucianismtaught in schools focuses on filial piety, loyalty, forbearance (the way inwhich “ humanity ” is understood), hierarchy, hard work, education, and“ Asian - ness. ” Critics of the New Confucians argue that theirs is simplyone more interpretation and an interpretation that is not reliably based inthe classical texts. Critics of Confucianism taught in schools say that thisversion of Confucianism is crafted merely to keep authoritarian governmentsin power and to teach obedience and passivity to future citizens.By the 1970s, Confucianism looked like a dead tradition, practiced onlyin Taiwan and overseas Chinese communities and discussed only in abstractterms in academic circles. Within the space of a few decades, Confucianismhad staged a major comeback. The tradition has revived in the twenty - firstcentury, especially in China.