Page 159 - 2022(1) International Confusion Studies

152 M. Li

2 The Fracture and Confusion of Confucianism in
Ancient-Modern and Chinese -Western

Arguments

Compared with the 20th century, Confucianism in the new millennium has
changed its position relative to Chinese and Western, ancient and modern
coordinate systems. In the last century, although many scholars noticed the
differences between China and the West, under the urgent need for salvation and
modernization, Confucianism, as the system of ideas and concepts of classical
Chinese society, was more often examined in the context of the changes between
the past and the present and was emphasized as a “resistance” to modernization,
thus becoming an object of reflection and criticism. Even if Confucianism is
meaningful to modern life and can be used as an intellectual resource, it must be
“modernized.” In the new century, as China’s economy undergoes a rapid rise in
development, more mainstream scholars have begun to emphasize the differences
of positions taken by China and the West. It reached such a point that the ideas and
concepts of Confucianism related to ethics and politics, which were originally
criticized, are now gradually being defended and even recognized as qualities that
distinguish Chinese traditions from the West.
For example, the Three Pillars of Confucianism (三纲), which have been
largely rejected since the May Fourth Movement (五四运动), have once again
4
become the subject of debate (e.g., Fang, 2011; Li, 2012). The conclusion that
ancient China was an autocratic society is also considered by some, to be a
5
prejudice leveled against China by the West (e.g., Hou, 2008; Huang, 2009; Wan,
2009). This discussion is very relevant to the study of Confucianism, because if
ancient China was not an autocratic society, then the assertion that Confucianism
played a role in autocratic society is baseless. Driven by the trend toward political
Confucianism, the value of studying Confucian classics has also been re-
evaluated. On top of this, scholars began calling for a “Confucian revival” (e.g.,
Liu, 2016).
Differences exist between ancient and modern eras just as they exist between
East and West. Should we focus on the contrast between ancient and modern and
then discuss the historical distinctions between China and the West? Or should we
give priority to the distinctions between China and the West, with specific

4 For example, see the debate between Li Cunshan (李存山) and Fang Zhaohui (方朝晖).
5 For example, see Huang Minlan (黄敏兰) and Wan Changhua’s(万昌华) debate with Hou
Xudong (侯旭东).