551 王小良博士在北京外国语大学关于“儒家关于‘天’的思想对美国建国的影响”讲座

儒家关于‘天’的思想对美国建国的影响”讲座成功举办

2018年10月15日下午，由北京外国语大学国际中国文化研究院举办的“一个亚洲”2018年系列讲座第五讲在北外国际大厦222会议室举行。美国纽约皇后区图书馆劳雷尔顿（Laurelton）分馆馆长王小良（Dave Wang）博士作了题为“儒家关于‘天’的思想对美国建国的影响”的讲座。此次讲座由国际中国文化研究院院长梁燕教授主持。

讲座伊始，王小良博士向听众提出“美国是以基督教立国吗？儒家思想对美国的建国原则有影响吗？”的问题，引起听众思考。随后，他运用美国宪法的规定、美国开国元勋托马斯·杰斐逊（Thomas Jefferson）等人的观点进行实证，反驳保守派“美国以基督教立国”的观点，认为美国开国元勋的建国思想为自然神论，而自然神论受到儒家思想的激发。王小良博士将论据一一展开，娓娓道来。

王小良博士指出，《独立宣言》、《联邦条款》、《联邦文件》和《宪法》这四个美国早期历史上的重要基本文件，足以证明美国的世俗起源，而“基督教立国”是宗教偏见。在《独立宣言》（1776）中，起草者没有使用基督教惯用语“上帝”（God）,而是称“造物主”（Creator），以及“Supreme Judge of the world”（世界的最高审判官）、“their Creator”（他们的创造者）等词汇。在《联邦条款》（1777）的13个条款中，提到上帝的地方仅在介绍中发现，并且用的词是“Great Governor of the World”（世界的伟大首长）。在《联邦文件》和《宪法》中，都找不到基督教、上帝的字样，对宗教的讨论只出现在规定政教分离、不使宗教干涉政府的情况下。

针对以上建国文件中有如此观点的原因，王小良博士认为，美国开国元勋的信仰是关键因素。当今美国存在两种看法，基督教牧师和其他认为自己为基督教福音派的作家认为，大部分开国元勋有正统的信仰，而且一些人是天生的基督教徒；而研究型大学的学者们认为，绝大多数的开国元勋是宗教理性主义者，或者一神教派。王小良博士分别列出了以上两种观点的证据，并认为，尽管双方都有证据，但都不是很有说服力。在这种情况下，自然神论在美国建国中的作用值得认真探讨。

王小良博士指出，在乔治·华盛顿（George Washington）、托马斯·杰斐逊（Thomas Jefferson）、约翰·亚当斯（John Adams）、詹姆斯·麦迪逊（James Madison）、亚历山大·汉密尔顿（Alexander Hamilton）、本杰明·富兰克林（Benjamin Franklin）、托马斯·潘恩（Thomas Paine）、约翰·杰伊（John Jay）这8名美国开国元勋中，只有约翰·杰伊（John Jay）是基督教徒，其余都是自然神论者。王小良博士提出区分这些开国元勋是自然神论者还是基督教徒的四个因素：一是他们与教会的关系，二是是否参加宗教仪式，三是是否使用宗教语言，四是考察他们自身和周边人的实际事迹和话语。他分别运用这些开国元勋的自传、著作、书信等实证，对他们的信仰进行了分析证明。

此外，王小良博士介绍了自然神论的定义、来源和主要信仰。他指出，自然神论是在17和18世纪在“自由思想”的欧洲出现的一种理性的神学形式，大部分自然神论者认为，造物主组织这个世界以推动人类的幸福，而自然神论者最伟大的责任是进一步通过提升道德来推进这个目的。王小良博士介绍道，英国的自然神论起源于17世纪上期，在英国启蒙运动的高峰期，自然神论成为争论的一个主要源泉，而自然神论在17世纪末期受到两个关键因素的推动。一是科技革命使人对自然的认识发生转变。王小良博士列举了约翰·洛克（John Locke)、大卫·休谟（David Hume）等自然神论者的观点，他们认为《圣经》仅仅是人类的课文，它的理论必须经受理性检验。二是儒学使自然神论获得新的生命。王小良博士分析大卫·休谟（David Hume）、康德(Immanuel Kant）、约翰·图兰德( John Toland）、马修· 挺戴尔 （Mathew Tindal）等自然神论者对于孔子、儒家思想和中国的看法，认为这些自然神论者对儒家思想持肯定和学习的态度，儒家思想对自然神论起到了激活的作用。他对儒家“天”的思想进行了解读，具体分析了孔子在《论语》中对于天的论述，并且指出，自然神论者认为真正的神是行为道德，坚守仁义的金法则，儒家思想是对其的丰富。

