by Project Student, Jennifer
Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages' University Social Responsibility Practice Program, “OUR TOWN Community Sustainable Cross-Domain Collaborative Platform Project” includes five community activities. One of these, the " Stories Interviewing Editors Community," held its third special lecture of the semester on May 24th. The lecture featured Professor Xiou-Mei Ou from the Department of Applied Chinese at Wenzao, who discussed the stories of Confucian temples in Taiwanese temples. Through this lecture, participants explored the mysteries of Taiwanese temples alongside Professor Ou.
The lecture began with Professor Ou sharing his story of being introduced to Confucianism. Thirty years ago, when his grandmother was hospitalized, a Confucian elder's sharing made him realize that Confucianism was not just confined to books but deeply embedded in every corner of life. This experience led him to pay attention to and study local folklore and the influence of Confucianism in daily life. He recalled that during his university years, a teacher from Harbin shared a local custom: if a child cried at night, parents would place the "Analects of Confucius" under the child's pillow, believing it would soothe the child. This made him deeply appreciate the practical application and influence of the "Analects" in folk beliefs. Professor Ou pointed out that the influence of Confucianism is ubiquitous in Taiwanese folk culture. From people's politeness and humility to the respect for the elderly and love for the young in families, traces of Confucian teachings are evident. These traditional values invisibly shape societal harmony and stability.
In the second half of the lecture, Professor Ou introduced the Confucius Hall at Shansi Temple in Tainan and explained in detail how the depictions of Confucius' activities illustrate core Confucian values such as benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. He emphasized the importance of these values in modern society. Confucianism, he noted, is not just theoretical but is practiced in daily life to solve practical problems, such as praying for family peace and children's health. Professor Ou highlighted the significance of the "self-cultivation, family regulation, state governance, and world peace" philosophy for modern governance. From personal cultivation to family harmony and social governance, Confucian ethics and interpersonal harmony profoundly impact modern society's stability and harmony. He also mentioned the application of Confucianism in modern business management, emphasizing the "people-oriented" concept. Many successful entrepreneurs incorporate "benevolence" and "integrity" as core business values, enhancing the company's social image and increasing employee cohesion and loyalty. This management approach demonstrates the practical value of Confucianism in contemporary society, providing powerful motivation for long-term business development.
Through this lecture, participants not only learned about the stories of Confucian temples in Taiwanese temples but also deeply appreciated the practical value of Confucianism in modern life. With his rich knowledge and vivid storytelling, Professor Xiou-Mei Ou vividly showcased the core values of Confucianism. The “OUR TOWN Community Sustainable Cross-Domain Collaborative Platform Project” aims to enhance local connections through various community activities, helping people understand local culture and promoting regional revitalization. In the future, the project will continue to invite scholars to launch a series of activities and lectures, making the greatest effort to practice university social responsibility. The “Stories Interviewing Editors Community” will also invite Professor Xiou-Mei Ou again on June 28th for the final lecture of the semester, and participants are encouraged to seize the opportunity to attend!
Teacher Lu gave introduction of lecture.
eacher Lu gave introduction of lecture.
Professor Ou delivered a speech.
Group photo
