Taiwanese Modern Confucians and their Philosophical Contribution to Asian Modernization

Project Members at The University of Ljubljana:

• Tea Sernelj, PhD candidate, project coordinator
• Matjaž Vidmar, PhD Candidate, junior research fellow
• assoc. prof. Nataša Vampelj Suhadolnik
• assoc. prof. Helena Motoh
• assoc. prof. Nataša Visočnik
• assist. prof. Luka Culiberg

External Collaboration Partners:

• prof. Tsai Jung-Tao, National Chiayi University (蔡忠道教授, 國立嘉義大學)
• prof. Lin Mingchang, Foguang University, Yilan (林明昌教授, 佛光大學, 宜蘭 )
• prof. Geir Sigurðsson, Iceland University, Reykjavik, Iceland,
• prof. Bart Dessein, Ghent University, Belgium,
• assist. prof. Ivana Buljan, Zagreb University, Croatia

Here is the final report.

First year research results (June 2012 – August 2013)

Chapters in monographs:

• ROŠKER, Jana S. New Trends in Theory and Ideology: the Main Theoretical Currents in 20th Century. In: ROŠKER, Jana S. (Ed.), VAMPELJ SUHADOLNIK, Nataša (Ed.). Modernisation of Chinese Culture: Continuity and Change. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2013, str. 11-32. [COBISS.SI-ID 52767330] http://www.cambridgescholars.com/search?Q=modernisation+of+chinese+cultu...

Monographs:

• ROŠKER, Jana S. Traditional Chinese philosophy and the paradigm of structure (Li). Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars, 2012. IX, 234 p. ISBN 1-4438-4052-1. ISBN 978-1-4438-4052-1. [COBISS.SI-ID 49541986] http://www.cambridgescholars.com/search?Q=traditional+chinese+philosophy...
• ROŠKER, Jana S. The Subject’s new Clothes – Intellectual Foundations of Modernity in the Works of the 2nd Generation of Modern Confucianism. (In Slovene: Subjektova nova oblačila - idejne osnove modernizacije v delih druge generacije modernega konfucijanstva). 1. Edition. Ljubljana: Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, 2013. 231 str. ISBN 978-961-237-582-9. [COBISS.SI-ID 267091200] https://knjigarna.ff.uni-lj.si/si/iskanje/Tradicija%20v%20objemu/

Edited monographs:

• ROŠKER, Jana S. (Ed.), VAMPELJ SUHADOLNIK, Nataša (Ed.). Modernisation of Chinese Culture: Continuity and Change. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2013, str. 11-32. [COBISS.SI-ID 52767330] http://www.cambridgescholars.com/search?Q=modernisation+of+chinese+cultu...

Second year research results (September 2013 – August 2014)

Original academic papers:

• 李明輝 Ming-huei LEE. 當代新儒家「儒學開出民主論」的理論意涵與現實意義 (Contemporary Modern Confucian theory of the “Development of Democracy from Confucianism,” its Theoretical Contents and its Modern Value). Asian Studies, ISSN 2350-4226. 2014, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 7-18. http://revije.ff.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/974/2229
• ROŠKER, Jana S. Introduction. Asian Studies, ISSN 2350-4226. 2014, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 1-5. http://revije.ff.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/971/2236. [COBISS.SI-ID 54670434]
• ROŠKER, Jana S. The Philosophical Sinification of Modernity and the Modern Confucian Paradigm of Immanent Transcendence. Asian Studies, ISSN 2350-4226. 2014, vol. 2, no. 1, str. 67-81. http://revije.ff.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/971/2236. [COBISS.SI-ID 54670434]
• SERNELJ, Tea. The Unity of Body and Mind in Xu Fuguan’s Theory. Asian Studies, ISSN 2350-4226. 2014, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 83-95. http://revije.ff.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/971/2236
• SIGURÐSSON, Geir. Confucianism vs. Modernity: Expired, Incompatible or Remedial? Asian Studies, ISSN 2350-4226. 2014, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 21-38. http://revije.ff.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/1002/2234
• DESSEIN, Bart. Faith and Politics: (New) Confucianism as Civil Religion. Asian Studies, ISSN 2350-4226. 2014, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 39-64 http://revije.ff.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/1005/2235
• ROŠKER, Jana S. The Concept of Harmony in Contemporary P. R. China and in Taiwanese Modern Confucianism. In: VISOČNIK, Nataša (Ed.). China and Japan - past experiences, present issues, (Asian studies, ISSN 2232-5131, vol. 1 (17), issue 2). 1st ed. Ljubljana: Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete: = University Press, Faculty of Arts, 2013, str. 3-20. http://revije.ff.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/398. [COBISS.SI-ID 53543778]
• SERNELJ, Tea. Xu Fuguan’s Concept of Anxiety and its Connection to Religious Studies. In: Asian Studies, 2013, Vol. 1, Issue. 2, http://revije.ff.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/412
• ROŠKER, Jana S. Cross-cultural Dialogues in Modernization Theory: the Impact of Western Philosophies upon Modern Confucianism in East Asia. In: Two Homelands 2013, No. 37, pp. 85-91. [COBISS.SI-ID 35517741] http://twohomelands.zrc-sazu.si/?home&lang=en
• ROŠKER, Jana S. Pomen modernega konfucijanstva pri vzpostavljanju ideologij sodobne kitajske države. (The Significance of Modern Confucianism for the Development of Ideologies of the Contemporary Chinese State). Acta Histriae, ISSN 1318-0185, 2013, letn. 21, št. 4, str. 631-650. http://www.zdjp.si/sl/docs/acta/n21-4/rosker.pdf. [COBISS.SI-ID 1536271044]

