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Great need for serious courses on Chinese culture as moral compass
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“Language and literature” has become an optional course carrying no more than two credits in many universities, suggesting the subject is on the margin of China’s higher educational system.
A recent study showed that around two-thirds of the responding schools listed the course as optional and awarded two credits or even less.
The survey by Hubei Provincial Chinese Study Institution included 91 colleges nationwide.
Beijing-baesd Renmin University, with a distinct focus on humanities and social sciences, has decided to put the previously compulsory course into its optional selection this year.
It explained that the course was named the second most unpopular by students. Hong Dayong, dean of Renmin University’s educational department, told The Beijing News that they resumed teaching the course in 2007 but later found it lacked focus and the teaching quality varied.
“Language and literature” suggests the course is about the study of language and literature. However, all of it is in Chinese and it has nothing to do with linguistics but includes a collection of excerpts from works by different authors — selected works by Confucius and a translated story of Leo Tolstoy, for example. That’s why our “tomorrow” has no appetite for this kind of chop suey of literary segments.
In addition, different universities adopted different editions of textbooks since there were more than a dozen different types of them while some teachers taught the course based on their own Power Point files.
The course has become far removed from the original intent since it was introduced by educational authorities in 1978. Segments or several selected works by Confucius are useless for students to learn about Chinese cultures.
Miss the woods for the trees
An old Chinese saying describes the situation as not being able to see the woods for the trees.
Why not introduce students to a course of Chinese studies to help them set up a framework of our tradition and civilization as well as respect for the pantheons?
Last Tuesday, President Xi Jinping visited the Confucius mansion, the residence of descendants of the sixth-century BC philosopher, in Qufu in Shandong Province. Xi took two books when he visited the Confucius Research Institute. The two books are interpretations of Confucian analects. Xi said he would read them carefully.
During a seminar after his visit, Xi said that the moral standards passed on by the forefathers should be received by present-day heirs, adapting ancient forms for present-day use and weeding through the old to bring out the new.
In ancient times, children at three or four could recite classic sayings fluently, gradually rooting virtuous ethics deeply in the mind.
Distorted classics
Nowadays, students are fed modern scientific knowledge, mainly from the West, and spend countless hours studying foreign languages.
The course of Chinese consists mainly of training to listen, speak, read and write Chinese. Students might learn a few words or paragraphs picked from the classics but have no idea about the wisdom and philosophy behind them.
Except for mathematics formulas, physics rules, English words or sometimes skills needed to play the piano, their brains are often empty.
Single children with empty minds — that’s why selfishness prevails amongst many of the youngsters. That’s why many of us know little about social etiquette.
What students learn at school are skills to compete, to win admission to prestigious universities, and to earn better salaries and a higher quality of life.
However, what Confucius teaches us is benevolence, righteousness and etiquette. What Laozi and Zhuangzi teach us are simplicity and humility as well as harmony with nature, all in contrast to selfish actions.
In contrast with elementary and secondary education, the university is where an independent soul should be formed.
Chinese studies courses are a proper means to guide those students to behave properly, be responsible and become willing to sacrifice for what is right. Actually, Chinese studies courses are good not only for college students but also for everyone, as a lifelong teacher and friend.
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