谈到中华文明对美国的影响，王小良博士坦言，这些影响似乎不易被发现，但并不代表没有产生影响。他曾就中国儒家思想对美国的民主制度和教育制度的影响等进行全方面的论证分析，受到很多学者的反驳和挑战，但他坚持以文献和事实立据进行力证，并在讲座期间多次鼓励中国学者对此展开积极深入的研究。

最后，现场师生与王小良博士展开热烈互动，就中华文明在美国的推广及影响这一话题进行了讨论。讲座在热烈的掌声中圆满结束。

国际中国文化研究院2017级硕士杜雅端 供稿

主讲人简介：王小良（Dave Wang）博士，1993－2000年在美国亚利桑纳大学先后获得硕士和博士学位，目前任美国组约皇后区图书馆劳雷尔顿（Laurelton）分馆馆长，圣约翰大学兼职教授，国际亚洲文明与美州研究会会长，并受聘中国西北大学现代学院担任儒学在海外研究院院长。他长期致力于中华文明对美国影响的研究，先后在美国、意大利、澳大利亚、印度、日本发表30余篇学术论文，其中包括《本杰明·弗兰克林、乔治·华盛顿、托马斯·杰弗逊与中华文明》、《托马斯·杰弗逊与中国建筑：中华文明与美国建国前的北美洲》、《本杰明·富兰克林在北美推动中国丝绸文化》、《美国开国元勋与中国陶瓷》、《本杰明·富兰克林与中华文明》等。他的研究受到西方著名学者的推荐，并进入美国大学和中学教材，被美国《纽约时报》、《美国侨报》等媒体广泛报道。

550. 王小良博士在人民大学明德法律文化论坛讲演：儒家与美国的建国原则

明德法律文化论坛第96期：儒家与美国的建国原则

2018年10月25日（周四）晚6时，明德法律文化论坛第96期在中国人民大学明德法学楼708报告厅成功举行。美国纽约皇后区图书馆Laurelton分馆馆长、圣约翰大学兼职教授王小良博士做了题为“儒家与美国的建国原则”的主题讲座，中国人民大学法学院马小红教授主持了本次讲座。西南政法大学《现代法学》副主编董彦斌、上海交通大学凯原法学院讲席教授高全喜、中国人民大学国学院教授，副院长梁涛、中国人民大学国际关系学院教授任峰、中国人民大学法学院教授王云霞、中国人民大学法学院副教授高仰光、姜栋、娜鹤雅、尤陈俊、朱腾共11位与谈嘉宾齐聚一堂，共同参加了此次学术讲座。

    马小红教授对主讲人王小良博士的学术观点做了简要的介绍之后，讲座正式开始。

    

    首先，王小良博士对人大明德法律文化论坛的邀请表示感谢。王小良博士以美国学者的观点开篇，该观点认为美国核心存在着亚洲元素的影响，从而引出了中国文明对美国建国原则的影响这一主题，这也是王小良博士从事相关研究近二十多年的核心观点所在。

    其次，王小良博士对自己的研究历程进行了回顾。他表示，自己从1998年开始研究中国文明对美国影响这一问题，起因于时任亚历山大大学讲师的他在自己开设的亚洲文明课上写的一本小册子，名字为《美国开国元勋与中国》，其内容主要讲述了中国文化是如何影响乔治·华盛顿、本杰明·富兰克林、汤姆·杰克逊这三位美国开国元勋。由于课堂学生人数众多，王小良博士的观点得到了广泛的传播和支持。其后二十多年，他发表了近30篇文章，最近的一篇发表于2018年，主要讲述了汤姆斯·杰克逊是如何运用孔子因材施教的思想对美国教育体制进行改革的内容。王小良博士表示，研究过程并非一帆风顺，其中也遭遇到诸多挑战。面对挑战，王小良教授接连发表了包括《儒学与美国建国》、《百年征程》等三篇文章，从“家文化与美国政治形象的塑造”、“科举制度对美国国家建设”等角度切入，论证了中国传统文化与美国国家制度建设有着密切的联系。