Book reviews:

• ROŠKER, Jana S. Huang, Chun-chieh 黃俊傑, ed.: The Study of East Asian Confucianism: Retrospect and Prospect (東亞儒學研究的回顧與展望). Asian Studies, ISSN 2350-4226. 2014, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 189-194. http://revije.ff.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/2102/2239
• SERNELJ, Tea. Huang Chun-chieh: Humanism in East Asian Confucian Contexts. Asian Studies, ISSN 2350-4226. 2014, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 195-197. http://revije.ff.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/2100/2240
• ROŠKER, Jana S. Ming-huei Lee: Konfuzianischer Humanismus – Transkulturelle Kontexte. In electronic journal, CHINET, http://chinet.cz/reviews/philosophy/ming-huei-lee-konfuzianischer-humani...
• ROŠKER, Jana S. Chun-chieh Huang: Konfuzianismus: Kontinuität und Entwicklung - Studien zur chinesischen Geistesgeschichte. In electronic journal, CHINET, http://chinet.cz/reviews/philosophy/chun-chieh-huang-konfuzianismus-kont...

Edited Collections:

• ROŠKER, Jana S. (Ed.) Modern Confucianism and Chinese Modernity. Asian Studies, ISSN 2350-4226. 2014, vol. 2, no. 1. http://revije.ff.uni-lj.si/as/issue/view/218

Third year research results (September 2014 – June 2015)

Monographs:

• ROŠKER, Jana S. Kjer vlada sočlovečnost, je ljudstvo srečno : tradicionalne kitajske teorije države, (Digitalna knjižnica, Dissertationes, 27). Ljubljana: Pedagoški inštitut, 2014. 187 str. ISBN 978-961-270-205-2. ISBN 978-961-270-206-9. http://www.pei.si/Sifranti/StaticPage.aspx?id=148. [COBISS.SI-ID 273282304]
• WANG, Hui, ROŠKER, Jana S. Wang Hui in vprašanje modernosti ter demokracije na Kitajskem, (Zbirka Studia humanitatis Asiatica). 1. izd. Ljubljana: Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, 2015. 80 str., Portret. ISBN 978-961-237-746-5. [COBISS.SI-ID 279469568]

Original academic papers:

