The 7th Cross-Straits Guoxue Lecture has been broadcasting on social media platforms such as Weibo, Sina and Tencent, attracting a total of 4 million online viewers. Before the end of the lecture day, it has been exposed to over 25 million locally and internationally. Lin Anwu, a famous philosopher and religious scholar, has put forward wonderful ideas, causing heated discussions both online and offline.

Cross-Straits Guoxue Lecture

Prof. Lin has talked about the influence of Wang Yangming's thoughts on Confucian businessmen with his own experience. Confucian businessmen are people who have a good head for business but also hold on to their integrity. "I have given speeches about Wang Yangming's thoughts in many places in recent years. People across the country, even overseas Chinese are hungry for Wang Yangming's thoughts," said Lin Anwu." "Over the years, I have come across many businessmen who have an adequate understanding of Chinese philosophies and have been putting them into practice. This makes me realize the rising popularity of Confucianism among businessmen".

Then what do Confucian businessmen rely on to manage an enterprise? Lin believes that a positive and virtuous corporate culture and a brand which values integrity and corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the ideal business management concept. Oriental business management ethics should be able to provide a valuable reference to the current studies of business management in the global context.

Prof. Lin Anwu

Before concluding his speech, Prof. Lin also predicted that the rising Chinese economy will eventually be a catalyst to the rise of Confucianism among businessmen.

During the Q&A session, many attendees have raised questions to Prof. Lin. "In a Chinese saying: ‘a real man does not lack tolerance’. Does this imply that we should return good for evil?"

Q&A session

Prof. Lin stated that he supports the idea of "returning good for evil" only on the basis of an individual to another individual. But, this will not apply in a bigger context for instance a society, as public order needs to be maintained with justice. Hence, a crime must be punished to uphold justice and social order.

Before he bid goodbye, Prof. Lin extended his best wishes to the Cross-Straits Center of Guoxue and hoped that Guoxue studies can take root in Pingtan and spread out to more people. He also proposed promoting and sharing of Guoxue knowledge through different communication media such as internet and books.

Lin Anwu indicated that it is a common wish for Chinese all around the world to develop Guoxue. "With the establishment of Guoxue lectures in Pingtan, we sincerely hope that both sides of the Taiwan Straits can move in unison towards a brighter future.”