Call for Submissions: Thinking Through Confucius (Chinese/English) 2026

Call for Submissions:

Thinking Through Confucius (Chinese/English) 2026

Thinking Through Confucius is a publication dedicated to sharing the richness of China’s cultural heritage with a broader audience. With clarity and insight, it explores the essence of Confucianism and the depth of Chinese civilization. As part of an ongoing effort to stay relevant and accessible, the journal will release a new edition in 2026. We warmly welcome submissions from scholars, cultural professionals, graduate students, and enthusiasts of traditional Chinese culture from around the world.

1. Tales from the Classics

Focus: This column brings to life historical stories from classic texts such as the Zuo Commentary to the Spring and Autumn Annals, the Records of Rituals, and the Kongzi Jiayu—stories that cast light on the development of Confucianism and the lives of its notable figures. Contributions should highlight the cultural richness of Confucianism and demonstrate its contemporary relevance.

Requirements: Submissions should be historically grounded and compellingly narrated, with thoughtful interpretations that naturally incorporate insights into the storytelling.

2. Annals of Queli

Focus: This column explores the living legacy of Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius, and the continuity of the Kong family throughout history. It covers topics such as historical memory, local customs, ways of life, and ritual traditions.

Requirements: We seek writing that evokes a strong sense of place and a feeling for the past—the textures and presences of history. Submissions may be travel accounts or interviews.

3. Young People Practicing Confucian Living

Focus: This column explores how young people engage with Confucian spirit through study, research, and personal practice in campus settings, local communities, and everyday life. It provides a space for sharing reflections on what this tradition means to a new generation.

Requirements: We are looking for submissions that are rooted in genuine experience and capture the vitality and ethical vision that young people bring to Confucianism today.

1. Special Topic

Focus: Each issue will explore a contemporary social or cultural topic, such as integrity, family traditions, education, or family reverence, through a multifaceted Confucian lens.

Requirements: We seek contributions with a clear focus and fresh perspectives that encourage readers to think and connect. Submissions should balance intellectual depth with real-world relevance.

2. Reading Confucius and Mencius

Focus: Engaging with the lives and central ideas of exemplary Confucian figures such as Confucius, Mencius, and Xunzi. Contributors are encouraged to reflect on their words and deeds and draw connections between classical thought and their own life experiences in a modern context.

Requirements: Submissions should be substantive and heartfelt. Rather than focusing on obscure textual analysis, contributors should offer thoughtful interpretations that bring the wisdom of the ancients into the present.

3. Thinking Through the Classics

Focus: Providing insightful and accessible explanations of canonical Confucian texts, including the Book of Songs, the Analects, and the Kongzi Jiayu.

Requirements: We look for interpretations that are both accurate and clear, and that effectively convey the essence of these works to contemporary readers.

4. Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations

Focus: This column examines examples of dialogue, mutual learning, and integration between Confucianism and other civilizations, from historical encounters to contemporary exchanges.

Requirements: Contributions may explore the dissemination of Confucian thought throughout the world, its comparison with other philosophical traditions, or its integration with different cultural traditions. Submissions should promote cross-cultural understanding and meaningful dialogue.

5. The World of Confucianism

Focus: Providing a systematic yet accessible introduction to the historical development and key turning points of Confucianism. Through vivid accounts of significant figures and events, this column aims to illustrate the practical wisdom that Confucianism offers regarding personal cultivation, family life, social engagement, and the understanding of today’s world.

Requirements: We seek contributions that balance cultural depth with engaging readability by incorporating profound ideas into historical narratives and facts.

6. The Practice of Confucianism

Focus: Real-life stories and firsthand reflections from individuals and organizations from all walks of life who promote Confucian thought, embody its wisdom, and cultivate within themselves the character of an exemplary person in their respective fields.

Requirements: Submissions should demonstrate a meaningful connection between practical endeavors and Confucian culture, and reveal how this enduring wisdom helps address real-world challenges and how it can enrich everyday life.

7. Confucian Temples and Ancient Academies

Focus: Exploring the two primary institutions of Confucian heritage: Confucian temples and academies. By examining their historical evolution, architectural features, ritual sacrifices, educational functions, and associated historical figures and stories, this column unveils how Confucian culture was deepened, transmitted, and innovated through space, ritual, and organization.

Requirements: We welcome accessible writings that give readers a strong sense of historical presence and guide them in “reading” these architectural and historical sites, appreciating the living educational practices, and understanding the local educational processes of Confucianism.

1. Contributions should be consistent with the focus of the column and be positive in both substance and spirit.

2. All work must be original and unpublished. Submissions should not have appeared in any previous publication and must not involve plagiarism, AI-generated content, or any other form of academic misconduct.

3. Manuscripts may be submitted in either Chinese or English. Chinese manuscripts should be between 3,000 and 5,000 characters, and English manuscripts should be approximately 2,000 words.

4. We welcome accessible and engaging writing that is clear, lively, and free of overly academic or opaque language.

5. Please submit your manuscript in Microsoft Word format and include three to four high-resolution images for possible use as illustrations. The images must be free of copyright concerns.

1. All submissions should be sent via email to the editorial office at: zoujinkongzi_2021@163.com. Please include your full name, institutional affiliation, job title, mailing address, postal code, and contact number at the end of your article.

2. The editorial office reserves the right to edit accepted manuscripts for clarity and/or length without altering the author’s original ideas. If you prefer that your work not be edited, please indicate this clearly at the time of submission.

3. Accepted articles (excluding book reviews) will be compensated with a standard honorarium upon publication. Contributors will also receive three complimentary copies of the issue in which their work is published. Submission of a manuscript grants the journal the right to publish and distribute the work in print and digital formats, including through online platforms. The provided honorarium covers all such uses.