Chinese Soft Power and Media Discussion and Updates

SanWenYu said:

I don’t think China wants to spread Confucianism, including proactively trying to convert anyone into believing Confucianism. The goal instead is to show the influences of Confucianism on the Chinese culture. If I am understanding it correctly, the Chinese government seems to be promoting Confucianism as being peaceful and tolerant to differences, according to the meaning of 中庸之道, therefore to convince others that this is how China thinks, talks and walks.

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If the goal is to just promote Chinese aesthetics, I think it's great. It positions China's traditional ceremonies and aesthetics as high value and class. In the race to keep modern industries growing, China has sometimes forgot to market it's culture to the same extent as say Japan has.

But I don't see any role for Confucianism as an ideology today. At least not in its original form. China should continue to dictate its relations with junior partners according to the Marxist model, which means guiding them from each stage of economic development (feudalism/elite family rule -> capitalism/market socialism -> communism) and at each stage establish mutually beneficial policies that help China and helps the partner.

China builds Confucius institutes around the world, not Communist/Marxist institutes. China holds and promotes grand Confucius festival celebrations every year and invites foreign guest, not Communist/Marxist celebrations. One can argue BRI is helping China create a new tributary system, not a Comecon. China is inviting foreign intellectuals to talk with Chinese foreign media about the greatness and applicability of Confucianism, not Communism/Marxism.

Confucianism was favoured by the Chinese for millennia because it promoted order, this is helpful for China to create a new world order. Confucianism can be China's #1 soft power, it can be a modern day equivalent of religion/ideology hybrid.

Legalism isn't meant for public consumption, Daoism doesn't care about proselytizing others. Out of the major religion/philosophies native to China, Confucianism is the only one.

SanWenYu said:

I don’t think China wants to spread Confucianism, including proactively trying to convert anyone into believing Confucianism. The goal instead is to show the influences of Confucianism on the Chinese culture. If I am understanding it correctly, the Chinese government seems to be promoting Confucianism as being peaceful and tolerant to differences, according to the meaning of 中庸之道, therefore to convince others that this is how China thinks, talks and walks.

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Isn't this the way to spreading Confucianism? Think about how Confucianism spread to neighbouring kingdoms back in the old days. China didn't go on inquisitions to force neighbours to practise Confucianism, it was more of a look at me, if you want to be like me practise Confucianism. If you want favourable trade policies, practise Confucianism.

Index said:

But I don't see any role for Confucianism as an ideology today. At least not in its original form.

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Confucianism changed many times throughout history, I'm sure modern day China can come up with a contemporary version of Confucianism that is more suitable for the world.

Communist is ironically the politically correct term the Republicans use for Chinese because they don't want to be called racist. To them everything Chinese is negative. So no amount of convincing them of a distinction between communism and Confucius will work when it's just hiding that they hate Chinese in general.

Index said:

If the goal is to just promote Chinese aesthetics, I think it's great. It positions China's traditional ceremonies and aesthetics as high value and class. In the race to keep modern industries growing, China has sometimes forgot to market it's culture to the same extent as say Japan has.

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CPC once blamed all kinds of backwardnesses of the country that led to the hundred year of humiliation to the traditional Chinese culture. This line of thinking stemmed from the 新文化运动 (new culture movement) which intended to repair or even replace the traditional Chinese culture as one precondition for lifting the nation out of miserability. Among the flag bearers of the new culture movement were the very first group of Chinese communists, like 陈独秀 and 李大钊, and some close allies of the early CPC like 鲁迅.

Index said:

But I don't see any role for Confucianism as an ideology today. At least not in its original form. China should continue to dictate its relations with junior partners according to the Marxist model, which means guiding them from each stage of economic development (feudalism/elite family rule -> capitalism/market socialism -> communism) and at each stage establish mutually beneficial policies that help China and helps the partner.

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For better or worse, CPC has given up exporting ideology since the Mao era. I personally think this is the root cause why China's propaganda look awkward and are often ineffective on the world stage.

coolgod said:

Isn't this the way to spreading Confucianism?

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It is but not being proactively and aggressively as if it was an ideology or religion.

coolgod said:

Think about how Confucianism spread to neighbouring kingdoms back in the old days. China didn't go on inquisitions to force neighbours to practise Confucianism, it was more of a look at me, if you want to be like me practise Confucianism. If you want favourable trade policies, practise Confucianism.

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Yeah that was when China was at its peak times and when the "people of the celestial empire" were all too proud and confident in themselves.

SanWenYu said:

For better or worse, CPC has given up exporting ideology since the Mao era. I personally think this is the root cause why China's propaganda look awkward and are often ineffective on the world stage.

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Maybe China is finding a new path, exporting Confucianism instead of Marxism. After all there are churches, mosques in China, why can't there be Confucius temples overseas.

SanWenYu said:

Yeah that was when China was at its peak times and when the "people of the celestial empire" were all too proud and confident in themselves.

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Sounds like pretty good times, maybe Confucianism and China's golden dynasties have deeper ties.

coolgod said:

Maybe China is finding a new path, exporting Confucianism instead of Marxism. After all there are churches, mosques in China, why can't there be Confucius temples overseas.

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I think it would be difficult to promote Confucianism as a faith, in particular in competition with other faiths. The spirit of 中庸 is to not be radical (previously I said it being peaceful by mistake). This alone would put Confucianism at disadvantage as a faith against other faiths.

Not to mention that most Chinese themselves do not follow Confucianism conciously even though they are influenced by it subconsciously still.