Aesop's Fables and Ethics Education... Nov 23, 2009
The fables became widely accepted to help influence societal ethics in Japan after Confucianism. Confucianism vs. Aesop s Fables ... Japan was formerly influenced by Confucianism (and Buddhism) prior to the arrival of Christianity, and Confucian philosophy has prevailed and took roots in the wide range of sectors in the society from politics, education, to family life. (Suite101.com)
* Focus on culture, not on military, for ROC centennial: Ma Nov 15, 2009
But four decades later, China is no longer criticizing Confucius teachings and instead has established institutes around the world to help propagate Confucianism and the Mandarin language, he said. Ma said it was gratifying to see that mainstream thinking in China had gradually returned to its Chinese roots. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Confucius in the eyes of Westerners Nov 14, 2009
"On the one hand, Confucianism should be promoted among top leaders to help them draft policies. On the other hand, it should be popularized among ordinary people," said the professor. "After all, the ordinary people had more impact on the society.". (Xinhuanet, China)
Commentary: Int'l interaction of Chinese culture Nov 3, 2009
On raising the bill, Al Green, a Democratic Congressman from Texas, said Confucianism has deeply influenced and continues to have far-reaching influence on the social and political thought of many countries around the world. Li Chengjiu, a senior researcher at the Brookings Institution's John L. Thornton China Center, said the U.S. House's Confucius resolution reflected China's increasing influence and the U.S. political community's rising respect for China. (Xinhuanet, China)
Seoul's salvation? Oct 26, 2009
Page last updated at 02:41 GMT, Monday, 26 October 2009. Will South Korea become Christian. (BBC News -- Asia-Pacific)
Societies don't have to be secular to be modern Oct 22, 2009
Traditional Confucianism, after all, taught the emperor that he had a duty to his subjects as well as himself. It is not an accident that the most successful authoritarian modernization experiments have all been in East Asian societies touched by Confucianism. (Christian Science Monitor)
Confucianism a vital string in China's bow Oct 9, 2009
All the same, some scholars in China argue that Beijings soft power is rising, pointing to a revival in Confucianism ... The more than 2,000-year influence of Confucianism began to decline in the early 20th century as it was blamed as a major cause for China's backwardness ... During the anti-imperialist May 4 student movement in 1919, the slogan "Down with Confucianism" was shouted. (Asia Times Online)
* Blocking Kadeer violates liberalism Oct 6, 2009
There is one principle by which a government that espouses liberalism must stand, and this is that the governments definition of national security or the national interest cannot cite values that may reasonably be disputed X whether it be establishing the Kingdom of God, reviving Confucianism or achieving the worlds highest GDP per capita. In addition, the government should only restrict personal freedoms when they pose a clear and immediate threat to national security and the... (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
The ancient Chinese philosopher with two million descendants Sep 26, 2009
Confucianism has grown in popularity in recent years ... Confucianism has traditionally given women a lower status than men in its strict hierarchy, so female descendants were not counted, but genealogists announced in 2006 that they had decided to "move with the times". (BBC News -- Asia-Pacific)
Senior official calls for inheriting Confucianism Sep 25, 2009
Senior official calls for inheriting, displaying Confucianism_English_Xinhua. Senior official calls for inheriting, displaying Confucianism ... BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official has called for the better inheritance and display of Confucianism, for the promotion of the development and prosperity of the country's socialist culture. (Xinhuanet, China)
Nissin "Eddie Wise" Sep 15, 2009
If the intent of all this consumer Confucianism is to make the noodles seem genuinely Asian, I doubt whether it'll work. Then again, maybe this hokeyness is a roundabout way of assuring potential customers that the food is not particularly Asian -- that it's the sort of thing they could have encountered at an Asian-American restaurant 50 years ago. (AdWeek)
West confused over Confucians Sep 10, 2009
This tradition was labeled "Confucianism" ... As a senior official at the Communist Party's central school put it, "One should just not pit 'Confucianism' against 'modernization', tradition against reform. These juxtapositions are simply wrong and entail wrong results and consequences." ... In sum, as the Communist Party wants to stop China from being squeezed in the confusion between Confucianism and anti-Confucianism, so Westerners, keen on the value of their democracy, have to try to explain... (Asia Times Online)
