Educating the Cosmopolitan Citizen in Confucian Classical Education in Contemporary China

Wang, Canglong

Abstract

This article explores the conceptualization of cosmopolitan citizen and the relevant teaching practice in the emerging Confucian classical education in contemporary China. It addresses two aspects. First, the cosmopolitan orientation of the cultural subject constructed in the theory of classics-reading education is embedded in the presupposition of common humanity and universal wisdom. Based on this, Confucian classical education claims to transcend the boundaries among nation-states and commits to promoting the communication and integration between Chinese and western cultures. Second, in the case study of Yiqian School, the image of cosmopolitan citizen flags up the dimension of ethical virtue, in particular, civic quality. The empirical discussion also shows the contradictions in practicing the method of memorization. The article reaches the argument that the renewal of Confucian classical education demonstrates a cosmopolitan orientation in citizen cultivation, this being not contradictory to but reinforcing with the intertwined nationalist emotions and identities.

Citation

Wang, C. (2020). Educating the Cosmopolitan Citizen in Confucian Classical Education in Contemporary China. Chinese Education and Society, 53(1-2), 36-46. https://doi.org/10.1080/10611932.2020.1716613

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 15, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Mar 25, 2020
• Publication Date: Mar 3, 2020
• Deposit Date: May 14, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 4, 2021
• Journal: Chinese Education and Society
• Print ISSN: 1061-1932
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 53
• Issue: 1-2
• Pages: 36-46
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10611932.2020.1716613
• Keywords: Civic quality; Classical education; Confucian revival; Cosmopolitan citizen; National identity
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3508597
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10611932.2020.1716613?journalCode=mced20
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=mced20; Published: 2020-03-25