The Development History of Confucian Educational Thought and Its Impact on Contemporary Chinese Education

Abstract

Confucianism stretches forward in the long river of history and never fails; it has been given different missions and played different roles in every era; even when it encounters difficulties, it can still survive and revitalize itself, and it has nourished every generation in the thousands of years of the Chinese nation's history by subconsciously nourishing the people. Among them, the educational thought of Confucianism is a bright pearl in the treasure house of ancient thought and culture, which influences students and teachers of every generation silently; for example, Confucius' “teaching all kinds of things, and the six scriptures are all arts” embodies the wide range of educational objects and the richness of the content; its “benevolence” and “love” are the most important words of Confucianism. The idea of “benevolence and love” encourages learners to care for others and promotes social harmony and interpersonal relations; Mencius' “theory of goodness of nature” has shaped the character of the Chinese nation and established the moral foundation of the Chinese nation, which is important and irreplaceable for the strengthening of socialist moral construction. It has an important significance and irreplaceable role in strengthening the construction of socialist morality. By exploring the reasonable kernel and modern value of Confucian educational thought, we can promote modern science to push forward the new, to learn from the past, to change and develop, and to innovate theories; therefore, Confucian educational thought has an important reference value for modern education.