During a recent meeting with the leader of China in Paris, French President Macron mentioned Confucius, or the Science of the Lords, a manuscript he presented to the Chinese leader in 2019. He also said that it was Chinese Confucianism that inspired Montesquieu and Voltaire, thus contributing to the development of the European Enlightenment.
Since the 17th century, Confucianism has influenced many famous thinkers and scientists, from Matteo Ricci and Adam Schall in history to Roger T. Ames and Wolfgang Kubin in modern times. As a representative of Oriental culture, Confucianism has promoted communication between the West and the East.
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, which were characterised by frequent and long-lasting civil wars and social unrest, ancient Chinese thinkers pondered how to govern the country more effectively. Confucianism, the most important ideological system in ancient China, is their triumph.
The core idea of Confucianism is described as five virtues: benevolence, righteousness, ritual, sincerity, and intelligence. Among these virtues, benevolence is the core of the entire value system. Benevolence, the core of the five virtues, is about caring for and loving others. Righteousness is the ethics of Confucians. This idea is so well accepted that sacrificing one’s life for justice is regarded as the spirit of the Chinese nation. Ritual means that people are supposed to follow common social principles. Sincerity refers to always keeping promises. Intelligence in Confucianism places great importance on education. Confucianism has been integrated into the blood of all Chinese people and plays an important role in Chinese social balance and operation.
Compared to Western culture, which advocates competition, Chinese culture advocates benevolence and pursues common ground while reserving differences. The West values rules in social management, while the Chinese value love, courtesy, and kindness, placing high moral demands on individuals. That’s why Chinese people are often introverted, reserved, and peace-loving. Confucianism’s loftiest ideal, the “universal harmonious society” named Da Tong, is quite similar to a democratic society in Western culture. According to Confucius, the founder of Confucianism 2000 years ago, this universal harmonious society provides social security, political democracy, and equity for all people, ensuring that the elderly are cared for and the young are nurtured. This is also the ultimate concern of Confucian governance in history.
Similar to the nobleman in Western culture, being appraised as Junzi, a man of virtue, is considered the highest evaluation of a man in China. However, unlike the West, the Chinese place more value on education than on blood and background. They believe that education can cultivate ordinary people into men of virtue, and therefore, every Chinese family places a high priority on education.
The greatest wisdom of Confucianism lies in the doctrine of the mean. Chinese people highly value moderation and believe that too much is just as bad as too little. They are educated to handle everything impartially and strive for win-win outcomes.
Confucius called for “Benevolence” and “Universal Harmony”. His exhortations have never ceased in the past 2,000 years and have now evolved into the root of Chinese national belief. The whole world benefits from Confucianism as well. Dr. Taylor from UNESCO once said, “Confucian values transcend national borders and times. They belong to both China and the world, reflecting on the past, present, and future.”