 再次，王小良博士提出这样一个问题：美国是以基督教立国吗?针对这个问题，王小良博士从不同角度进行了回答，第一，美国宪法上找不到基督教立国的根据，“在宪法中，连上帝这词都没有。”第二，开国元勋也反复在建国文件中强调美国不是一个基督教国家。如托马斯·杰斐逊在写给约翰·亚当斯的信中明确指出“理性的黎明和美国思想的自由将摆脱所有人造的东西。”王小良博士以《独立宣言》、“联邦条款”等其他联邦文件为例，分析其中的表达用词，结果发现这些联邦文件根本没有提及上帝或者基督教。然而，王小良博士指出，对于美国是否以基督教立国这一问题仍然存在争议，并无定论。主要有牧师派和学者派这两大阵营，前者认为美国国会、感恩节祈祷、《独立宣言》中“不可剥夺的权力”的来源是上帝，据此认为美国是以基督教立国。而学者派则主张美国大部分开国元勋根本不是基督教徒而是自然神论者，否认美国以基督教立国。由此，王小良博士引入自然神论的概念并进行展开，主要介绍了自然神论的定义、自然神论的主要信仰和自然神论的发展历程。

    自然神论者相信一个基于理性的唯一的创造者的存在，排斥基督教所有超自然元素，他们只以符合逻辑和理性来支持他们的信仰。王小良博士进一步认为，自然神论直到17世纪末才被推崇的原因有二：其一，随着物理学的发展，当时人类对自然本身的认识发生转变。其二，儒学使得自然神论获得新的生命，这一点在休谟、康德、马修·挺戴尔的观点中均可找到论证。而王小良博士则用“儒学与天”这一具体例子进行论证，认为孔子的“天”思想与自然神论的“上帝”相契合，自然神论的神是行为道德，坚守仁义的“金法则”，这完全不同于《圣经》中的“上帝”。此外，他认为这个“金法则”从本质上讲就是儒家学说中的“己所不欲，勿施于人。”

    最后，王小良博士希望大家经过本次讲座之后，关注中国文明对西方的影响，以东西文明的交汇点为突破口，进一步探究中国文明是如何影响西方文明的。

    在提问环节，与会嘉宾纷纷发表自己的意见。一些老师认为“儒学与美国建国原则”这一视角虽然新颖，但是对建国原则这一含义的理解和界定存在值得推敲的地方，有老师认为开国元勋的思想并不能等同于建国原则。另外，把儒学提到与基督教等同的高度同样值得讨论。相反，一些老师则认为本次讲座主题的理论意义重大，它涉及到国内理论界对中华文明研究的历史观与政治理念的重构，国内学者之所以对观点产生质疑，一方面是因为一直以来对本国文化“爱之深，责之切”的态度，另一方面则在于，如果跳出传统研究思路去探讨中华文明对西方文明的影响问题，目前的研究显然是不够的。王小良博士作为在国外多年的学者，对中华文化存在特殊的情感正是他秉承不同观点的原因所在。此外，也有老师为这一问题的进一步研究提出建议，如建议尝试在美国联邦最高法院的宪法判例中寻找证据，再如建议适当进行古代翻译文本与近现代文本的比对工作。其后，同学纷纷举手进行提问，大家对这一问题展开了热烈而细致的讨论。

    王小良博士对嘉宾和同学的提问与建议一一做了耐心的解答和回应，马小红教授做了会议的最后总结，诚挚感谢王小良博士的本次讲座为老师和同学提供了讨论问题的新视角。

549. Dr. Dave Wang's Speech on Benjamin Franklin and Confucian Moral Philosophy

I found this Italian poster, showing of Dr. Dave Wang' presentation on Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy in Rome in 2006. In that year the Center for American Studies, Rome Italy  invited scholars worldwide to deliver speeches on Benjamin Franklin in order to celebrate the 300th year anniversary of Benjamin Franklin' birth. It was very impressive that a scholar introduced in Rome Chinese cultural influence on one of main founders of the United States. At that time Chinese cultural influence on the founding of the United States basically unknown in the world.  A decade has passed since the talk. Based on the fact that more and more colleges and American universities have adopted Dr. Wang's papers in the field, we have reason to believe that the field of Chinese cultural influence on the founding of the United States will become a subject in American studies.

548. More Universities Use Dr. Dave Wang's Papers as Teaching Text

2019 is just around the corner. It is perfect time to sum up the influence of Dr. Dave Wang's study of Chinese cultural influence on the United States in 2018. With this poster I will introduce my readers a snapshot from the Internet that includes five items. As an indicator of demonstrating the influencing scope of Dr. Dave Wang's research in the field of Chinese cultural influence on the West, some US and Japanese colleges and universities have adopt Dr. Dave Wang's publications in their courses. The first shows that Johns Hopkins University has included Dr. Wang's paper, Founding Fathers and Chinese Civilization in its philosophy course 150.220. The next one is from Washington College, Dr. Bin Song, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion, has urges his students to read Dr. Dave Wang's article, Confucius in American Founding. The third is from University of California at San Diego, Dr. Dave Wang's paper, All Posterity Would Remember My Legacy: Thomas Jefferson and a Legendary Chinese Prince  was cited by a professor from the University. Number four is a presentation given by Dr. Wang at New York JP Language Institute in Long Island. The last one is from Kokushikan University in Japan. The University published in its well-known academic journal Dr. Wang's paper , From Confucius to the Great Wall: Chinese Cultural Influence on the United States.

