On September 27th, the 4th Session of the World Confucian Conference and the Awarding Ceremony of Confucius Culture Prize 2011 was grandly held at Confucius Research Institute, located at Confucius’ hometown Qufu. The former minister of China Ministry of Culture Zhao Weisui, vice governor of Shandong province Huang Sheng, deputy secretary general of Shandong provincial government Si Anmin, vice minister of Shandong provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department and director of the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture Xu Xianghong, vice director Li Guolin, vice director of Shandong provincial government Li Guolin, Vice President of Chinese National Academy of Artsand director of Culture Development Strategy Research Center Jia Leilei, secretary of the CPC Jining Municipal Committee and director of Jining municipal people’s Congress Standing Committee Zhang Zhenchuan, deputy secretary of Jining municipal Party Committee and mayor Mei Yonghong, secretary of the Party Committee of Confucius Research Institute Zhuang Jinlan attended the opening ceremony. The vice president of C.P.P.C.C., president of International Confucian Association, and honorary president of Confucius Research Institute Ye Xuanping, and the winner of Confucius Culture Prize 2010 Mr. Pang Pu sent the congratulation letter for the conference respectively.
The World Confucian Conference is an international Confucian event co-sponsored by Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China and People’s Government of Shandong Province and organized by Chinese National Academy of Arts, Shandong Provincial Department of Culture, China Confucius Foundation, International Confucian Association, People’s Government of Ji’ning City and Confucius Research Institute. The purpose is to organize and hold Confucianism research activity all over the world, to promote the indepth development of Confucianism research in various countries and regions, to inherit and spread Chinese excellent traditional culture, to promote the dialogue and exchange among different civilizations, and to strengthen the understanding and trust among people from different nations.
In this session we adhered to the consistent purpose of the past sessions, build independent and equal academic atmosphere, invited renowned scholars, Confucian organizations and institutes both domestic and overseas, encouraged cross-regional, cross- disciplinary and cross-industry Confucian research, both paid attention to the basic theoretical research and closely connected Confucianism research with the contemporary value construction, explored the significance and function of Confucianism in contemporary value construction. Nearly 200 experts and scholars of 83 academic organizations from 16 countries and regions such as the mainland of China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, South Korea, America, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Ireland, Austria, Australia, Brazil, Germany and Kazakhstan carried out deep discussion and extensive dialogue according to the theme of “the value orientation of Confucianism and social development”, “Confucianism innovation and modern social construction”, “Confucianism and its universal value”, “moral rite and humanistic cultivation”.
In his speech, the former minister of China Ministry of Culture Zhao Weisui pointed out that Confucianism is not only the motivation of the life and growth of Chinese nation, and the valuable spiritual treasure of world people, playing an indispensably active role to building harmonious world and realizing the sustainable development of human beings. Now, we are under the historical phase of the co-development of economy and culture. It is a very important and urgent historic mission to inherit and carry forward the excellent traditional culture of Chinese nation, and to make it an internal strength of promoting our social development. The World Confucian Conference is such an academic event under this context of cultural rejuvenation. Over the past 5 years, under the joint effort of the sponsors and organizers, the academic discussion gets deeper, the international influence is constantly extended, and won satisfied achievements. He hoped that the experts discuss freely, promoting the spread and development of Confucianism in the multi-cultural explanation, and the research of Chinese wisdom with over 2000 years history.
The vice governor of Shandong province pointed out that since the 21st century, as the worldwide cultural exchange enlarged, as the international Confucianism exchange got more often, the influence of Confucianism development and innovation got more and more important in world culture. In the past five years, the World Confucian Conference has become the high-end platform in cross-regional, cross- disciplinary and cross-industry Confucian research and the important carrier and brand for Chinese culture to go to the world. The World Confucian Conference and Confucius Culture Prize will definitely play an important push function to the economic and cultural construction of Shandong province and the development of Confucianism all over the world.
Dean of Confucius Research Institute professor Yang Chaoming gave keynote speech on behalf of the sponsors. He pointed out that Confucius’ values and moral norms which emphasize benevolence, traditional rites, harmony, justice, wisdom, integrity and so on have far-reaching influence to the social culture, and still glitter with the splendor of humanism in nowadays. Today, the renowned Confucians gather in the conference, discuss on the universal value of Confucianism and social culture development, which will definitely promote the research on Confucianism and deepen the world people’ understanding of Confucianism. The conference passed the presidium list. Dean of Sungkyunkwan University Xu Zhengdun, professor of University of Bonn, Germany Gu Bin gave keynote speeches respectively.
During this conference, the winners of Confucius Culture Prize Mr. Tang Yijie and Mr. Tang Enjia were announced. “Confucius Culture Prize” was an international award named after the saint teacher Confucius and established by China Ministry of Culture and Shandong provincial Government. This prize is the highest award in Confucianism research and spread, chiefly commending the individuals, institutes and non-governmental organizations that have made outstanding contribution to global Confucianism research and Confucius culture spread, aiming at encouraging the worldwide individuals, institutes and non-governmental organizations to stand at the height of the times, studying the essence of Confucianism, exploring the value and significance of Confucius and Confucianism, strengthening the discussion and exchange of Confucianism achievements, promoting the inheritance and spread of Confucian culture, enriching the connotation of world culture, promoting the multi-culture construction and development all over the world, and promoting the peace, harmony and progress of human society.
This conference coincides with the 2562 anniversary of Confucius’ birthday. All the delegated participated in the grand Confucius Memorial Ceremony. (written by Song Zhenzhong, photo by Kong Yong)