• ROŠKER, Jana S. China's modernisation : from daring reforms to a modern Confucian revival of traditional values. Anthropological notebooks, ISSN 1408-032X. [Tiskana izd.], 2014, vol. 20, no. 2, str. 89-102. http://www.drustvo-antropologov.si/AN/PDF/2014_2/Anthropological_Noteboo.... [COBISS.SI-ID 55805794]
• ROŠKER, Jana S. The Subject's new clothes : immanent transcendence and the moral self in the modern Confucian discourses. Asian philosophy, ISSN 0955-2367, 2014, vol. 24, no. 4, str. 1-17. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09552367.2014.986933#.VIGkMtK..., doi: 10.1080/09552367.2014.986933. [COBISS.SI-ID 56179298]
• ROŠKER, Jana S. The philosophical sinification of modernity and the modern Confucian paradigm of immanent transcendence. Azijske študije, ISSN 2350-4226. [Spletna izd.], 2014, vol. 2, no. 1, str. 67-81. http://revije.ff.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/971/2236, doi: 10.4312/as.2014.2.1.67-81. [COBISS.SI-ID 54670434]
• GREIF, Martina, ROŠKER, Jana S. The Taiwanese perspective in investigating Korean Confucianism : Lee Ming-huei's interpretation of Han Wonjin (1682-1750). Azijske študije, ISSN 2350-4226. [Spletna izd.], 2014, vol. 2, no. 2, str. 145-154. http://revije.ff.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/2820/2589, doi: 10.4312/as.2014.2.2.145-154. [COBISS.SI-ID 56394082]
• ROŠKER, Jana S. Fang Dongmeijeva filozofija ustvarjalnega kozmosa. Azijske študije, ISSN 2350-4226. [Spletna izd.], 2014, vol. 2, no. 2, str. 157-175. http://revije.ff.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/2724/2590, doi: 10.4312/as.2014.2.2.157-175. [COBISS.SI-ID 56399458]
• ROŠKER, Jana S. Konfucijeva nova oblačila : sodobne kitajske ideologije in preporod konfucijanstva. Časopis za kritiko znanosti, domišljijo in novo antropologijo, ISSN 0351-4285, 2014, letn. 42, št. 258, str. 17-25. [COBISS.SI-ID 56399714]
• ROŠKER, Jana S. Philosophical interactions between "East and West" : China, Korea, Europe and the case of Dasan (Jeong Yak - yong, 1762-1836). V: SHIGEMORI BUČAR, Chikako (ur.). Korean tradition in modern Eastern Asia : ideas, myths and realities, (Asian studies, ISSN 2232-5131, vol. 2 (18), issue 2). 1st ed. Ljubljana: Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete: = University Press, Faculty of Arts, 2014, vol. 2, no. 2, str. 111-125. http://revije.ff.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/2415/2587, doi: 10.4312/as.2014.2.2.111-125. [COBISS.SI-ID 56392546]

Published professional conference contribution (keynotes):

• ROŠKER, Jana S. The rebirth of the moral self : The significance of the Confucian values for the contemporary world. In: Jinian Kongzi danchen 2565 zhounian guoji xueshu yantaohui ji guoji ruxue lianhehui di wu jie huiyuan dahui : [Lunwen ji si] = The international conference in commemorating 2565th anniversary of Confucius & the 5th Congress of the International Confucian Association. Beijing: International Confucian Association ... [et al.], 2014, str. 1569-1571. [COBISS.SI-ID 55553890]
• ROŠKER, Jana S. The Confucian revival of traditional values and China's modernity. In: Jinian Kongzi danchen 2565 zhounian guoji xueshu yantaohui ji guoji ruxue lianhehui di wu jie huiyuan dahui : [Lunwen ji si] = The international conference in commemorating 2565th anniversary of Confucius & the 5th Congress of the International Confucian Association. Beijing: International Confucian Association ... [et al.], 2014, str. 1798-1813. [COBISS.SI-ID 55554402]

Forthcoming:

• Edited anthology: ROŠKER, Jana S., VISOČNIK Nataša (Ed.) Contemporary East Asia and the Confucian Revival. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars, (2015, in print)
• Monograph: ROŠKER, Jana S. The Rebirth of the Moral Self - The Second Generation of Modern Confucians and their Modernization Discourses. Hong Kong: Chinese University Press & University of Hawaii’ Press (2016, in editing process).
• Chapter in edited anthology: ROŠKER, Jana S. Mou Zongsan’s Negation of the Moral Self: a New Dialectical Model? In: ROŠKER, Jana S. (ed.), VISOČNIK, Nataša (ed.). Confucian Revival and the East Asian Modernization. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2015
• Chapter in anthology: SERNELJ, Téa. Xu Fuguan's Comparison of the Concept遊you in Zhuangzi's and Kongzi's Aesthetics. In: ROŠKER, Jana S. (ed.), VISOČNIK, Nataša (ed.). Confucian Revival and the East Asian Modernization. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2015
• Editorial in edited anthology: ROŠKER, Jana S. The Confucian Revival and “Different Models of Modernity”. In: ROŠKER, Jana S. (ed.), VISOČNIK, Nataša (ed.). Confucian Revival and the East Asian Modernization. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2015
• Book review: ROŠKER, Jana S. Chengyang Li: The Confucian Philosophy of Harmony. In: ROŠKER, Jana S. (ed.), VISOČNIK, Nataša (ed.). Confucian Revival and the East Asian Modernization. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2015