Confucius to teach Houstonians ancient Chinese philosophy Sep 3, 2009
Confucianism is a complex system of moral, social, political, philosophical and quasi-religious thought that has tremendous influence on the culture and history of China and other East Asian countries. On the foundation of the life-size statue, three teachings of Confucius will be carved both in Chinese and English, advocating good education as an essential prerequisite for a harmonious relationship within society, families and individuals. (Xinhuanet, China)
Biopic of Confucius to screen during Spring Festival Sep 3, 2009
He was a great educator, philosopher, a renowned politician and the founding father of Confucianism. Editor: Anne Tang. (Xinhuanet, China)
Shrug off Cold War legacies and face ahead Aug 27, 2009
Aside from influence of the oft-stated Confucianism and other ancient wisdoms, the national characteristics of the contemporary Chinese can also trace its root to a typical survival culture, one of side effects of Cold War, which had fully embodied the natural principle of the weak being the prey of the strong, through the cut-throat race between two world blocs respectively led by the U.S. and the former Soviet Union. In the white-hot combat unfolded by the two contrasting ideological systems,... (People's Daily Online, China)
Shanghai Mayor as Would-Be Man of Music Sees Bankers Bereft of Conscience Aug 18, 2009
Merchants were often accused of being parasites because they earned a profit by moving things around, and buying low and selling high, said , an assistant professor at the National University of Singapore, who teaches courses on Confucianism. Animal spirits are important as drivers of risk-taking and innovation in any system, said , a professor who specializes in Chinas economy at the University of Toronto. (Bloomberg)
A glance at the Asian miracle Aug 15, 2009
He also points out that some observers in the West feel that Confucianism is as important to the development of Asias hypergrowth economies as Protestantism was to the rise of capitalism in the West, but makes his own view clear. Asia had to do something radical and new to make the miracle happens, he comments. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Corazon Aquino 1933-2009: The Saint of Democracy Aug 9, 2009
Yet to a planet conditioned by colonialism or Confucianism or tyranny to think that the people's obligation is to follow, not lead, Aquino's inspiration was truly transformative. A Thin Line If the purity of people power's message remains unblemished today, its political legacy is more complicated. (Time.com)
Confucianism at large in Africa Aug 7, 2009
They contend that China's pursuit of cultural diplomacy in Africa can be read in the light of Confucianism as long as a sophisticated enough view of the matter is taken ... This, too, they argue is a paradigm of Confucianism; and one may look for concrete symbols of it in the tools being suggested by the thinkers behind the push of Confucius institutes in Africa. (Asia Times Online)
Embracing Confucius as a way of living Jul 29, 2009
BEIJING, July 29 -- It's heartening to hear that China will translate five classics of Confucianism into nine foreign languages to spread Confucian values ... Xinhua called the five books "the origin of Chinese Confucianism." ... To be sure, Chinese culture is not all about Confucianism, which basically teaches mutual respect and self-restraint. (Xinhuanet, China)
Traditional and simplified: different characters lead to same Chinese identity Jul 13, 2009
Yu Dan, a mainland intellectual who became famous by lecturing Confucianism on TV, said, "It is not a problem to use either traditional or simplified characters. The key is how to pass on our cultural tradition together.". In the face of modernization and industrialization, the Chinese turn to ancient wisdom for advice, which made scholars like Yu celebrities. (Xinhuanet, China)
Book Reviews Jul 5, 2009
China's New Confucianism by Daniel A Bell. Confucianism is resurgent in China, with its proponents aiming to re-enshrine moral standards for a nation undergoing dizzying change ... Surprisingly, a Westerner is at the forefront and in this book he tackles issues ranging from why Confucianism is important today to the reason senior communist leaders always dye their hair black. (Asia Times Online)
Korea Jul 5, 2009
Meanwhile, the two female reporters are set to begin "re-education'' in a penal system known for brutality, starvation and torture. - Donald Kirk (Jun 9,'09) The twin false alarms Japan experienced before the North Korean missile test in April highlight some unacceptable deficiencies in its early warning systems. Further provocations from Pyongyang will surely confirm that Japan's crisis management system is on the blink. - Peter J Brown (Jun 9,'09) Frantic behind-the-scenes diplomacy and... (Asia Times Online)