547. 儒学对美国的影响：从建国到现在

儒学对美国的影响：从建国到现在——美国纽约皇后图书馆劳瑞顿分馆馆长王小良教授莅临董子讲坛

2018年10月23日上午，王小良教授在衡水学院图书馆报告厅做了一场题为《儒学对美国的影响：从建国到现在》的精彩讲座。河北省董仲舒研究会会长、董子学院院长、董仲舒思想国际研究院院长李奎良教授主持讲座。

2018年10月23
日上午，王小良教授在衡水学院图书馆报告厅做了一场题为《儒学对美国的影响：从建国到现在》的精彩讲座。河北省董仲舒研究会会长、董子学院院长、董仲舒思想国际研究院院长李奎良教授主持讲座。河北省董仲舒研究会部分理事、会员，董子学院部分专兼职教师，以及我校师生二百余人到场聆听。

王教授从五个方面阐明中华文化对美国建国和民主制度发展的影响：

 

第一，给美洲殖民地独立强有力的理论支撑：帮助建国。

 

王教授引用《新约》之言“在上有权柄的，人人当顺服他；因为没有权柄不是出于神的，凡掌权的都是神所命的。所以抗拒掌权的，就是抗拒神的命；抗拒的必自取刑罚”，以此说明《圣经》是禁止革命的。而中国儒家的孟子，则提出“民为贵，社稷次之，君为轻”，认为政权要取决于民意，若上位者的德行和为政不为百姓所接受，那上位者就要丧失继续执政的资格了。这就为美国的独立战争提供了有力的理论武器。此外，王教授还比较了《独立宣言》与《尚书·泰誓》，认为二者在语言表达、逻辑结构上存在诸多相似。

 

第二，帮助初生的美国走上发展的正途：用儒家道德原则建立新的道德。

 

王教授认为美国的缔造者们对儒家思想的认可在许多方面都能体现。美国宪法和权利法案之父詹姆斯·麦迪逊的家里就有一幅孔子画像；《常识》作者托马斯·潘恩认为，孔子是与耶稣、苏格拉底齐名的中国圣人；美国精神的创立者本杰明·富兰克林曾庄严声明，儒家道德哲学对全人类大有价值；《独立宣言》主要起草人托马斯·杰斐逊，在1801年总统就职演说中大力倡导儒家道德原则。其他开国元勋们，例如约翰·亚当斯和本杰明·罗许，在他们致力于创建新的国家蓝图的过程中也同样高度赞扬了孔子。这些开国元勋们呼吁美国公民从儒家道德哲学中汲取积极因素，并按照这些道德榜样培育和提升自己的美德。

 

第三，帮助美国建立择优录取公务员的制度：推动民主制度的完善。

 

美国建国之初的政党分肥制，随着历史发展和社会进步，日益暴露出诸多弊端，贪污腐化现象越来越严重。美国睿智的政治家注意到中国的公务员制度的优越性，并进行效法学习。本杰明·富兰克林就曾说过，在这个最为悠久、历史上最为睿智的中华民族中，荣誉是授予先辈而非后代沿袭。如果一个人因其学识、智慧或英勇被皇帝提拔为朝廷官员，他的父母也将因此同时被民众冠以相应的荣誉。之所以如此，一方面是由于官员自身的努力；另一方面是因为其父母给予他的言传和身教，他才拥有服务大众的能力。这种对先辈的荣誉提升会鼓励父母给予子女有益、良好的教育，因而对国家有利。

 

第四，帮助美国战胜经济危机，取得第二次世界大战胜利，为走向世界强国奠定基础；建立合理的农业管理制度。

 

王教授指出，1934年、1938年，美国颁布了两个“农业调整法”，其核心思想就是中国的常平仓制度。由于美国借鉴了中国的常平仓制度，1939年美国储备了4亿蒲式耳的玉米（超过1000万吨），2亿蒲式耳小麦（超过540万吨），这一充足的粮食储备在此后爆发的第二次世界大战中发挥了重要的作用，有力地支持了同盟国对轴心国的连年战争。这一粮食储备对于以美国为首的同盟国在第二次世界大战中的获胜，与军火工业一样，是具有决定性意义的。

