Confucius lost in the fireworks

Where most of the world’s four billion people watching the Beijing 2008 opening ceremony live on TV were drawn by superficial marvel of the artistic expression of children painting, Gao grasped the symbolism of the Confucian tradition.

And Gao has no doubt. The Confucian revivalism comes from the top, he says. From the time of 1990s national leaders such as Li Ruihuan, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, in the generation of President Jiang Zemin.

Political reality has held the hand of President Hu Jintao in directly sanctioning a return to Confucianism, but Zhang Yimou, ceremonial master of One World One Dream, would not have had the go-ahead had Hu not approved. “(The subtlety) is impossible for the Western journalist to understand,” says Gao.

The political elite has had to use “proxies” such as Li, and institutions such as Gao’s former university, Renmin University in Beijing, a centre of learning on Confucianism, which is now openly advancing its research on Confucius’ legacy.

The revivalism for Gao bodes well for the world. “He” in its root form translates into gentle, mild and kind; being harmonious, and on good terms. From this derive notions of peace, and being on friendly terms.

“For too long there has been this period of imperialist dominance. A Confucianist China will help rid the world of the confrontationist approach to international affairs.”

Academics Stephanie Hemelryk Donald and Julian Disney are cautiously optimistic of what Beijing 2008 has done for China and the world.

Stephanie, professor in Chinese media at the University of Sydney, is president of the Chinese Studies Association of Australia. It’s too early to say, Stephanie says of Beijing 2008 and its possible contribution to the social and political advancement within China.

One thing is clear, the Games are a reminder that China is effective and passionate. You sense Stephanie’s relief that she thinks Australia is far more nuanced than the US or even Britain in its attitude towards China.

Disney, professor of law and director of the social justice project at the University of New South Wales, is an advocate of regional fraternity who runs a Neighbours Programme linking Australia with Indonesia and Malaysia.

For him, the Games have given China and the Chinese new confidence in themselves.

Beijing 2008 holds promise for international affairs beyond sport. You’d wish it held more attention than so much of yesterday’s news that so quickly becomes today’s garden mulch. Or fish wrapper.