Confucius also avoided discussion of metaphysical or mystical questions; he seemed to feel there was enough in reality to absorb him. He once commented that if one cannot understand life, why should one think much about death? He does not totally deny the existence of gods and spirits, but he was chiefly concerned with the participants’ spiritual presence in the sacrificial ceremony prescribed for, and usually performed by, officials. He held that one could still behave with respect to the gods and spirits without being unduly concerned with whether they really exist or not. Therefore, though Confucianism is not a religion in the strict sense, it functions as a kind of religion in the ordinary lives of Chinese people. After the Han Dynasty (206 BC- AD 220), Confucianism played a leading role in shaping Chinese spirituality. Confucius himself was turned into a religious figure and Confucian temples built in his honor.

Around Christmas Day 2010, a group of Confucian scholars staged a protest against the plan to build a Christian church in Confucius’ hometown, the heartland symbol of Chinese civilization. The scholars argued that the Gothic style Holy Trinity Church’s size would dwarf the Confucius temple, located less than two miles away. The church in question will hold 3,000 people which is exactly the number of Confucius’ disciples.

Confucian scholars feel threatened by the soaring numbers of Christian converts and the potential conflict between Confucian and Christian values. There is still lots of room in Confucianism to dialogue calmly and peacefully with Christianity in China. The Chinese hope that the Confucian spirit of harmony will spread all over the world, as China takes increasingly bigger roles on the international stage, and that there will be peace to “all under heaven,” an ancient Confucian ideal. In the fall of 2010, the first Nishan Forum on World Civilizations was dedicated to this great sage to encourage a dialogue between proponents of Confucian and Christian values. Today, more than 300 Confucius Institutes operate all over the world, and more and more foreigners are studying Chinese culture, especially Confucianism, not just learning the language.

WEN HAIMING is an associate professor at the School of Philosophy of Renmin University of China. He has a doctorate from the University of Hawaii and specializes in Chinese and Comparative Philosophy.