China's Communist Party Turns to Confucius

[Music] [Applause] [Music] this is a traditional style wedding held inside the confucious academy in China's Southwestern city of Guang following the rituals of the Han Dynasty which ended 18800 years ago go the couple tie together strands of their hair wash each other's hands and take a sip of bitter wine finally they kneel and bow their heads to a statue of confucious this and other activities at the government supported confucious Academy are among the clearest illustrations of how China is trying to revive traditional culture especially Confucianism as a source of political legitimacy confucious emphasized respect for

elders social ritual and personal moral virtue his ideas dominated China for two Millenia but were attacked as backward and feudal when the Communist Party took power now the party has returned ret turning to many Confucian ideas while clamping down on Western influence in Academia art religion and Civil Society the academy was built by local developers at a cost of $185 million and opened in 2013 a 30ft tall confucious statue Towers over visitors as they climb a long staircase leading to the entrance of the 75 acre complex now managed and funded by the local government the

academy also provides Coming of Age rituals for children facilities for Confucian Scholars to live and work and free lectures on Confucian philosophy to the [Music] public few Chinese people still believe in communism and as the economy slows the party can no longer rely on the promise of Rapid wealth creation to keep it in power China's leaders hope places like this will provide a new sense of cultural identity and a reason to reject Western political ideals while encouraging Chinese officials to be less corrupt last year local authorities opened a traditional culture training center for local officials

the first of its kind in China provincial and City bureaucrats have been attending regular training courses here ever since fore