2009/02/01 by Ming Chen · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Chinese history and philosophy #Modernization theory #Modernity #China #Scholarship #Politics #Cohesion (chemistry) #Sociology #Democracy #Globalization #Conservatism #Political economy #Political science #Environmental ethics #Law #Philosophy
paper · doi:10.1177/0392192109102159
openalex publication_date 2009/02/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
Abstract The scholarship of Confucianism in China is in the process of restoration. Its historical missions are two-fold. It should preserve Chinese national characters and promote China's modernization. These objectives are partly in conflict with each other. To realize the former objective, it is necessary to stress a historical continuity and consistency, to re-examine and justify the preservation of classical Confucian ideas and values in order to provide spiritual support for Chinese cultural identity and social cohesion. As to the latter objective, it is necessary to reinterpret some part of the classical ideas and values and link them with the modern values such as liberty, justice and democracy. This essay analyzes the position of three Confucianist scholars, Jiang Qing, Chen Ming and Kang Xiaoguang, to show the different balances between conservatism and reformers when their writings confront the challenges of modernization and globalization.