Tu Weiming: The Meaning of Confucianism to the World

Confucianism, which focuses on the improvement of the individual human being, is universally applicable, said Tu Weiming, a professor of philosophy and the founder and dean of the Institute for Advanced Humanistic Studies of Peking University, when addressing the media during the 8th World Forum on China Studies.

He holds that subjects under humanities and social sciences all relate to China studies, which is not confined to East Asia. Instead, it turns out to be a crucial subject during the course of globalization and modernization. As China develops, research concerning China will always have a bright future.   

Born in 1940, Professor Tu Weiming has devoted himself to the study of Confucianism and the revival of traditional Chinese culture over the past nearly 50 years. He led the founding of the Institute for Advanced Humanistic Studies at the invitation of Peking University in 2008.

Tu believes that Confucianism has universal application because it is human-centered. It focuses on developing virtues, not acquiring fame or wealth. “As far as I’m concerned, this idea is generally accepted by most religions.”

When talking about the core value of Confucianism, Tu mentioned the 24th World Congress of Philosophy, which was themed “Learning To Be Human”. “This is a subject that has universal interest.”

As for China’s development, Tu said that a country’s rise should not only be considered economically, but also politically and culturally. “On the one hand, China should clearly explain its own proposals on diplomacy and ideology. On the other hand, how other countries see China also matters.” In this regard, China should spare no effort to learn more about other countries. Tu believes that it is also important to understand oneself by understanding what others think about one.

He highlights the importance of “considering others in one’s own place,” an important idea in Confucianism. He thinks that traditional Chinese culture possesses rich resources that can be applied in its relations with the world today.

Tu also said that the quality of individual people is the most important factor in comprehensive national strength, and improving the quality should in the end focus on the individual.

Tu has been instrumental in developing international exchanges on the themes of “Dialogue among Civilizations” and the idea of Cultural China.

He was also among those given the 5th Award for Distinguished Contribution to China Studies.

“I hope and believe that the humane principle at the heart of Confucianism, strengthened by dialogue and contact with other civilizations, will allow us to build on the gains of the Enlightenment, transcend the excesses of the recent ‘Secular Age,’ and offer important resources for humanity’s 21st-century philosophical conversation with itself,” Tu said in his speech at the forum.