Does Confucius now have the Chinese Government seal of approval?

Confucius film

A recent announcement that Chow Yun-fat (*) is to star as Confucius in a $25m budget film backed by the Chinese government begs the question as to whether this constitutes the final step in the philosopher’s rehabilitation by the communist regime.

Confucianism was banned under Chairman Mao and steps were taken to eradicate all evidence of his existence during the Cultural Revolution – including the destruction of his family home. There was a certain inevitability that a philosophy based on family values and respect for social hierarchies should fall foul of a political ideology which looked to progress through conflict. Given the depth of antipathy it is somewhat surprising that his reintegration into the Chinese mainstream should have been so rapid.

Perhaps the key reason for this stems from the Beijing Olympics and the Chinese desire to re-engage with the world. Around the time of the opening ceremony the People’s daily claimed “Confucius is not only being celebrated at the Olympic Games. The great philosopher and educator who lived from 551 to 479 BC, is enjoying renewed popularity in the China of the 21st century..” Perhaps to inject a cautionary note about going overboard the same article did also point out that the philosopher had been “repudiated for decades as representative of the feudal system”

Whatever the reason for the turnaround, interest in Confucius appears to have grown rapidly. Professor Yu Dan’s book providing notes on the Analects proved to be the second-best selling book in China in recent times. A TV series about the life of the sage is in production along with a hundred part animated series on his teachings. The Chinese Government is also backing institutes around the world which promote Confucius’s teachings and it is even rumoured that classes are also underway in Chinese prisons.

One note of caution however concerns the mantra that appears to have emerged from official Chinese circles regarding the need to bring Confucianism up to date. Even Hui Mei, who has been chosen to direct the multi-million dollar film talks of the need to “portray a great person’s soul on film from a contemporary perspective”. Given that her father and grandfather were victims of the Cultural Revolution it is to be hoped that the philosopher’s soul is in safe hands and his teachings will not be subjected to too much revision.

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(*) Chow Yun-fat is best known for his role in the Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and for gangster movies such as Hard Boiled and A Better Tomorrow. Perhaps the fact that he won the part, over more acclaimed Chinese actors, results from his appeal to more western audiences and the Chinese desire for greater international engagement.

Was Chow Yun-fat the correct choice to play Confucius? – let us know what you think.

Confucianism - ancient wisdom and modern values

What Barack Obama appears to have learnt from Confucius and what he could still learn?

Although he has never acknowledged this openly there is considerable evidence to suggest that the new president is a strong proponent of Confucianism. Contrast this with his predecessor who might – if one is being generous – perhaps best be described as a proponent of confusion!

The following selection of quotes would seemingly point to strong parallels between the ancient philosopher and the new president:

On family values

The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.
Confucius

Of all the rocks upon which we build our lives, we are reminded today that family is the most important.
Barack Obama

On a longer term view of the environment

If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.
Confucius

Take an intergenerational view and recognize that we are borrowing this planet from our children and our grandchildren. And this is where faith and the science of global warming converge: we have to find resources in ourselves to make sacrifices so we don’t leave it to the next generation. We’ve got to be less wasteful, both as a society and in our own individual lives. As president, I hope to rally the entire world around the importance of us being good stewards of the land.
Barack Obama

On poverty, wealth and leadership

In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.
Confucius

There is good government when those who are near are made happy, and when those who are afar are attracted.
Confucius

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect.
Barack Obama

And finally a few further pieces of 2000 plus year old wisdom that the new president may do well to heed:

A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
Confucius

An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.

Confucius

Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.
Confucius

By the ruler’s cultivation of his own character there is set up the example of the course which all should pursue.
Confucius

Confucius quotes, modern parallels and Confucius sayings

Confucius quote: Confucius he say “to know what we know and know what we do not know is wisdom”.

Almost two and a half thousand years later Donald Rumsfeld said “there are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don’t know we don’t know” Obviously Rumsfeld still has much to learn!

Confucius quote: Confucius he say “a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”

The modern equivalent of this might run along the lines that “a journey of a thousand miles begins with too much luggage”.

Confucius quote: Confucius says “poetry should be expressive of enjoyment without being licentious, and expressive of sadness without grieving”.

Possibly Paul McCartney had this in mind when, in an attempt at writing poetry, he came up with the line - “Sadness isn’t sadness, it’s happiness in a black jacket”. Anyone think that this will be widely quoted in 2000 years time?

Confucius quote: Confucius he say “He who learns but does not think is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”

George W Bush he say “You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a litturacy test.”

One of these never held any public office, the other became leader of richest nation on earth.

Confucius quote: Confucius say “in education there are no class distinctions”.

Would be nice to think that Eton would turn out as many thick failures as a deprived inner city school, but somehow I think not!

Confucius quote: Confucius he say “a promise easily made is hard to keep”.

The modern day equivalent runs along the lines “the Conservative (could equally apply to any political party) manifesto is not worth the paper it’s written on”.

Confucius quote: Confucius says “we shall seldom get lost if we hold to main lines”.

This would have been a good principle for those who designed satellite navigation systems to follow.

Confucius quote: Confucius say “study the past if you would define the future”.

Perhaps the modern translation is “look at the form book before placing the bet”.

Thanks to all who have submitted idea on modern parallels or commentaries on Confucius quotations to …………. We’re currently reviewing these and will be adding to the list shortly. Please keep feeding in the ideas. Email me your thoughts and ideas here

Why not try to come up with a modern parallel for the following quotations?

• “he who will not economise will have to agonise”…
• “it does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop”…
• “our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in getting up every time we do”…
• “never give a sword to a man who can’t dance”…

About Confucius – Chinese philosopher and thinker

Confucius the Chinese philosopher and thinker, who lived from 551BC to 479BC, has long been a symbol of wisdom on matters of personal morality, social relations and justice. His teachings which were collected together many years after his death in the ‘Analects of Confucius’ initially gained prominence during the Han Dynasty which ran from 206BC and 220AD. Over the next 1000 years or so Confucian philosophy gradually gained a foothold as it became the most important tool for those who wished to become government officials in China and because of this established itself as the foundation of the modern Chinese education system. It was also taken up in Europe after being introduced by the Jesuits in the 16TH Century.

‘Confucius he say’, ‘Confucius say’ or ‘Confucius says’ is a phrase that both serious and more frivolous commentators often use to introduce a piece of ‘home spun’ philosophy, which has given rise to a wealth of Confucius quotes. On this site we look at both what Confucius actually said, what he might have said (or possibly not!) in a modern context and what others have attributed to him. We also explore the idea that Confucius was at times funny and would have enjoyed the Confucius jokes.

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