 

第五，直接影响当前美国人民对自己法律的反思。王教授重点讲解了儒家 “己所不欲，勿施于人”的黄金法则对于美国法律的影响。

 

王教授的讲座深入透彻，以文献和事实立据让人信服，同时也让在场的每一位师生都受到激励，作为中国人，理应坚持文化自信，担负起传播中国文化的历史责任，为中华民族的伟大复兴做出自己的贡献。

 

546. 美国著名华人学者我校儒学在海外研究院院长王小良博士回校举办专题讲座

美国著名华人学者我校儒学在海外研究院院长王小良博士回校举办专题讲座


10月17日下午，美国著名华人学者、纽约皇后图书馆劳瑞顿分馆馆长、我校儒学在海外研究院院长王小良博士专题讲座在文法楼215报告厅举行，围绕“儒家思想对美国立国精神的影响”这一主题进行学术分享。我校部分二级学院负责人出席，数百名教职工及同学代表到场聆听了讲座。讲座由我校国学院副院长王即之老师主持。

　　讲座前，王老师向到场师生介绍了王小良博士。王小良博士目前任美国纽约皇后区图书馆劳瑞顿分馆馆长，圣约翰大学兼职教授，同时受聘任我校儒学在海外研究院院长。他长期致力于中华文明对美国影响的研究，先后发表30余篇学术论文，他的研究受到西方著名学者的推荐，并进入美国大学和中学教材，被美国《纽约时报》、《美国侨报》等媒体广泛报道。
　　随后，讲座正式开始。王小良博士首先抛出“美国是以基督教立国吗?儒家思想对美国的建国原则有影响吗?”这一问题，引发同学们思考。接着，他用美国宪法的规定、美国开国元勋托马斯·杰斐逊等人的观点进行实证，反驳保守派所持“美国以基督教立国”的观点，认为美国开国元勋的建国思想是“自然神论”，而儒学使自然神论获得新生命。同时将论据一一展开，清楚、详细地讲解了自然神论的定义、来源、主要信仰及对美国革命的影响，并且分析了自然神论者对于孔子、儒家思想和中国的看法，认为这些自然神论者对儒家思想持肯定和学习的态度，儒家思想对自然神论起到了激活的作用，对儒家“天”的思想进行了解读，具体分析了孔子在《论语》中对于天的论述，并且指出，自然神论者认为真正的神是行为道德，坚守仁义的法则，儒家思想是对其进一步的丰富。

　　王小良博士通过《独立宣言》、《联邦条款》、《联邦文件》和《宪法》四个美国早期历史上的重要基本文件，证明美国的立国精神是多种思想的融合，其中包括重要的自然神论，而“基督教立国”虽然也有自己的证据，但否定别的重要思想就是宗教偏见。王博士分别列出了以上两种观点的证据，认为过去一直所流行的基督教立国的观点，现在要重新考虑了，因为自然神论在美国建国中的作用日益得到许多学者的支持，而我所深入研究的则是自然神论思想是如何被激活的，我的结论是由中华文化儒家思想激活的，儒家思想激活了欧洲启蒙运动中的自然神论，启蒙运动带着自然神论又激发了美国的独立与建国运动。
　　王小良博士指出，在乔治·华盛顿、托马斯·杰斐逊、约翰·亚当斯、詹姆斯·麦迪逊等8名美国开国元勋中，只有约翰·杰伊(John Jay)是基督教徒，其余都是自然神论者。王小良院长还提出了区分这些开国元勋是自然神论者还是基督教徒的四个因素：一是他们与教会的关系，二是否参加宗教仪式，三是否使用宗教语言，四是考察他们自身和周边人的实际事迹和话语。他分别运用这些开国元勋的自传、著作、书信等实证，对他们的信仰进行了分析，得出了上面的研究成果。

随后，王即之老师进行总结。他说，王小良博士在短时间内把自己三十多篇论文内容结合到一起，给同学们带来了一场文化盛宴，使在座师生大开眼界。我们不可否认美国的确有她先进和优秀的一面，而这一面更多的恰是来源于儒家文化，在文化自信的时代，我们要坚守和继承优秀传统文化，共同推进社会精神文明建设。
　　讲座在同学们热烈的掌声中圆满结束。
　　由于当日老校长刘董事长全天与毕业班同学合影，没有出席王博士的讲座，但老校长在讲座前已经与王博士深入讨论了博士的研究成果，对儒家思想激活欧洲的自然神论，自然神论成为美国的立国精神完全赞同，并补充认为，欧洲的启蒙运动之前是神文主义占统治地位，正是中华文化的儒家思想给欧洲传去了人文主义，才开启了启蒙运动。欧洲的神文主义是基督教的先验论，而属于经验论的自然神论长时间处于边缘化状态，在同为经验论的中华人文主义支持并激发下，自然神论复活，才成为美国的立国精神。老校长认为王博士的研究填补了一个大的历史文化方面的空白，具有极其重要的思想价值与社会意义。

