Confucian Traditions in Modern East Asia:Their Destinies and Prospects

In the past,China,Japan,Korea,and Vietnam have developed into the cultural circle.In addition,because of the immigration of the Chinese,Confucian culture has constituted an essential part in the cultures of Singapore and Malaysia.Albeit the somewhat different historical fates of Confucian traditions in these countries,they are faced with common problems,for example,the challenges from the West,the pursuit of modernization,the collapse of traditional systems,etc.The most significant problem is perhaps the eclipse of Confucianism as national ideology.After East Asia entered the modern world,it is impossible for Confucian traditions to restore their status as national ideology,as Jiang Qing wishes.Nevertheless,Confucian traditions can still function as the resources for cultural Bildung.Moreover,Confucianism should not retreat into the realm of Moralit,as Yu Yingshih suggests,since Confucianism is characterized by the relevance of Moralit to Sittlichkeit.In the 21th century,Confucianism should develop not only a modern system of ethics but also theories of cultural,political,and social criticism.