Sunday Feature

Goodbye Confucius

Monday 21 August 2006 21:45-22:30 (Radio 3)

For more than 2,000 years, Confucian values formed the basis of Chinese society. But in the last century those values were brutally renounced as Maoist China jettisoned its ancient philosopher.

Rana Mitter explores how Chinese society and culture were turned upside down by the rejection of Confucian values. Rana travels from Qufu, where Confucius was born, to the centre of modern political power in Beijing, witnessing how in today's China a second cultural revolution is underway, with Confucius being rehabilitated as ancient sage, contemporary business guru and tourist attraction. Confucianism is also being promoted as a possible solution to the country's 21st-Century dilemmas.

Duration:

45 minutes

Sunday Feature

Episode and Playlist Information

• 29 Oct 06 Velazquez
• 22 Oct 06
• 8 Oct 06 Henze at 80
• 1 Oct 06 William Empson
• 24 Sep 06 The act of listening
• 27 Aug 06 Brecht
• 21 August 2006
• 20 August 2006
• 7 Aug 06 Reviving Asmara
• 6 Aug 06 Francis Petrarch

Sunday Feature pages