For most of the Chinese Communist Party’s 103-year history, the teachings of philosopher Confucius were seen as relics of a retrograde past, with its leaders turning to Marxism and socialism to modernize China.

But under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, Confucianism has made a dramatic comeback as the foundation of Chinese imperial ethics and governance, and other Chinese classics have become pillars of Beijing’s efforts to consolidate its intellectual foundations. and its philosophy of governance amid growing ideological competition with the United States-led West.

One of the latest initiatives is the Ruzang Project, or “Confucian Canon,” aimed at creating the largest ever compilation of Confucian classics. The project, which has benefited from the contribution of nearly 500 academics since its launch in 2003, gained significant momentum in 2014 when Xi became the first Chinese president to provide personal support.

In China, the project is reminiscent of similar huge canonical projects undertaken a few times over the past 2,000 years and is poised to become a major source of inspiration for better governance.

Among those contributing to Ruzang are international academics, with Beijing apparently seeking to attract overseas Chinese. But experts point out that geopolitical tensions and public opinion viewing Confucianism as a Han-centric idea pose obstacles.

10:54 a.m.

Confucius returns under communism

Confucius returns under communism