Confucious still vibrant at 2565

With the great thinker’s 2565 birthday coming up on Sunday, a conference of experts explores why his teachings are more popular than ever.

More than 2500 years since the birth of Confucius and the doctrines the sage are alive, well and growing in popularity both inside China and abroad.

That is the message at The International Conference Commemorating the 2565th Anniversary of Confucius which is holding seminars in Beijing that stress the importance of Confucianism in today’s society from Sep 25 -27, ahead of the guru's birthday on the Sept 28.

The conference, held by the International Confucianism Federation, will discuss such subjects as Confucianism's role in economic and social development, as well as its impact on governance and in other countries.

"There has been a resurgence of Confucianism in Indonesia since the 1990s," Ma Yongnan, director of cultural and educational affairs at the Indonesian Ethnic Chinese Association, or Perhimpunan Indonesia Tionghoa, said at the conference.

He added that now several schools in the country have Dizigui, a book of rules by Confucius on being a student, in their course work.

“Confucianism comes in many forms overseas, it could be a religion, too, ”said Wang Aiping, a professor at China’s Huaqiao University. "That shows how adaptable, inclusive and vibrant Confucianism really is."

"We shouldn't keep Confucianism to ourselves," Wang added. "It works for the entire human race too."

Shubhra Tripathi, of the Indian Madhya Pradesh Government Higher Education Institute, pointed out that Confucianism has a lot in common with some religions and is “echoed” in many teachings in India and other places.

"It may be one of the best ways to learn about China, Tripathi said."