The fifth Guoxue lecture held at Peking University [Photo/ptnet.cn]

The fifth Cross-Straits Guoxue Lecture themed “Humanities of the Traditional Chinese Culture”, was presented by Lou Yulie, a renowned professor of Peking University’s Department of Philosophy at 9 :30 am on Nov.13. Live streams on social media platforms such as Facebook, Sina and Tencent were available, attracting 2.55 million viewers online.

The event was jointly hosted by the Buddhist Research Center of Peking University and the Cross-Straits Guoxue Center headquartered in Southeast China’s Pingtan.

Master Lou Yulie  [Photo/ptnet.cn]

Lou elaborated in the lecture on what he learned from the traditional Chinese culture. Lou explicated that the essence of the Chinese culture lies in exploration into one’s inner self rather than seeking from outside world, i.e. self-discipline, self-management, self-improvement, and self-consciousness. He believed that “humanism” was originated in China and China’s people-oriented humanistic philosophy had a great impact on many European thinkers after it spread to Europe.

Lou also underlined that a sage should hold the noblest quality of selflessness. That is to say, bringing up your child but not asking for returns; offering help but not taking credit; attaining the world yet not being the master.

While being tough on oneself, one should resist the worldly temptations and keep away from unlimited desire to avoid taking a toll. Unrestrained, human beings tend to use up natural resources to meet their desires, which goes against the teachings of the traditional Chinese culture. Human should neither be the slave of God nor the matter.

The question and answer session  [Photo/ptnet.cn]

An audience proposing a question to Lou Yulie  [Photo/ptnet.cn]

The speech was followed by a question and answer session. A student from the Renmin University of China asked about Confucian teachings about self-behavior and social propriety. “Why the Confucian propriety advocates a series of manners regulating one’s behaviors? How did these manners come into existence in the first place?” Lou replied, “The manners created by Confucianism were not intended to suppress individual personality. We should be well aware of the differences of manners for individual and social behavior. However, while acting with others, one should follow the rules long established through social practice.”

At the end of the event, Prof. Lou delivered his valuable advice to the Cross-Straits Guoxue Center on “homage to Guoxue”, paying tribute to the Chinese culture. He expressed gratitude for the invaluable cultural treasure left by Chinese ancestors, which makes it possible to pass on, carry forward and study for the better generation by generation.

The Cross-Straits Guoxue Lecture, an activity taking place on a regular basis in the Cross-Straits Guoxue Center of Pingtan, strives to be made a distinctive cultural brand across the Taiwan Straits. Linking the shared culture across the Straits, the center is aimed at disseminating the Chinese culture by either inviting famous scholars from both sides of the Taiwan Straits, or adopting a live stream for a lecture outside Pingtan.

Lou Yulie is professor of philosophy and religious studies at Peking University who serves as Honorary Dean of Institutes of Religion and Culture and was the founding director of the Institute of Chinese Buddhist Cultural Studies. Lou has worked on the area of history of Chinese Philosophy, Chinese Buddhism and Buddhist philosophy in Peking University for more than 50 years. He is well known nationally and internationally for his study of the history of Chinese philosophy, especially the study of metaphysics during the Wei and Jin period (AD 220-420) and the modern philosophy of China as well as the promotion of Chinese culture.