95Research Trends“Discourse on Confucian Entrepreneurs:Role Models and Wealth”
The Institute for Advanced Humanistic Studies and the World Ethics
Institute Beijing, Peking University, May 12–13, 2014
MING Xu*

1Background2

Vision of the ConferenceProf. Tu Weiming previously proposed that the notion of the Confucian
entrepreneur could be developed as a new promising domain of discourse.
With that in mind, the Institute for Advanced Humanistic Studies and theWorld Ethics Institute Beijing sought to shape this public sphere bypromoting dialogue between Confucian scholars and entrepreneurs, and tocreate a new identity for entrepreneurs in a world shifting from an axial age
to an dialogical age.
“Discourse on Confucian Entrepreneurs 2014,” the second annual conference held by the two institutions, discussed “Role Models and Wealth.” Thefirst one held in October 2013, focused on the theme of “Confucian
Entrepreneurs as Public Intellectuals with Spiritual Humanism.”
The inspiration for initiating a discussion on “Role Models and Wealth”
comes from the following two concrete events:• 2014 was the 100th anniversary of a visit to China by the Japanese Confucian
entrepreneur Shibusawa Eiichi (1840–1931). We were honored to have Mr.
Shibusawa Masahide (b. 1925), Eiichi’s great-grandson, visit the Institutefor Advanced Humanistic Studies to commemorate this event. We took thisopportunity to host a day of talks on “East Asian Confucian Entrepreneurs
as Role Models,” such as Zhang Jian (1853–1926), Shibusawa Eiichi, etc.,
and a day of discussion on “Wealth and Life.” We expected to derive rich	  * 明旭 Postdoctoral fellow of the Institute for Advanced Humanistic Studies, Peking
University.

Journal of Cultural Interaction in East Asia Vol. 6 2015

96

resources for cultivating model business leaders in East Asia and to enrich
the meaning and significance of Confucian entrepreneurship in the contextof globalization.
• In 2012 the German entrepreneur Mr. Karl Schlecht used his “birthdaypresent” from Sany Group as seed money for establishing the World Ethics
Institute Beijing at Peking University to develop a notion of world ethics
that seeks to transform private wealth into public wealth for the purpose ofbringing people together. It is this notion that we seek to discuss and highlight as a source of value.
This conference was a part of the series designed to initiate a public
discourse on the key concept of Confucian entrepreneurs, which has been
reemerging nowadays in east Asian societies, especially in business communities.

3AgendaPart 1: Talks, May 12“East Asian Confucian Entrepreneurs as Role Models”
The notion of Confucian entrepreneurs not only emerged from the traditions of East Asian businessmen; it also encompasses local knowledge withmodern and global significance. Relying on scholarly analysis of historicalparagons of the Confucian entrepreneur, along with contemporary entrepreneurs who embody Confucian qualities, we hope help shift society towards
the Confucian entrepreneurial approach. With this model we can address
issues that all people face in an age of globalization, by enriching our spiritual, moral, ethical, and organizational resources. This discussion of theConfucian entrepreneur emphasized cross-cultural and interdisciplinary investigations that combine the resources of East and West, ancient times andmodernity, to collectively discuss individuals of the business world who
exemplify the spirit of humanism.
Keynote talks• Tu Weiming, “On Confucian Entrepreneur”
Director of the World Ethics Institute Beijing, Peking University
Director of the Institute for Advanced Humanistic Studies, Peking
University• Zhang Weiying, “The Power of Idea”
Professor of Economics, Guanghua School of Management, Peking
University• Shibusawa Masahide, “On Shibusawa Eiichi”

“Discourse on Confucian Entrepreneurs: Role Models and Wealth”