Title: 

TAIWANESE MODERN CONFUCIANS AND THEIR PHILOSOPHICAL CONTRIBUTION TO ASIAN MODERNIZATION

Funded by: CHIANG CHING-KUO FOUNDATION FOR INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARLY EXCHANGE

File number: RG003-U-11

Duration: from 09/2012 to 08/2015 (total 3 years)

Research Concept

The last decades witnessed a number of important reversals of what we previously thought to be basic trends in history. The so-called Confucian revival (Contemporary Modern Confucianism) doubtless belongs to such reversals. For almost a century, Confucianism has been condemned to the “dustbin” of history as an ideology rendered defunct by Chinese progress toward modernity. During the 20th Century, the philosophical development in the current of Modern Confucianism was mainly limited to Taiwan (and partly Hong Kong). This current still forms the most influential and important stream of thought in contemporary Chinese theory. It is distinguished by a comprehensive attempt to revitalize traditional (particularly Confucian and Neo-Confucian) thought by means of new influences borrowed or derived from Western systems. It is defined by a search for synthesis between Western and Chinese traditional thought, aiming to elaborate a new system of ideas and values, suitable to resolve social and political problems of the modern, globalized world. However, inspite of the fact that there has been a magnificent amount of books and articles on this topic published in Chinese, there is still a considerable lack of respective academic work results in Western languages. Especially in Europe, the Confucian revival and the consolidation of the so-called “New Asian Values” are gaining more and more interest - not only among sinologists, but also among representatives of various other disciplines in the social studies and humanities.

The research Director, Prof. Jana S. Rošker, is Head of the Department of Asian and African studies at Ljubljana University and a well- known European expert in Chinese philosophy; the Co-Director is Prof. Lee Ming-Huei from Academia Sinica in Taipei, who belongs to the most famous experts in Modern Confucianism in the world. The investigations will also include the systematic study, inquiries and debates with some of the contemporary, still active Taiwanese theoreticians, who are currently developing, completing and elaborating the philosophical foundations of Modern Confucianism, aiming to adapt them to the contemporary global world and to integrate them into the main streams of contemporary world philosophy.

The research, which will be completely realized in the period of three years (see the attached schedule), will also be supported by the Center for Taiwan studies which has been two years ago established at the Department of Asian and African studies at the Faculty of Arts, Ljubljana University and by the Slovene national research agency (ARRS). The investigations will be mainly concentrated upon the work and the influence of the so-called 2nd generation of Modern Confucians, who mostly lived in worked in Taiwan during the 2nd half of the 20th century. Based upon Max Weber’s argument that the Protestant ethic was extremely useful in promoting the rise and the spread of modernization, the proposed research will critically examine the notion that has gradually emerged in the last two decades in Taiwan, that societies based upon the Confucian ethic may in many ways be superior to the West in the pursuit of industrialization, affluence and modernization. However, Weber also wrote extensively on Asia, especially China and India, concluding that Asian cultural and philosophical or religious traditions were deeply uncongenial to modernization.

The proposed research in Taiwanese Modern Confucianism aims to show that such a Western-centered perspective on modernity is no longer valid, because these discourses reopen the question about the relation of modern capitalism and culture in a new way and on a new level of intercultural philosophical methodology. Beginning in the early eighties, Contemporary Modern Confucianism also began to reappear in mainland China as one of the most important ideological concerns. This phenomenon is very much worth examining for what it can tell us about our times – and the fate in the contemporary societies of one of the most important philosophical legacies in the world. Therefore, the research will also be guided by a concern with the ideological and social relevance of Confucianism in China and in the contemporary world. This approach will furthermore enable us to inquire into the place of the so-called “Non-Western” intellectual traditions in the contemporary discourse on culture. The results of the present research shall be published in various academic articles, written by the research Director, the co-Director and the research collaborators in Chinese, English, German, and Slovene languages.

Their main results will be published in English language as an academic anthology on Modern Confucianism, including contributions, written by different international scholars who will collaborate with the proposed research and also attend the international symposium “Asian Values and the Global World”, organized by the research grant director in Slovenia. Finally, the crucial investigation results will be published in a comprehensive academic monograph. The research grant will enable us to provide a systematic and coherent study of the contents, axiological innovations and social relevance of the Taiwanese Modern Confucianism and to introduce its most relevant contributions to contemporary global theory to a wider academic public in the Western world, especially in Europe.