Project Goals
The focus of this research project was to understand the non-governmental education aspect of the revival of Confucianism and its larger social and religious implications. This project identified the Classic-Reading Education Movement (dujing jiaoyu yundong 讀經教育運動, CREM ) as one of the important social locations for the revival of Confucianism in contemporary China.
The CREM refers to the non-government based movement that focuses on two areas:
- Promote reading and recitation of Chinese classics, particularly the Confucian canonic texts including the Analects of Confucius, the Great Learning, the Doctrine of Mean and the Mencius; and
- Reinstate Confucian pedagogy that focuses on moral education and character development of children before 13 years old.
This project was designed to address the following three major research questions:
- What are the different types of groups and organizations emerging that promote Confucian pedagogy in contemporary China?
- How can we understand Confucianism as the foundation of character education and spiritual development for children?
- How and why can parents and educators understand the role of Confucianism and its potential to provide resources for spiritual and character development?