Traditional values span borders

Classic Confucian texts are not so popular among young Chinese today, though most are aware of their lofty significance in traditional Chinese culture as represented by such books as Analects of Confucius (Lun Yu), Book of Mencius (Mengzi), The Great Learning (Da Xue) and The Doctrine of the Mean (Zhong Yong), Confucianism, which still exert their influence today.

Their unseen impact is rooted in the way Chinese communicate, think and behave, whether people are conscious of it or not. And that effect is not just in China but other East Asian countries as well. For example, one South Korean scholar is sharing his perspective on the ancient Chinese philosophy with the Chinese language edition of Zhong Yong: The Highest Wisdom of Humankind just being published in China this November.

"The South Korean version of the book was published in early 2011 and sold more than 200,000 copies last year, ranking No.1 on the book list of humanities in the country," said Ren Jiancheng, editor in charge of the Chinese version.

"Given the spiritual and moral dilemma Chinese people are facing today compared to its economic boom, the book actually plays an advisory role for both Chinese governments and academics in terms of changing and adjusting the current development model," Ren told the Global Times.

Ceaseless pursuit

"It has been my lifelong passion to study the Chinese civilization. Its unique appeal is its humanist tradition," said 64-year-old Kim Young-oak in an email interview with the Global Times.

First touching upon ancient Chinese philosophy in The Book of Laozi during his college years, Kim grew deeply attracted and threw himself into the study of ancient Chinese civilization featuring various schools of thought including Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism. Through this process, he developed an abiding belief in Confucianism.

However, according to Kim, the English term "Confucianism" itself is in fact problematic. "Confucianism (or rujiao) is not necessarily restricted to the teachings of Confucius. We may argue that Confucianism had existed even before Confucius was born," he explained.

"Thousands of years before Max Weber spoke of rationalization, secularization and 'disenchantment,' China had achieved its own version of demystification and demythologisation," Kim said. "No other major civilization on earth managed to shed religious superstitions so thoroughly," he added.

For years Kim has translated and annotated Confucian classics including Analects of Confucius, The Great Learning and The Doctrine of the Mean, while also lecturing on South Korean TV stations.

The various schools of thoughts in ancient China had their different views and assertions on the relations between humankind and nature, as well as relations among humans themselves, Kim explained. For example, Taoism, traced back to the 6th century BC and founded by Laozi, emphasized　wu wei (achievement without purposeful intent) and spontaneity. While Confucianism, with its founder Confucius who was a contemporary of Laozi, focused more on a series of social, ethical and moral values.

"We have to be careful about classifying the philosophical traditions of China along the lines of Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism, and Legalism," said Kim. "Rather than artificially compartmentalizing the schools of thought, we should look beyond the superficial differences and identify the core similarities that unify the glorious intellectual achievements of the pre-Qin era," he pointed out.

At a loss

Developed thousands of years ago, those ancient philosophies in some modern people's eye, may have drifted away from their everyday lives. However, in Kim's view, "most of our social phenomena, which are not usually associated with Confucianism are, in fact, Confucian - for better or worse."

"I believe the reason for the popularity of my book (in South Korea) is that it enables people to feel the charm of traditional culture again," he said.

Qiu Feng, an independent social and economic scholar said, "It's hard for many academic researchers to integrate their vast knowledge into the understanding and practice of life, but professor Kim did it in his book."

In Qiu's view, China urgently needs to restore Confucian beliefs in and revive its culture. "When the disputes about the Diaoyu Islands broke out, our countrymen didn't even know how to show their patriotism," he said, referring to a number of irresponsible and harmful street demonstrations perpetrated by some young people.

"It's like a group of barbarians, not (the actions) of cultivated men with a 5,000-year-long history of civilization," he said. "This is due to the loss of our culture - the Confucian culture."

Regional civilization

Aware of it or not, Confucianism also has an influence on the cultures of neighboring East Asian countries including the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, South Korea and Japan.

The DPRK has better preserved the Confucian values, according to Kim. People of the DPRK "love and respect Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il as their 'Father Leader.' Even when they are on the verge of starvation, they do not express indignation toward their father figures," he said.

"What underlies this phenomenon is the age-old value of filial piety (xiao), which became deeply entrenched in Korean culture during the Chosun dynasty," Kim explained.

In Korean's history during the reign of Chosun, which lasted more than five centuries, Neo-Confucianism (incorporating some aspects of Buddhism) taught by philosopher Zhu Xi (1130-1200) during China's Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), was embraced and enforced in the country.

For the influence of Confucianism in South Korea today, Kim gave an example of the popularity of local TV dramas. "(In those dramas), Chinese audiences recognize and appreciate the family relationships - including those between parents and children, spouses and in-laws, and husbands and wives - the subtlety with which the Korean TV dramas capture and depict so eloquently," he said.

"Chinese people may know a few Japanese scholars who study ancient Chinese civilization, but South Korean scholars are rarely introduced," Kim said, adding, "it's not important which country I came from, but we should understand each other."

The book is published by Hainan Publishing House "giving an incentive for (the integration of) Asian civilization, which is very good," according to Kim.

"If Confucian culture can be revived in China, we may have a common value system shared with other East Asian countries, which is the basis for the stability in the region," said Qiu, "like we cannot think of the European Union if without Christianity."

"Confucianism does not go away. It is our language, our way of life, and syntax of our thoughts. The end of Confucianism would be tantamount to the end of our thought process," said Kim.