In the book, Xi uses a passage from "The Analects of Confucius," to warn officials against corruption; "Contemplating good and pursuing it, as you could not reach it; contemplating evil, and shrinking from it, as you would from thrusting a hand into boiling water."
Xi also asked the officials to "examine themselves three times a day," also from The Analects, to better observe the Party code of conduct and state laws.
"The president's emphasis on culture has helped popularize the ancient classics," said Xiong Weiqiang, an official with the China Executive Leadership Academy of Pudong District in Shanghai.
"Our society has not paid enough attention to traditional culture in modern times, it is good to see that more people are embracing their heritage," said Xiong, who attended the Confucianism program last year.
CRITICAL INHERITANCE
Liu Zhong, vice president of the Party School of Jining, said Confucianism should be studied with a critical approach.
He said the school has been selective when choosing its teaching materials. The editors skipped some of the outdated values, such as the concepts of hierarchy and gender inequality, and instead choose teachings that were relevant to the lives of today's officials.
Li Jingxue said that Confucianism should be combined with the reality of modern life and misinterpretations should be avoided.
For example "loyalty" was interpreted by many as submission to emperors in feudal society, while today's officials should understand "loyalty" as devotion to their country and people.
Li added that to better serve the country and the people, officials should first ensure they are virtuous and disciplined human beings and "be cautious when alone," as Confucius taught.
The Confucian opinion of self-discipline coincides with the CPC's efforts to root out corruption. Since the current leadership took office in late 2012, The CPC has repeatedly stressed that the Party code of conduct is stricter than state laws.
Writing in the party's official People's Daily in 2014, head of Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) Wang Qishan said that the Party's code of conduct imposes more restrictions on Party members than common law does on normal citizens, as being a member of the CPC means giving up some of the rights and freedoms enjoyed by the general public.
Xiong Weiqiang said that moral integrity and self-discipline were greater deterrents than laws and regulations.
"But we should not expect instant results from the study of Confucianism. It is about the cultivation of one's value system, and the influence can be very subtle, so learning should be a long-term undertaking for the officials."