　　王博士讲座后老校长又与博士共进晚餐，博士对我校师生听他这样因学术深遂而显得枯燥的报告所表现出来的极好的状态感慨连连，他说这是他在国内讲座中听讲者状态最好的一次。
　　王博士本次回国不虚此行，他在现代学院又拥有了更多的知音。

545. Dr. Dave Wang's Paper Used in Washington College

Readers of this weblog have well acknowledged the fact that Dr. Dave Wang's examination of the US founders' efforts to apply some positive elements from Chinese civilization to develop this nation. With this post, I will introduce you that Washington College has introduced his paper, Confucius in American Founding to its students who take the philosophical course, Introduction to Ruism/Confucianism, taught by Dr. Bin Song.

544. International Influences of Dr. Dave Wang's Academic Research

I have found that Dr. Dave Wang's academic research in the field of Chinese cultural influence on the United States has achieved international reputation. The statement is evidenced by that fact that his examination of the founders' efforts to borrow from Chinese culture has  reached many countries. The following snapshot from the Internet demonstrate to the readers his impact in the world. The first one is from Beijing Foreign Studies University. The second one from a Japanese university and the third from Hawaii State History Education Council, the United States. You can tell that Dr. Dave Wang's "pioneering research and writings of history" has impressed scholars globally.

543 Dr. Dave Wang's Paper Included in the Articles of Interest , University of Virginia

College of Graduate School of Arts and Science , University  of Virginia  introduced the articles of interest,  published in Virginia Review of Asian Studies, vol. 20, 2018. Dr. Dave Wang' paper on How Confucian Educational Principles Influenced Jefferson’s ideas on Education, was included in the introduction. 

542. Dr. Dave Wang's Academic Papers Used by Montana State University

It is not usual that Dr. Dave Wang's publications used at teaching text in American universities. I have across another major universities that has adopted Dr. Wang's papers on Chinese cultural influence on the history of the United States. Montana State University has used Dr. Wang's articles in its classrooms. With this post I show you the snapshot through which you can find the information such as, which Dr.Wang's papers are used and in what class.

541 Report from the Franklin Gazette

With this post, I will introduce my readers the report from Franklin Gazette Friend Dave Wang reports that his works on Benjamin Franklin and China have recently been warmly received in Hawaii where his work is recommended for history classrooms and in India where The Indian Institute of Oriental Studies has published his article in its journal, The Historical Review: A Biannual Journal of History and Archaeology. This brings the number of countries to seven that have either published his papers or invited him to deliver lectures on his research: Australia, China, India, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. In April 2009, he was invited to present his work on BenjaminFranklin and the Great Wall of China at Benjamin Franklin House in London (seen above). More information is available at: http://foundingfathersandchina.blogspot. com/ Dave has also had another paper, “Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Chinese Civilization,” reproduced in the online publication of the 2009 issue of the Virginia Review of Asian Studies which can be accessed electronically: http://virginiareviewofasianstudies.com/ current3.html

540. Top Ten Countries that the Readers Come From

It has been over ten years, my readers would wonder how many readers and where the readers come from. With this post I will answer the questions to you, this website has attracted readers from all over the world. Below is the snapshot of showing the top ten countries which the readers come from. The United States stands the first position. There are 143, 185 page-views, accounted for 65% among the top ten countries.

539. Thomas Jefferson and Confucian Educational Principles

Confucius is regarded as one of the greatest teachers in Chinese history, one whose educational principles have influenced schools and pupils over many centuries across the world. With this paper, I will examine how these Confucian principles were introduced to the United States and subsequently aided the development of the country’s modern school system. Thomas Jefferson, one of the nation’s Founding Fathers and earliest presidents, was at the forefront of this Confucius-led transformation. Jefferson sought to apply two of Confucius’ core educational principles, meritocracy and universal education, to what was, in his time, an unstandardized and European-centric school system emphasizing the Classics.

