On the morning of September 20th, 2017, the 8th World Confucian Conference was grandly opened at Biyong Square of Confucius Research Institute. The vice chairman of National People’s Congress Wang Shengjun, the secretary of C.P.C. Shandong Provincial Committee and director of Shandong Provincial People’s Congress Liu Jiayi, dean of Chinese National Academy of Arts Lian Ji, Principal of Shandong University Fan Liming, former president of Yanjing Society of Harvard University and dean of Institute for Advanced Humanistic Studies of Peking University Tu Weiming, the 79th generation of Confucius’ decedants, president of Chinese Association of Confucius and president of Confucius Foundation Kong Chuichang attended the opening ceremony and gave speech respectively. Member of the Standing Committee of Shandong Provincial Party Committee and director of Propaganda Department Sun Shougang presided over the opening ceremony.
Wang Shengjun congratulated the 8th World Confucian Conference warmly in his speech
Liu Jiayi welcomed the guests on behalf of Shandong provincial Party Committee and government in his speech
Lian Ji stressed the Chinese “Harmony” culture in his speech
Fan Liming expected the great success of this conference in her speech
Tu Weiming aired his view on the current development of Confucianism in his speech
Kong Chuichang stressed the innovation of Chinese Liyue cultue
Sun Shougang presided over the opening ceremony
Ji Xiangqi announced the list of the Outstanding Figures in World Confucianism Studies 2017
Cai Renhou and Guo Qiyong won the prize of “Outstanding Figures in World Confucianism Studies 2017”
According to the relative national regulation, “Confucius Culture Prize” will be substituted with “Outstanding Figures in World Confucianism Studies” from this year. Professor of Southeast University of Taiwan Mr. Cai Renhou and professor of Wuhan University Mr. Guo Qiyong won the prize of “Outstanding Figures in World Confucianism Studies 2017”.
The Eighth World Confucian Conference was sponsored by Ministry of Culture of 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, Shandong University, China Philosophy History Association, International Confucian Association, China Confucius Foundation, People’s Government of Jining city and Confucius Research Institute. The theme of this conference is “Confucianism and the Shared Future of Human Beings”, with five sub-themes of religion and faith under the Confucian discourse, Confucian ethics and the common value of human beings, Confucianism and the value of individuals, Chinese traditional rites and music civilization and the value reconstruction of contemporary society and the modern path of traditional culture development, in the ways of thematic speech, roundtable discussion and thematic forum. During the conference, nearly 300 scholars and experts from over 30 countries and regions will carry out academic discussion around the theme. Before the opening ceremony, the concert show and the anthem of World Confucian Conference and Confucius Research Institute the Footsteps of Civilization.
After the opening ceremony, the ten hot issues in Confucianism studies were released and the thematic speech of the conference was held at the Confucianism Hall of Confucius Research Institute, which were presided over by Professor Chen Lai, dean of Chinese Traditional Culture Institute of Tsinghua University. Professor of Oxford University David Priestland, senior researcher of Harvard University and professor of Peking University Tu Weiming, researcher of Chinese National Academy of Arts Liu Mengxi, and professor of Shandong University Daniel A. Bell gave the speeches of Confucianism, Socialism and Communism, Spiritual Humanism: An Upsurging Global Discourse Domain, the Six Confucian Classics Are the Universal Value Contributed to Human Beings by Chinese Culture, Talent Politics: the Common Value Outlook of Human Beings or Chinese Characteristics?
In addition, “Young Doctor Forum of the Eighth World Confucian Conference” with the theme of “the Confucian Faith, Chinese Traditional Rites and Music Civilization and Social Governance” will be held at Confucius Research Institute from September 27th to 28th, during which 4 academic dialogues among over 80 scholars and experts from 20 countries and regions will be held. The following activities including Confucianism Night Talk, academic speech and discussion, Confucius Memorial Ceremony will be arranged during the forum.
Since the inaugural meeting held in September, 2007, ten years has past. Since the Second World Confucian Conference in 2009, 9 outstanding figures in Confucianism study and spread including Tu Weiming, Pang Pu, Tang Yijie, Tang Enjia, Li Xueqin, Mu Zhongjian, Roger T. Ames, Chen Lai and Dong Jinyu and 3 organizations including China Confucius Foundation, International Confucian Association and Sungkyunkuan of South Korea have won the prize. According the national regulation on cultural ceremony, the name of the prize was changed into “Outstanding Figures in World Confucianism Studies”.
