The Influence of Confucianism on the Reform of the Modern China National Education Curriculum

• Balqis Al Rajt

  Jambi University

  Author

• Muhammad Fauzan

  Author

For more than two millennia, Confucianism has shaped China’s education system through principles that emphasize respect for teachers, hard work, and self-discipline. This paper examines the enduring legacy of this tradition, which continues to influence China’s National Curriculum Reform (2001) and subsequent developments as the country seeks to balance cultural heritage with economic demands in a knowledge-based era of globalization. The study employs a qualitative approach based on literature review, analysis of official documents, and findings derived from ethnographic accounts. The results indicate that, consistent with a “library of values,” the reform explicitly highlights new competencies such as creativity, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork. Nevertheless, elements of Confucianism remain visible in the education system, particularly through hierarchical structures and an examination-oriented culture. Traditional values offer discipline and perseverance, yet they may also limit student autonomy, reinforce school order as control, encourage diagnostic approaches to “illness” (as an institutional logic), and constrain thematic discovery-based learning. In conclusion, the future of education in a globalized world is only achievable if schooling embraces modern innovations while reintegrating discipline within a democratic foundation

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Copyright (c) 2026 Balqis Al Rajt, Muhammad Fauzan (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.