Enlightenment of Tao Te Ching to the Ideal and Conviction Education of College Students in the New Era

Abstract

Ideals and convictions are the beacon. General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the fifth group study session held by the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, stressing that “it is necessary to use the thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era to cultivate soul and educate people, strengthen education about core socialist values, as well as guide students to develop firm ideals and convictions, follow the instructions and path of the Party, and devote themselves to the nation and the people” (Li Haitao, 2013). Persistent hard work of new generations is required to realize the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Only when the young generation has ideals and a sense of responsibility can the Chinese nation be promising. Based on the cultural wisdom from Tao Te Ching, the paper discusses the guiding significance of the philosophy in Tao Te Ching to college ideological and political work in the new era in terms of the cognitive education, emotional education and will education of ideals and convictions.