Online published on 29 November, 2012.
The philosophy thought by Confucius two thousand five hundred years ago is enjoying an officially supported revival in its native China. As it prepares to assume its predicted role as the world's largest economic power, the PRC seeks to cultivate and practice the rules of pragmatic wisdom enshrined in Confucianism, both to improve, refine and discipline its domestic society and to enhance its growing soft power worldwide. The qualities of humanism, courtesy, openness, reverence for learning and religious rites inherent in that tradition can only bring a welcome relief from the social ills generated by both Marxism and capitalism as a result of their materialistic foundations.