Mt Songshan fails to enter World Heritage list Jun 30, 2009
"Different religious groups belonging to Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism came to build their bases. The religious culture embodied by them has been constantly evolving with the times," said Gong. Local government has earmarked a huge sum of money in the world heritage application. (Xinhuanet, China)
How Confucianism could curb global warming Jun 28, 2009
Kingston, Ontario Now here's a curveball to secular Western policy experts: China's intellectuals are openly debating the role of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism in promoting the Communist Party's vision of a harmonious society and ecologically sustainable economic development ... Confucianism begins from the proposition that human beings are defined by kinship networks that span the centuries ... As China assumes a greater leadership role on the world stage, we can expect the emergence of a... (Yahoo News)
* Universities back merger of Tainan city and county Jun 17, 2009
In addition, the Confucius Temple in Tainan was built in 1665, marking the start of the study of Confucianism in Taiwan. Tainan] is replete with historical, cultural and educational uniqueness, the declaration said. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)
Throwing the book at corruption Jun 3, 2009
It is true that Confucianism encourages learning and reading, but in China's dynastic history, learning was used to pass exams and become an official to enjoy power and a better life. The practical purpose for one to read and learn during China's dynastic history was illustrated in the poem "Encouraging Learning" by Song dynasty emperor Song Zhenzong (968-1022). (Asia Times Online)
Soft Skills Training for Global Bus... Jun 3, 2009
East Asian cultures influenced by Confucianism tend to value a long-term orientation, that includes a high concern for relationships based on trust and mutual understanding, with a correspondingly lesser emphasis placed on rules, policies and explicit frameworks for different types of work. These characteristics are also found in some Latin American and Northern European countries, even without historical connections to Confucianism. (Suite101.com)
Forget Tiananmen, thus spake Confucius Jun 3, 2009
The Communist Party, which has long regarded Confucius as a feudal thinker, has made a flip-flop, tacitly approving a state comeback for Confucianism, and even promoting it as a key aspect of an alternative political model for China. "Confucianism has quietly come back," said Joseph Cheng, a political scientist at the City University of Hong Kong, "and the communist leadership has been exploiting it to help fill the ideological vacuum and improve morality. It is a low-key revival, but it suits... (Asia Times Online)
* The changing face of China reflected in affairs of the heart May 23, 2009
Confucianism is making a comeback. People are creating their own, informal structures, from associations of elderly people to environmental groups. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
SKorea's top court upholds 'right to die' verdict May 21, 2009
In South Korea, long shaped by Confucianism and home to a sizable Christian community, euthanasia and suicide were long shunned as violations of the body. But public sentiment has shifted in recent years. (Erie Times-News, PA)
Tiananmen's legacy lingers May 16, 2009
Amid the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, the government instead looked to nationalism and Confucianism as a uniting force to secure the loyalty of its people. "People's faith in communism has collapsed and they need to fill that void," said Ching Cheong. (Asia Times Online)
Confucianist corruption in South Korea May 14, 2009
Scholar Kim goes back to several thousand years of dynastic rule tempered by Confucianism. "Confucianism was the governing social philosophy," said Kim. (Asia Times Online)
With Tan Teng Boo May 9, 2009
He says he lives according to the rules of Confucianism, where he has an idealistic view of the world, and really desires to make the world a better place. Confucius said: A gentleman needs to have three basic characters, which I have not lived up to. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Legacy of May Fourth Movement endures May 2, 2009
When we refer to May Fourth, it is inevitable to judge its impact on the traditional Chinese culture, especially Confucianism ... It was necessary for May Fourth, as a reformist movement, to assault Confucianism, which had dominated China for two millennia ... When the corrupted governments and unscrupulous dictators kowtowed to the Confucianism, and the warlord authority, which ceded China's territory to the foreign powers, sought to use Confucianism to fetter the people, how could the... (Xinhuanet, China)
Falungong silent in China, thriving abroad Apr 28, 2009
