FCCC Online Talk: Confucianism as part of Xi’s “Great rejuvenation of China” by Jyrki Kallio

Mao Zedong banned Confucianism after the CCP seized power in mainland China in 1949. But the school of thought has returned slowly to the mainland with the opening of the country during the 1980s. After taking office, President Xi Jinping has openly praised the philosophy and visited the birthplace of Confucius in Shandong.

Confucianism has been an integral part of Eastern Asian thought for over two thousand years. The core of Confucianism is reciprocity: emphasizing honor, honesty, loyalty and thoughtfulness.

Our guest is eminent sinologist Jyrki Kallio from Helsinki, Finland. He has studied and translated classical works of Confucianism in-depth and has a PhD in Chinese Society studies.

What is Confucianism and what role does it play in Xi Jinping’s vision of the great rejuvenation of China? Why is Xi Jinping endorsing this school of thought? How does Confucianism mesh with authoritarianism and China’s Communist system?

Join us for a conversation with Jyrki Kallio on Thursday 11 August at 3 pm Beijing time.

About the speaker: Jyrki Kallio is Senior Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, and holds the Title of Docent (venia docendi) in International Relations and Chinese Studies at the University of Lapland. His research foci include Chinese political culture and foreign policy, and regional issues in East Asia. He has a special interest in the instrumentalization of traditional schools of thought in East Asian politics, and in addition to his research, has translated classical Chinese philosophy and prose. His latest book (March 2022) is a compilation of selected excerpts both from Confucian classics and by critical Confucians in the imperial era. Previously, he served the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland as diplomat. He holds degrees of MSocSc (International Relations) and PhD (Chinese Society Studies).