When Confucius meets Saadi in Hebei

An international symposium on “Confucius and Saadi in Contemporary: The Cultural Giants and Their Culture” kicked off on Jan 8 in Baoding, North China’s Hebei province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Co-sponsored by the Research Center for Social Development of Islamic Countries of Hebei University and Iran Tehran Book City, organized by the School of Journalism and Communication of Hebei University, an international symposium on “Confucius and Saadi in Contemporary: The Cultural Giants and Their Culture” kicked off on Jan 8 in Baoding, North China’s Hebei province.

A total of 120 participants, including experts and scholars from China and Iran, had an in-depth study focusing on the similarities and differences in thinking and values between Confucius and Sa’di, one of the most famous poets in Iran,.

Yang Xuexin, vice president of Hebei University, delivered the keynote speech. From his point of view, Confucius and Saadi are outstanding representatives of eastern civilization. The culture and civilization they have advocated for reach people all over the world.

Mohamed Raisuli Almas, cultural counselor of the embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran in China, said that the people of China and Iran are diligent and peace loving, the collision of the two cultures will complement each other. The great thinkers such as Saadi and Confucius will lead the way to peace, friendship and harmony.

The seminar has offered a solid platform to better understand the two cultural giants. Scholars believe that Confucius and Saddi may have differences in specific ideas but the core of their ideas is interconnected.

Saadi was one of the major Persian poets and literary men of the medieval period. He is not only famous in Persian-speaking countries, but has been quoted in western sources as well. He is recognized for the quality of his writing and the depth of his social and moral thoughts. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest poets of the classical literary tradition.

Confucius was a Chinese politician and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC) of Chinese history. The philosophy of Confucius emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity. Following the victory of Han over Chu after the collapse of Qin, Confucius' thoughts received official sanction and were further developed into a system known in the West as Confucianism.