Opinions on the Renewed Interest in Chinese Classical Traditions

In this paper, we cautioned against any uncritical reinterpretation and education of Classical Chinese thoughts, which has become part of a rising social movement in recent years. Many of the Confucianist principles in the Classical Heritage are quite irrelevant and often contrary to pursuit of modernity and scientific spirits, and this makes it necessary for students and scholars to adopt a critical perspective that demarcates the divergences and inconsistencies in these ancient thoughts. We argue that the attempt to “go back to the roots” is part of the Chinese traditionalist revival, and it should not become another form of dogmatism which people blindly accept and follow.