Confucius Meets Ubuntu: South Africans Find Common Ground in Ancient Philosophy

The 10th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations kicked off this week in Qufu, Shandong Province – the hometown of legendary Chinese philosopher Confucius – bringing fresh focus to how ancient wisdom shapes our modern world.

CGTN’s street interviews in South Africa revealed striking cultural parallels. Clea Schultz Mofokeng highlighted how Confucius’ concept of \"ren\" (benevolence) mirrors Ubuntu, a Southern African philosophy emphasizing communal kindness. \"It’s about seeing humanity in others,\" she explained.

Meanwhile, educator Greta Frieslaar praised Confucius’ 2,500-year-old advocacy for accessible education: \"Learning transforms societies – that truth hasn’t expired!\" The forum’s \"Traditional Culture & Modern Civilization\" theme resonated globally, proving old ideas can still spark new connections.

Reference(s):

We Talk: South Africans' take on Confucius culture

cgtn.com