Professor Ou began her lecture by sharing the story of the hermit from the "Analects of Confucius, Weizi." She reminded the participants of the core idea of orthodox Confucianism—the significance of "ren" (benevolence). "Ren" signifies a loving heart, an empathetic heart that extends to others, and an active heart that encourages people to not only adhere to the principle of "Do not impose on others what you do not desire yourself" but also to practice "Help others achieve what you wish to achieve yourself." This means that we should not only refrain from imposing our dislikes on others but also actively assist and support others, and take joy in their success. From personal moral cultivation and family harmony to societal governance, this practice of "empathy" and "self-discipline and adherence to propriety" is deeply rooted in our standards of interaction and conduct. It has an immensely positive influence on the harmony of contemporary society.

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 contrast to the theme of the first lecture, Professor Han-chang Hsu focused this session on another great Confucian thinker—Mencius. Mencius, as a philosopher of the Warring States period, advocated for "benevolence" (仁) as the central ideal despite the prevailing self-interest among rulers of various states. He boldly challenged the aggressive and oppressive practices of feudal lords, promoting the doctrine of "benevolent governance" to alleviate the suffering of the people.

Mencius believed that rulers should prioritize the well-being of the people by understanding their lives and empathizing with their joys, anger, grief, pleasure, love, hatred, and desires. Only in the condition of “when a ruler rejoices in the joy of his people, people also rejoice in his joy; when he grieves at the sorrow of his people, they also grieve at his sorrow,” can they be regarded as benevolent rulers. Leaders who sympathize with the populace and exhibit kindness towards all living beings can foster a harmonious and prosperous society.

This people-centric concept of governance serves as a timeless lesson, particularly relevant in our era of frequent political changes and evolving societal dynamics.

The theme of this lecture is "First Lecture | What Did Confucius Teach Us?" with Professor Xu as the main speaker. Professor Xu first introduced us to Confucius's background and the story of his early career, as well as the evaluations of him by later generations. From Mencius, Xunzi, and Han Feizi, to Records of the Grand Historian, Book of Han, and Book of Later Han, we can see how Confucius influenced the intellectual atmosphere and moral standards of the entire Central Plains with his personal character and insights.

Firstly, Prof. Wu held a small competition, allowing participants to compare different interview frameworks. Through this game, they identified their strengths and learned from each other. Prof. Wu also emphasized the importance of leaving a positive impression to interviewees. For example, consistently staring at electronic devices usually made others feel awkward, which might lead to the difficulty of breaking down barrier and data collection. In addition, Prof. Wu reminded that the basis of equality and mutual respect between the interviewer and interviewee are crucial. Besides learning the value of empathy for others, interviewers should learn how to avoid asking offensive or aggressive questions. Through natural interaction and conversation, the interviewee will unconsciously lower their guard and come up with natural and in-depth responses. At this stage, the interviewer has more opportunity to progressively do deeper into topics. After that, by timely adding one's own perspectives and interpretations, a report with personal characteristics and content richness can be produced.