The “Chinese Zhuzi Research Institute”, or “institute of early Chinese philosophies” opened earlier this month at the East China Normal University (ECNU) in Shanghai.
It aims to explore the country’s rich philosophical heritage dating back more than 2,000 years and use that ancient wisdom for contemporary governance in China and beyond, scholars attending the inauguration ceremony last month said.
Analysts see the institute as the latest testament to China’s focus on reclaiming its intellectual heritage for modern governance as it fights a narrative war with the West, albeit with a focus on the less popular schools of thought to encourage a more inclusive dialogue.
Any attempt to equate Chinese culture with Confucianism alone is deeply mistaken
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, ECNU vice-president Lei Qili highlighted the institute’s role in revitalising traditional culture in response to the “second combine”.
