Institute of Religion, Science and Social Studies

International Seminar on Carrying Forward Laozi Culture held at Henan Province

On 10th to 11th, November, 2005, Naturalness · Harmony · Development as its theme, International Seminar on Carrying forward Laozi Culture was held at Luoyi County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province, where is hometown of Laozi, the founder of Philosophical Daoism. Professor Jiang Sheng was invited to attend the Seminar. This Seminar on Laozi was sponsored cooperatively by UNESCO, CASS (Chinese Academy of Social Science), Beijing University, and Henan Congress of Political Consultation. During this seminar converge more than 130 experts and scholars specializing in the studies of Laozi’s Philosophical Daoism from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and foreign countries.

Professor Jiang Sheng gave an important speech at the Seminar, seeing emphatically the fundamental relationship of Confucianism and Philosophical Daoism from the ideal of sages, he beholds that Confucianism and Philosophical Daoism derives from seeking “Dao of sages” in the very ancient China. Laozi stressed reaching the Sage’s Bourn by cultivating oneself according to Dao; while Confucius insisted reaching the Sage’s Bourn by cultivating one’s morality. Confucianism and Philosophical Daoism preach different doctrines, but both appeal to the same gist. We should not only set eyes on the interfluves of Confucianism and Philosophical Daoism, but also pay attention to their inherent correlation and intercommunity. In his speech Professor Jiang Sheng analyzed certain differences comparing Guodian郭店bumboo manuscript Laozi，Mawangdui馬王堆silk manuscript Laozi and Heshanggong Zhangju Laozi, and put forward the issues of the possible links between the variance of Philosophical Daoism’s classics and the change of the political position of Philosophical Daoism after the Lawsuit of Huainan 淮南 in the reign of Emperor Wu in Han Dynasty. Professor Jiang Sheng’s innovative opinions received the intensive concerns and aroused the resonance in the attending scholars of the Seminar. Many scholars made deeper conversations and discussions with Professor Jiang Sheng.