Confucianism Since The Reform And Opening Up A "renaissance" Phenomenon Study - The Qufu Corner Of The Perspective

Confucian culture is the core of Chinese traditional culture. It has great impact on our society. Qufu, the birthplace of Confucian culture, always functions as the barometer of Confucian culture's prosperity and decline. When Confucian culture was paid supreme tribute, Qufu was the model in respecting Confucius and Confucianism; however, when Confucianism was at low ebb, Qufu was the worst criticized region. Since modern times, by the impingement of the Eastward Transmission of Western Sciences, Confucianism began to decline. With the abolishment of Imperial Examination System, the outbreak of the New Culture Movement, the public show of Confucius Saw Nancy and outbreaks of the Elimination of the Four Stereotypes and the movement of "Pi Lin Pi Kung", Qufu's Confucianism went to decline step by step. Until the reform and opening-up, there came new chances for the revival of Qufu's Confucianism. Firstly, the government support to Confucianism was firmer and firmer. Secondly, in the environment which was good for the revival of Confucianism, some civil Confucians began to practice and experience the traditional virtues of Confucianism, and they also promoted the education of Confucian classics. Thirdly, Confucian classics returned to classes and campuses, and they started to play an important role in Qufu's elementary and higher educations. Lastly, in the relatively free academic atmosphere, Confucianism researchers in Qufu founded some special research institutes to study Confucius and Confucianism, such as the Confucius Foundation, the Confucius Culture College and the Confucius Institute. All these measures brought prosperous studies on Confucianism.By national and local promotions, the revival of Confucianism in Qufu has achieved great effects. Nevertheless, erasing the flashy appearance, we find out that the Confucianism in Qufu has not really been revived. We can see this from the following aspects:Firstly, there was lack of substantial government supports to the Confucianism, especially lack of sufficient recognition of the roles and functions of civil Confucians and civil Confucianism researchers. Secondly, Confucianism researchers haven't helped to realize the transference from academic and theoretical Confucianism to life-oriented, public and practical Confucianism, which caused the revival of Confucianism stay on the elite level. Thirdly, in the culture industry which economy develops by means of culture, Confucianism became more and more commercial and market-oriented; and the ideological content of Confucianism was thus deconcentrated. Fourthly, the revival of Confucianism in Qufu aroused local people's antipathy, rather than their support.Behind the false boom of Qufu's Confucianism, there are several problems which seriously hinder the real revival of Confucianism. We should increase the communication and interaction among government, scholars, civil Confucians and public. At the same time, we need break the situation of acting independently, and unite together to promote the popularization and transmission of Confucianism. Consequently, people's trust and acknowledgement to confucian culture will be strengthened. And then the real revival of Confucianism will come.