“Confucian Revival” From Both Chinese and Western, Ancient and Modern Perspectives: Observations and Reflections on Post-Millennium Research Into Confucianism

Abstract Confucianism in the new millennium has enjoyed a revival, a resurrection even, like a “wandering soul.” Due to this resurgence, whether it is regarded as an object of study, or as part of modern academic research, Confucianism can no longer be seen as an amalgamated entity, as it was in the last century. In contrast, since 2000, research into Confucian thought has changed not just from both Chinese and Western viewpoints, but from ancient and modern perspectives too. In the last century while China responded to the urgent need to modernize, Confucianism, as a system of ideas and concepts that had been part of classical Chinese society, tended to be examined against these historical changes. In so doing, its “resistance” to modernization was emphasized. Post-2000 however, more mainstream scholars have begun to highlight Confucianism as a reflection of the differences between China and the West. The fundamental reasons for the divisions in research today come from researchers in the West and China placing different degrees of importance on different aspects of the philosophy. Moreover, each group’s understanding and interpretation of China’s ancient and modern society differ.