Shandong province, the home of Confucius (551-479 BC), is actively promoting the work of founding a university named after the Chinese sage, in a bid to develop the province into a research and study center of Confucianism with global appeal, the top provincial official said on Saturday in Jinan, the capital.

It is the second time that Liu Jiayi, Party chief of the province, has spoken of plans to build such a university.

Last week, at the Fifth Nishan Forum on World Civilizations in Nishan, Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius in Shandong, Liu said the province has been implementing a Master of Confucianism program, including establishing a university named after the sage and developing a Confucian research center with global leadership.

"Drawing on the outstanding achievements of human civilization, Shandong is promoting the development of Chinese traditional culture in an innovative way to shoulder the cultural mission for the times that will work well as the platform for dialogue between China and the world," he said

Confucianism, an important part of Chinese traditional culture, is seeing a revival as China draws on its traditional culture to develop its vision, concepts, values and ethics and keep pace with the times.

To spread Chinese traditional culture, Shandong has been setting up classes featuring traditional culture, such as calligraphy and poetry reciting classes in kindergartens, primary schools and middle schools.

"It's urgent to build such a university, which can help China have the say in the field of Confucianism around the world," Yang Chaoming, head of the Confucius Research Institute of China said on Friday.

Yang said the details of the university, such as where and when it will be built, have not been decided yet, but the province is actively promoting the project.

In addition to founding Confucianism, the ancient sage was the first Chinese person to set up private schools and enroll students from all walks of life.

The doctrines advocated by Confucius include rule by virtue, self-discipline in dealing with others, harmony and diversity.

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(China Daily 10/01/2018 page2)