Jefferson espoused the concept of universal education as early as 1779 in his Bill for More General Diffusion of Knowledge. Jefferson was ahead of his time, but his vision would eventually be achieved by the twentieth century as the nation approached a universal education system. In recognition of his pioneering efforts, Jefferson would become regarded as both “a founding father of public education” and the “founding father of democratic education.

538. American Links to Confucius and China Reach Far into Our Past

 With this post, I would like to introduce you the speech made by Mr. John M. Dunn, President of Western Michigan University,  Opening of Confucius Classrooms in Portage Public Schools. The speech was delivered on October 24, 2011. However I just came across it on line. This serves as an indicator that Dr. Dave Wang's research has been widely cited throughout the country. Below I will quote from his excellent speech:

American links to Confucius and China reach far into our past:
➢ Recently learned, for example, that in 1737, Benjamin Franklin
published part of the book THE MORALS OF CONFUCIUS in his
PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE.
➢ FRANKLIN was interested in the ways Confucius linked moral
behavior between the common people and the government1 and
thought Americans could learn from Confucian thought.
➢ Thomas Jefferson incorporated numerous Chinese architectural
designed in his home at Monticello and in other buildings that he
designed.2

1 Dave Wang, “The US Founders and China—the Origins of Chinese Cultural Influence on the United States,” Education About Asia (Volume 16) p. 6.
2 Wang, p. 10.

537. How to Be a Great Leader: Following Confucius’ Example

During his presidency, Thomas Jefferson was determined to make himself a great leader remembered by later generations as a leader for his great virtues. His deter-mination was reflected in his inclusion of a poem that Confucius recommended in his personal scrapbook.[1] The poem paid tribute to Prince Wei (衞武公) from the State of Wei (衞国). Prince Wei was loved and respected by the people of his state.[2]  Confucius set Prince Wei as a standard to whom other leaders of various states should aspire.

Since Jefferson loved the poem so much he placed the poem in his personal books. It is worth sharing quotes from this poem. They will help us understand Jefferson’s purpose of having this poem.

---

[1] Colin Wells, Thomas Jefferson's Scrapbooks: Poems of Nation, Family, and Romantic Love Collected by America's Third President, in Early American Literature, Nov2007, Vol. 42 Issue 3, p.626.

[2] This poem is in Shijing (诗经The Book of Odes) compiled by Confucius. It is available on line at http://www.shigeku.org/shiku/ws/sy/shijing.htm

536. 王小良受聘为西北大儒学研究院院长

皇后区图书馆Laurelton分馆馆长、圣约翰大学兼职教授王小良博士日前被聘为中国西北大学现代学院新成立的“儒学在海外研究院”院长，王小良本人出席了在当地举行的受聘仪式。

 

王小良长期从事中华文明尤其是儒家思想对早期美国影响的研究，过去十多年来在中美两地学术界都受到越来越多的关注。去年他更受到包括北京外国语大学、西北大学、吉林师范大学以及国际儒学联合会的邀请回国讲学，所到之处受到热烈欢迎。

　　对于此次受聘担任国内儒学研究机构的领导职务，王小良表示，很高兴国内学术界也开始重视儒学在海外的传播和影响力，这与他多年来在美国所从事的儒学对早期美国影响的研究不谋而合，该领域的东西方学者如果能有更多交流，那无疑将极大地促进学术的发展，也有利于大家从不同角度重新审视儒学的价值。
　　王小良在当天仪式期间以儒学与美国的建立与发展为题，介绍了儒家思想为美洲殖民地独立提供的强有力支持，以及美国开国元勋们采用儒家道德哲学的积极因素帮助建立殖民地社会的新美德，以满足建立新国家的精神思想需求。
　　王小良还在当天仪式期间谈到了美国政治精英是如何借鉴儒家的文官考试制度，来推动美国的民主制度发展与完善，以及儒家思想是如何帮助美国建立合理的农业管理制度、乃至战胜经济危机的历史过程。

535. Dr. Dave Wang's Research in Northeast Asia

With this post I will show you some information concerning Dr. Dave Wang's research in South Korea and Japan.

 

534. Another University Uses Dr. Dave Wang''s Articles in Its Classroom

I have found that Dr. Dave Wang's academic papers have been used as teaching materials in American universities, including Johns Hopkins University. Recently I have noticed that Wayne State University has used Dr. Wang's papers in the course History 275 Chinese Civilization.

According to Wikipedia,

Wayne State University (WSU) is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering nearly 350 programs to more than 27,000 graduate and undergraduate students. Wayne State University is Michigan's third-largest university, one of the 100 largest universities in the United States, and ranked in the top 50 American public universities for research expenditures.

The WSU main campus encompasses 203 acres linking more than 100 education and research buildings in the heart of Detroit.

