“Meet Confucius” Gen Z Roundtable Held
Young People from China and Abroad Discuss Traditional Wisdom and Contemporary Life
The “Meet Confucius” Gen Z Roundtable was held in Qufu, Jining, on September 13, bringing together students from China and abroad, overseas social media content creators, and experts and scholars. Through discussions on cultural understanding, youth development, and intercultural communication, participants explored how Confucian thought could address practical issues of concern to young people today.
Under the theme “Meet Confucius, Youth in Dialogue: Understanding One Another Through Mutual Learning Among Civilizations,” the event featured three roundtable sessions: “Getting to Know Confucius,” “Youth in Dialogue,” and “Harmony in Diversity.” Each session was moderated by experts and scholars. Students from China and abroad drew on their own experiences to share perspectives and ask one another questions, exploring the connections between traditional wisdom and contemporary life.
The first session examined how young people today understand Confucius. Students from China and abroad shared their experiences of learning about him and discussed how different cultural and educational backgrounds shape their perceptions of him. The second session focused on how traditional wisdom can address the questions young people face as they grow. As artificial intelligence becomes part of study and daily life, participants discussed how to balance the use of such tools with independent thinking. They related Confucian ideas such as “Those who know are surpassed by those who love learning; those who love learning are surpassed by those who delight in it” to contemporary learning contexts. The third session explored how young people can bridge cultural differences and understand one another in the digital age. Discussing misunderstandings in cultural exchanges and the relationship between online impressions and firsthand experience, young participants from China and abroad drew on ideas such as “A person of virtue seeks harmony without uniformity” to consider how to resolve cultural disagreements, maintain respect, and sustain dialogue and cooperation.
The event also featured a traditional yi ritual dance performance, readings of classical texts by students from China and abroad, and interactive activities using message cards. In the “One Card, Two Entries” activity, young participants responded to the prompt “A question I would like to ask Confucius” upon arrival, then to “A thought I would like to take away” after the discussions, recording their questions and reflections. Youth representatives from China and abroad shared what they had written, extending the roundtable discussions into personal observations and reflection.
Participants, including young students and social media content creators from overseas, also visited the Confucius Family Mansion, the Temple of Confucius, Nishan Sacred Land, and the Confucius Museum. Through on-site observation and exchanges, they learned about Confucian culture and connected their discoveries during the visits with the roundtable discussions, exploring links between traditional wisdom and contemporary life.