The Falungong fiasco spurred the leadership to promote a revival of Confucianism and Buddhism and to adopt a more tolerant attitude toward Christianity. The life of the spirit is now open for exploration in China - as long as it does not threaten the life of the state. (Asia Times Online)
Tang Dynasty History Apr 17, 2009
While Confucianism was firmly rooted in China, Buddhism became prominent in China during the Tang Dynasty, and even received official support from the government. The Tang was a time of religious diversity, and many foreign religions, including Christianity, also grew. (Suite101.com)
Introducing our new Asia column: Banyan Apr 9, 2009
For East Asia, Japan s militarists had in mind those places heavily touched by Confucianism (China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan), plus Indochina, the Malay Peninsula and the island states of the Philippines and Indonesia. Yet much of this area is well south of South Asia, big chunks of which are still north of the modern definition of East Asia. (The Economist)
Kosuke Koyama; wrote of Christian, Asian values Apr 3, 2009
Rev. Koyama became an influential voice for ecumenism, speaking at conferences around the world and teaching classes on Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism at Union. "I feel a mission to teach about different religious traditions," he said in an interview with the Religion News Service in 1995. (Boston Globe)
Ancient philosopher Confucius gets Cartoon image Apr 1, 2009
He was a great educator, philosopher, renown politician, and the founding father of Confucianism. So far, 256 Confucius Institutes and 58 Confucius Classrooms have been established across the world. (Xinhuanet, China)
World Buddhist Forum participants: dialogues significant Mar 30, 2009
The Buddhism, imported to the country 2,000 years ago, is no stranger to dialogues with the home-grown Taoism and Confucianism. The performance of "Song of Auspiciousness" is staged at the Buddhist Palace in Lingshan Mountain in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province, on March 29, 2009, marking the end of the first phase of the Second World Buddhist Forum (WBF). (Xinhuanet, China)
* FEATURE : Confucius Temple plays host to rare traditional rituals Mar 28, 2009
Since last month a simplified version of the Yayue dance (), an ancient sacrificial rite to honor Confucius, has been performed every Saturday as part of the temples latest effort to promote Confucianism and traditional culture ... Taipei Confucius Temple seeks to promote Confucianism in modern times, and performing the dance, which represents an ancient form of education in nurturing the body and mind, makes Confucius teachings more accessible to people, said Shih Shu-li (IQ), the... (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)
US gives a long overdue nod to Indonesia Mar 18, 2009
Indonesia recognizes Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism as official religions. Most Americans are surprised to learn that Christmas and Good Friday are national holidays in Indonesia. (Asia Times Online)
Interfaith dialogue: The need to tackle some thorny issues Mar 14, 2009
Only recently has Confucianism also been recognized ... Many socio-religious organizations such as the Muhammadiyah, the Nahdlatul Ulama, the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI), the Indonesian Council of Bishops (KWI), the Indonesia Confucianism High Assembly (Matakin), the Indonesian Buddhist Association (Walubi), etc. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia)
Robert Pirsig`s Quest for Quality Mar 13, 2009
To some extent, it can be gleaned that, in one way or another, Pirsig has been influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. This book details two types of personalities: those who are interested mostly in gestalts or the classically romantic viewpoints, such as the idea preached by Zen of focused on being "in the moment", and not on rational analysis, and the second are those who need to know details, the inner workings, mechanics or the classic viewpoints with application of... (Suite101.com)
In Thailand, vegetarians find a place at the table Mar 4, 2009
The festival is a wildly syncretic melee, combining elements of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism and the traditions of Ming Dynasty secret societies. During the nine-day festival, which honors the North Star at the start of the ninth lunar month, usually in October, household gods are brought to the city's elaborate Chinese temples. (International Herald Tribune -- Travel)
Is Chinese Indonesian heritage illegal? Feb 20, 2009
Lunar New Year represents Confucianism. If there is no holiday for Depavali or Yom Kippur in Indonesia, it is because Indian Hindus and Jews in Indonesia are not historically and socially significant enough to be recognized, in either positive or negative terms. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