533. One More Language, This Time Korean

I have told readers that Dr. Dave Wang's publications of Chinese cultural influence on the founders of the United States, including Chinese, Danish, English, German, Italian and Japanese. Today I have found another language, Korean.

532 Johns Hopkins University Philosophy Course

I want also to point out that the positive attitudes of the founding fathers and other eminent colonists never darkened the existence of the negative opinions on China in North America. The negative opinions existed in the same time of the positive opinions represented by the founding fathers with great wisdom. However, in the formative period of American culture, the influence of negative attitudes never became a significant factor. Nevertheless, the remarkable story of the effort to draw nourishments from Chinese culture has served as an excellent case study of the creation of a new civilization by adopting selected positive elements from other cultures and assimilating the elements into the main culture. The colonists’ efforts have provided us with an ideal way of dealing with other civilizations.

531. China Through American Eyes

 Dr. Dave Wang's works was cited by Wenxian Zhang in his new book China Through American Eyes: Early Depictions of the Chinese People and Culture in the US Print Media. This book was published on February 20, 2018. 

My readers know that it is not usual for other prestigious authors who have quoted Dr. Dave Wang's examination on impact of Chinese civilization on the founders of the United States. This is the newest book I have found that this author cites Dr. Dave Wang's papers published by Virginia Review of Asian Studies. 

530 Pearl River in New York

There is a Pearl River in New York. However, the NY Pearl River is not a river but a town. How come a town was named after a name of a Chinese river. There are several explanations about its origin.  According to vikipedia, there are basically two explanations, including the first one, a town resident named Dr. Ves Bogert found small pearls in mussels that thrived in Muddy Brook, and  a lady suggested the name "Pearl River". The second account was that a resident wanted to enhance the local business image by renaming it Pearl River. Based on the fact that New York served as a trading center between China and the United States during the early period of the United States, it is reasonable to agree with the second account.

529. US Sinologist reveals links between Confucian culture and founding of US

I have found this report that reports Dr.  Patrick Mendis, a friend of Dr. Dave Wang, and  a Rajawali senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, at a forum in Tsinghua University to discuss his research on the Chinese culture and American civilization.

An educator, diplomat, and member of the U.S. State Department's National Commission for UNESCO, the Harvard scholar shared his research and insight regarding the intellectual traditions and architectural symbols of the Confucian and Greco-Roman heritage that inspired America's founding fathers in their atypical pursuit to establish a flourishing new republic across the Atlantic Ocean.

 

The above picture shows that Dr. Mendis has familiar with Dr. Dave Wang's research and quoted in his book, now has been translated into Chinese. 

The influence of the great classical scholars of Greece and Rome is easily discovered in the Greco-Roman facades and architectural design of Washington, D.C., and its Federal Buildings and the surrounding sculptures. But the most popular writings of the founding fathers demand a more concerted scholarly effort to locate and identify the Confucian inspiration in America's founding. In his scholarly research, Professor Mendis focused on primary sources and historical references, both in the U.S. and Europe, to illustrate China's contribution to the early American republic.

The above is from http://china.org.cn/china/2016-07/21/content_38922645.htm

528. An Epoc of History: Confuciius and the Founders of the United States

In 1784, after the Revolution, some veterans hoped they could hand down their glories, their titles, to their descendants. They organized the Cincinnatus Society for this purpose. Franklin was not happy about the idea of handing down your title, your glory, to the next generation—that’s the inheritance system, or the aristocratic system of the Europeans, which was just what our Revolution opposed. What’s the meaning of the Revolution, if we restore the European aristocratic inheritance system? That’s totally wrong. We should adopt the Chinese merit system, and people with talents will be selected to serve the public.

527. Chinese Contribution to American Culture

I have found the following snap shot from somewhere. From which you can tell that Dr, Dave Wang's research in the field of Chinese cultural influence on the United States has been widely cited worldwide.

526. Johns Hopkins Univeristy and Dr. Dave Wang's Papers

It has caught my attention that a philosophy course taught by Johns Hopkins University,

PHIL 150.220 : Introduction to Moral Philosophy - Johns Hopkins

has adopted Dr. Dave Wang's paper How China Helped Shape American Culture as the course teaching materials since 2012. It is not the first time that Dr. Dave Wang's academic article to be selected to  serve as teaching texts in an American University. However, I think that it is great for me to put this one out because that it serves as a clear indicator that Dr. Dave Wang's examination of the founders' efforts to use positive elements in Chinese civilization in their efforts to build a great nation in North America has an impact on American history classes.