Inherit and Carry Forward Traditional Chinese Culture, Promote Communication and Mutual Learning Between World Civilizations

The launch of International Confucian Studies represents a pioneering endeavor of the International Confucian Association and a significant event worth noticing among international scholars on Confucianism.

Confucian theory, initiated by Confucius, based on which Confucian thought has evolved and become established, is a fundamental part of traditional Chinese culture. Not only has it produced a profound impact on the long, continuous development of the Chinese nation and civilization, it has also contributed a significant share to the progress of human society and civilization as a whole. The meaning of Confucianism for the world has become more prominent along with deeper and more extensive global communication. Though proposed more than 2000 years ago, the key concepts of Confucianism, such as ren (仁, benevolence), yi (义, righteousness), li (礼, propriety), zhi (智, intelligence), and xin (信, good faith), have since been inherited, expounded, and carried forward by thinkers and intellectuals generation after generation, thus maintaining long-lasting vitality. They have led to philosophical, ethical, moral, and spiritual ideals such as: a benevolent person loves others, put people first (in governance), governance based on virtue, the world belongs to all, constantly improve oneself, have ample virtue and carry all things, people and nature should be united as one, seek common ground while setting aside differences, seek harmony but not uniformity, unity of knowledge and action, and so on. The values expressed in these ideals still hold true for such areas as the economy, politics, culture, society, and ecological civilization, and may provide inspirations for humanity in the face of complex problems and major challenges.

While Confucius belongs to China, studies on Confucianism belong to the world. In 2014, the International Confucian Association held the International Symposium to Commemorate the 2565th Anniversary of the Birth of Confucius and its fifth conference, at which Chinese president Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech. He pointed out that studies on Confucius and Confucianism are an important approach to understanding the national characteristics of the Chinese people and the historical evolution of our spiritual world of today. He emphasized that promotion of communication, integration, and mutual learning between human civilizations is the only way for the world to become more beautiful and people of all countries to live a better life. The speech, with profound and rich content, highlights the importance for the world to understand China and vice versa. Its deep influence will surely be felt for a long time to come.

The nature of Confucianism as an open and inclusive system of thought, culture, and values can be traced far back in history, as shown by its early spread to northeast and southwest Asian regions. In the recent centuries, Confucianism had a deep impact on the Enlightenment Movement in Europe and led to the unprecedented “Sinomania” there, which lasted for several hundred years and further spread to other countries and regions. In the most recent decades, Confucianism has become a major subject of study and promotion by experts and scholars in various countries. It is my belief that on the road of communication and mutual learning between human civilizations, continuous promotion of extensive and deep research on Confucianism and traditional culture will surely contribute to the happiness of and harmony between peoples, and to the prosperity of the world.

When the International Confucian Association was inaugurated in the 1990s, scholars from member countries unanimously agreed to have its seat permanently established in Beijing, China, the home country of Confucius and the birthplace of Confucianism. Meanwhile, thanks to its broad and profound content, open and inclusive nature, and characteristic of keeping in pace with the times, dissemination, research on, and promotion of Confucianism has long crossed over national borders. Our members and councilors come from more than 80 countries and regions all over the five continents. The wide spread of Confucian thought and flourishing research on Confucianism are inseparable from the great efforts of Confucian scholars and communicators generation after generation. They are the sources of strength that ushered in the birth of the International Confucian Association and has sustained its steady development over the past 27 years.

“Learning alone without any friend will leave one ignorant and ill-informed.” The law of history tells us that a civilization is bound to decline by self-isolation. Civilizations prosper by learning from each other. The renowned sociologist Fei Xiaotong envisioned “a world of universal harmony, where people respect other cultures as well as their own, and learn from each other.” His vision aptly sums up the importance of respecting the diversity of civilizations and promoting mutual learning, while inheriting and carrying forward one’s own traditions and cultures. Some scholars regard the age of Confucius as the “axis of human civilization,” when a variety of civilizations in different regions of both the East and the West enjoyed breakthroughs in their respective development, represented by the great thinkers like Sakyamuni, Socrates, and Plato. These civilizations continued to evolve along their respective paths, communicating and learning from each other all along. It is the diversity of civilizations that has collectively created the spiritual wealth of human beings and promoted the continuous progress of human society, ranging from ancient Chinese, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Indian civilizations, to the present-day Asian, African, European, American, and Oceanian civilizations. Likewise, diversity is essential for academic research on culture and thought. For this reason, International Confucian Studies has been launched to serve as a platform to lead creative research, showcase high-level research achievements, support outstanding scholars, promote international academic and cultural communication, carry out rational dialogues and mutual learning between civilizations, and encourage understanding and friendship between people of different countries. We shall work closely with both Chinese and international scholars to promote creative evolution and development of fine traditional Chinese culture, so that Chinese civilization and all the other brilliant civilizations in the world may provide positive spiritual guidance and support for humanity.

Peace and development remain the call of our day and human society is full of hope. Meanwhile, changes at a level unseen in a century and complicated by the pandemic have led to more unstable and uncertain international situations. The world is still faced with serious challenges such as wars and conflicts, social contradictions, and environmental crises. It has become more urgent and realistic for mankind to build a community with a shared future, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013. To meet the challenges and create a better future, we need not only the wisdom and strength of today, but also the wisdom and strength accumulated in history. We should follow the philosophy of looking into the future with history as a mirror; creatively develop traditional Chinese culture, including Confucianism; carry forward the cultural ideals that transcend time, space, national boundaries, and are relevant to contemporary values. We should uphold the common values shared by all mankind-peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom; seek common ground while setting aside differences, break down barriers, enhance mutual trust, and promote co-existence of civilizations. We should contribute our share to building a world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, a world that is open and inclusive, cleaner and more beautiful.

Over the years, the International Confucian Association has worked closely with experts, scholars, and social personages to study Confucian classics, and to discover and rediscover the essence of traditional Chinese culture. By absorbing the strengths and wisdom of other civilizations, we have achieved much progress in promoting fine traditional Chinese culture and international communication. As a world-renowned institution of foreign language education, Beijing Foreign Studies University features fine academic traditions and is well established in studies on Chinese culture as well. It is my belief that our jointly-edited International Confucian Studies will win support and assistance from global Confucian scholars and people of vision. It is also my hope that the journal will encourage creative research on and in-depth communication between Confucianism and traditional Chinese culture, and other thoughts and cultures in the world, so as to play its due role in safeguarding world peace, promoting common development, and building a community with a shared future for mankind.