A renaissance of chanting Confucian Bibles, a Chinese orthodox school learning, has been called for by experts convening at the fete for the 2,556th anniversary of Confucius' birth.

Confucian Bibles known as Confucius' Four Books and Five Classics used to be an obligatory course in China's old-style schools.

"The Confucius' doctrine is an important part of the Chinese culture and ideology. However, the enlightenment of the philosophy has been spared in the country's modern learning," said Professor Cai Degui at a workshop opened during the week-long 2005 China Qufu International Confucius Cultural Festival in Qufu City in east China's Shandong Province on Tuesday.

Scholars and believers around the world commemorates Confucius' birth at the great thinker's hometown in Qufu every year in an effort to preserve the Confucian spirit of benevolence and honor, which advocates the building of a harmonious society through individual's self-refinement in manners and taste.

Professor Cai from the Shandong University said there is no need in academic argument on weather Confucius' doctrine is a pith or dreg. Research on the contemporary value of the great thinker's works would be more conducive to the building of a harmonious society in China.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2005)