Visitors to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games may be greeted by
quotes of ancient Chinese sage Confucius if a proposal from his
hometown is adopted by the Beijing organizer.
Confucian organizations in Shandong Province in east China is
proposing five well-known remarks of the Chinese philosopher,
selected by more than 40,000 netizens over the past three months
from Analects, to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic
Games (BOCOG).
Analects is believed to be a composition of the late Spring and
Autumn Period. It collects maxims and short discussions between
Confucius and his disciples.
Shandong's deputy governor Huang Sheng submitted a list of the
quotes to BOCOG officials at the World Confucian Conference, which
kicked off Friday in Qufu city -- hometown of Confucius, saying the
remarks that have influenced China and the world for centuries will
fully reflect Chinese people's hospitality to upcoming athletes and
guests.
The quotes include "When a friend comes from afar, is that not
delightful?", "All men are brothers", "Do to others as you would be
done by", "Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practises it
will have neighbors", and "In carrying our rites, it is harmony
that is prized."
The official English version is yet to be determined if the
quotes are approved.
The Organizing Committee of the World Confucian Conference, the
International Confucian Association, and some Chinese websites
jointly launched a campaign in July, inviting people to select five
quotes that best demonstrate Confucian thoughts from 20 remarks
recommended by ten confucianism experts.
Confucius, born in 551 BC, was a great philosopher whose thought
held sway as orthodox ideology in China for some 2,000 years.
Confucianism offers references for solution to many complicated
social problems, and many of Confucius' notions have been
recognized as "dictum" by peoples around the world.
(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2007)