“New Humanist” Confucianism: A study of Mei Guangdi of the Xueheng group

Abstract

Amidst the intellectual tides of the May Fourth Movement, Mei Guangdi (梅光迪, 1890–1945) believed that a “truly modern person” was someone who could maintain their intellectual independence and Confucian flexibility under immense cultural pressure. Because of this, Mei Guangdi took the advice of his mentor Irving Babbitt and supported the study and interpretation of the modernity within core Confucian philosophies to promote the Chinese national essence and absorb new knowledge. Mei Guangdi’s theoretical framework for “New Confucianism” included “exploring Europe’s cultural roots and its reasons for growth” rather than “ridiculously abandoning two thousand years of Chinese history.” With the aid of “folk literature,” he outlined a basic framework of modern cultural transition for “New Confucianism” and a “New Confucian Culture Movement.” In terms of core principles, Mei Guangdi emphasized the “eternal value of Confucianism” while offering new modern interpretations of “ritual.” The transformation of the “New Confucianism Movement” could be seen in how the concept of “gentleman” (junzi) affected societal transformation. More concretely, it influenced how new intellectuals understood citizenship, the responsibilities and roles of scholars, and the development of Confucianism. This article examines how Mei Guangdi used a holistic approach to Confucianism to create proposals for China’s modern cultural transition.