97

President of the Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation, Japan• Xiang Bing, “The Global Influence of the Rise of China”
Professor of Chinese Business and Globalization
Founding President of the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business,
Beijing• Klaus M. Leisinger, “The Role of Business Ethicists in a World of CulturalPluralism”
Founder and President of the Global Value Alliance Foundation• Tao Demin, “The Ethical Conceptions of Zhang Jian as a Top Scholar Turned
Entrepreneur: An Analysis of His 1903 Japan Diary”
Professor of History, Kansai University, JapanFounding President of the Society for Cultural Interaction in East Asia
• Janet Hunter, “Typical Confucian Entrepreneurs and East Asia Civilization:
Shibusawa Eiichi in the Global Context”
Professor of Economic History, London School of Economics and PoliticalScience, United Kingdom• Kimura Masato, “Shibusawa Eiichi’s View of Business Morality in GlobalSociety”
Director of the Research Department, Shibusawa Eiichi MemorialFoundation, Japan• Melissa Williams, “The Economy of Virtue”
Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto, Canada
Founding Director of the Centre for Ethics, University of Toronto, Canada• Yao Xinzhong, “Tradition, Modernity, and Confucian Entrepreneurs”
Dean of the School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China
Vice Director of the World Ethics Institute Beijing, Peking University• Alan Chan, “Entrepreneurship Enhanced by Confucian Concepts”
Director of the Qufu Confucius Institute
Chairman of Petroships Investment, Singapore• Fan Heping, “The Ultimate Worry and Ultimate Concern of Wealth”
Vice Director of the World Ethics Institute Beijing, Peking University
Professor of Ethics and Director of the Humanities School, SoutheastUniversity, China
Part 2: Discussion, May 13“Wealth and Life”
Confucianism possesses a broad understanding of wealth (“What gathers
humans together? Wealth”—Book of Changes). This understanding can shatterthe narrow-minded focus on individual, material wealth. Confucianism alsopresents a unique approach to dealing with wealth (“The benevolent cultivate
selves through wealth”—Great Learning). Here wealth is fused with the98

Journal of Cultural Interaction in East Asia Vol. 6 2015

concept of self-cultivation, as a major asset that enables us to realize
ourselves by embodying family harmony, beneficent governance of state, andpeace under Heaven. These two basic perspectives are key to molding thecharacters of the East Asian entrepreneurs. In recent years, people haveupheld a wide variety of philosophies of wealth. These generally emerge fromthe influence of economic views of the European Enlightenment and thepopularity of pluralistic cultures. This dialogue on the Confucian entrepreneur
seeks to engage with the notion of wealth from such perspectives as religion,
economics, business management, and philanthropy in the hope of presenting
a comprehensive view.
Session 1: Cultural Paradigms of Wealth: A Dialogue Based on Historical
Experience and Modern Life
Moderator: Tao Demin
Discussants:• Fan Heping, Vice Director of the World Ethics Institute Beijing, Peking
University• Shibusawa Masahide, President of the Shibusawa Eiichi MemorialFoundation, Japan• Sato Takayoshi, Director of Moral Rearmament House, Japan• Tao Demin, Professor of History, Kansai University, Japan• Kimura Masato, Director of the Research Department, Shibusawa Eiichi
Memorial Foundation, Japan• Zhou Shengchun, Professor of History and Executive Director of theConfucian Entrepreneur and East Asian Centre, Zhejiang University, China• Moriya Atsushi, popular writer and commentator, JapanSession 2: The Philosophical Values behind and Practical Significance ofMultiple Conceptions of WealthModerator: Yao Xinzhong
Discussants:• Yao Xinzhong, Dean of the School of Philosophy, Renmin University ofChina, and Vice Director of the World Ethics Institute Beijing, Peking
University• Melissa Williams, Professor of Political Science and founding Director ofthe Centre for Ethics, University of Toronto, Canada• Janet Hunter, Professor of Economic History, London School of Economicsand Political Science, United Kingdom• Klaus Leisinger, founder and President of the Global Value AllianceFoundation• Alan Chan, Director of the Qufu Confucius Institute and Chairman of

“Discourse on Confucian Entrepreneurs: Role Models and Wealth”

99

Petroships Investment, Singapore• Liu Zhiwei, General Manager, Member of the Board of Tianshuo Investment
Co.
• Xue Zhaofeng, Researcher Fellow and Codirector of the Institute for Lawand Economics, National School of Law Development, Peking University
Session 3: Wealth, Education and Welfare
Moderator: Yao Zhongqiu
Discussants:• Yao Zhongqiu, Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences, Institute ofAdvanced Studies, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics• Li Honglei, Professor of Philosophy and Dean of the Philosophy Department,Zhongshan University, China.
• Wang Jue, Professor of Ethics and Vice Director of the School of Humanities,Southeast University, China• Zhang Zhifeng, Chairman of the Board and Art Director of NE TIGER
Fashion Company• Yu Zihua, Managing Director of COFCO Futures Co.

May 12–13: Mr. Shibusawa Masahide and his team, a SCIEA delegation, joined theconference “Discourse on Confucian Entrepreneurs, 2014” at Peking University.

100

Journal of Cultural Interaction in East Asia Vol. 6 2015

• Shi Yongmin, Chairman of the Board of Julink Investments Co.
• Ji Yu, Host of CCTV2• Wu Xuesong, Member of the Board of Tianji Technology Co.
• Gao Bin, Chairman of the Board of Sanzhi Cultural School, Beijing

A commemorative photo of the conference participants, with Mr. Shibusawa Masahide
and Prof. Tu Weiming sitting in the center of the front row.