How best to promote guoxue the study of traditional Chinese philosophy, literature and history has been fiercely debated for a long time.

Ongoing discussions follow hot on the heels of the recent announcement by the Beijing-based Renmin University that it will open a College of National Culture Study in September. It will be the first such college to be launched since the founding of New China in 1949.

The ranks of the older generation of great academics and scholars of classical learning are of course sadly dwindling. Qi Gong, a great scholar who taught classical Chinese culture, died on June 30.

So it is important that such traditions do not die with them. According to Renmin University, students will be recruited from across the country.

The concept of guoxue, literally translated as national culture, can be traced back more than 2,000 years.

Over much of that time guoxue has mainly been used to describe the central educational system.

It was not until the early 20th century that the concept of guoxue was highlighted more as a study of Chinese national culture. This occurred against a socio-political backdrop of Western cultures pouring into China, and even coming to overwhelm some traditional values.

It was during this period that the study of national culture peaked, with numerous scholars achieving greatness, particularly the four masters Wang Guowei (1877-1927), Liang Qichao (1873-1929), Chen Yinque (1890-1969) and Zhao Yuanren (1892-1982).

But this brief golden period did little to promote the popularity of the study of national culture, as it was criticized as blocking development.

Another reason for its lack of appeal was the conflict between old and new educational systems, according to Zheng Jiadong, a professor of Confucianism at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"At that time, people were arguing about the educational principle of colleges," Zheng said.

"Many believed that colleges should produce professional talent for society," Zheng said. "Others argued for the study of national culture to focus more on philosophy, literature and history. These help students establish a comprehensive understanding of the world and life."

"At last, the former point of view won out and the study of national culture began to be sidelined within the Chinese college education system," Zheng said.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the study of classical culture initially recovered to some degree, but it was almost abandoned with the coming of the "cultural revolution" (1966-76).

Traditional culture, and especially Confucianism, was once again criticized as representing feudalism and conservatism. As the most celebrated national culture experts passed away, so the fate of traditional learning withered.

So when the humanities-centered Renmin University of China decided to establish a college for the study of national culture it caused a great stir in academic and educational circles.

Professor Zhang Liwen, dean of the Institute of Confucian Study at the university, revealed the reasoning behind the establishment of the college.

"China is now experiencing an economic take-off and is getting more and more involved in the world," he said. "This is quite similar to the early 20th century when Western cultures entered China and exerted a great impact on traditional cultures.

"Therefore Chinese scholars are now seeking some spiritual support from traditional Chinese culture in order to facilitate modern China's development."

Zheng added: "Today, people have realized that colleges should not only produce professionals, but also shoulder the responsibility of handing down cultural traditions."

Chinese colleges have done a good job of producing professionals, even surpassing some famous universities throughout the world. "But it's the right time for us to attach more importance to the education of humanities," Zheng said.

Zhang believes it is imperative for today's young people to learn more about traditional Chinese culture as they have little knowledge of it.

"Chinese college students today might know foreign cultures better than they know Chinese national culture," Zhang said.

"They can easily cite names of the Western literati like Shakespeare, Tolstoy or Tagore, but if you ask them about the Eight Literati of China's Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, few of them could provide a complete answer."

According to Zhang, the study of national culture is not merely confined to research of traditional philosophy, literature and history. The most important task of contemporary students is examining how these subjects can be connected to Western theories, to help the development of the modern nation.

In recent years the study of national culture has gradually caught the attention of the public. Many primary schools are now teaching children Chinese classics, often by rote, such as the Analects of Confucius, in order to improve the younger generation's basic cultural knowledge.

Some universities have also opened experimental selective courses devoted to traditional Chinese literature, history and philosophy.

Fresh academic research projects have been launched, including the study of the Art of War and the exploration of the economic theories of Guanzi, an ancient classic completed during the Spring and Autumn Period more than 2,000 years ago.

But this activity is scattered and sporadic. Professor Zhang hopes the establishment of the college at Renmin University will change this.

The College of the National Culture Study will feature the four traditional categories of Chinese writings Confucian classics, history, philosophy and belles-lettres.

It will offer different programs to the experimental courses at other institutions. Besides these traditional subjects, Western literature, artistic theories, philosophy and history will also be taught.

Zhang and his colleagues want to reorient the study of national culture in a worldwide setting with modern standards.

Although traditional Chinese culture may be the main body of these courses, the study of national culture will not simply be a quick glance at the classics.

(China Daily July 8, 2005)