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Article: Sage for the ages makes a comeback: What does it mean to be Chinese in the 21st Century? A new generation is seeking answers in homegrown wisdom of Confucius.
- Article from:
- Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL)
- Article date:
- May 31, 2007
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Chicago Tribune. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Evan Osnos
May 31--BEIJING -- Confucius is coming out of retirement.
Nearly 2,500 years after the sage's death, China is dusting off his teachings to help tackle the travails of the 21st Century.
"Our economy has grown, but our spirit has dwindled," said Feng Zhe, the 36-year-old founder of a new private school in Beijing that immerses middle-class children in Confucian discipline.
The scene at Feng's school is more akin to China a millennium ago than to the country today. Each pupil bows to the teacher and settles behind a desk laden with nothing but a bottle of water, a note pad and a book of ancient sayings. Students recite ...