In Chinese tradition Confucianism has been always botha philosophy of moral self-cultivation for the human individual and anideological guide for political institutional policy and governmental action.After the May 4th Movement of 1919 (WusiYundong ),Confucianism lost much of its moral appeal and political authority and entered akind of limbo, bearing blame for the backwardness and weakening of China. Now that China has asserted its political rights among world nations, it seems natural to ask whether Confucianism as aphilosophy has a modern or even postmodern role to play for building modern China and for enlightening the world. This question is even more meaningful in light of the fact that there is a genuine need felt in Chinafor a return to its Confucian heritage and vision for purposes of sustaining societal harmonization and reconstructingcultural identity in the modern world.
