Confucian Tradition in Multicultural China: "Official Knowledge" vs. Marginalized Views

• In Event: Saturday Roundtable Session 9:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Bringing Into Focus Obscured and Understudied Curricular Perspectives (Table 29)

Abstract

This study discusses the Confucian tradition in today’s multicultural China from two perspectives: the mandatory school curriculum, representing the ‘official knowledge’ (Apple 2000) and views of students from ethnic minority and/or religious backgrounds who are located on the cultural margins in China. The curriculum analysis suggests the interpretation of the Confucian tradition as a monopolizing and dominant discourse reinforcing the cultural hierarchy between different cultural groups. The student views, on the other hand, indicate the understanding of Confucian tradition as only one culture and worldview in China that can benefit from critical reflexivity from other cultures.

Authors

• Tianlong Yu, Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

• Zhenzhou Zhao, Education University of Hong Kong