Renowned philosopher and scholar Lou Yulie passes away at 92

Lou Yulie, a renowned Chinese philosopher, historian of Chinese philosophy, religious studies scholar and Buddhist scholar, died of illness in Beijing on Friday at the age of 92.

The obituary was issued by Peking University's Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies on Friday. Lou was a professor at the department.

Born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Dec 10, 1934, Lou graduated from Peking University's department of philosophy with a bachelor's degree in 1960 and stayed on to teach for 66 years. He long engaged in teaching and research in the history of Chinese philosophy, Buddhist philosophy, Oriental philosophy and religious studies.

Guided by the belief of "preaching the truth, imparting knowledge and resolving doubts", Lou devoted himself to nurturing talent and was deeply loved by students, the obituary said.

He integrated Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism, advocated Oriental philosophy, and called for the creation of religious studies theories suited to Chinese cultural characteristics, it said.

Lou was elegant and broad-minded. His scholarly approach was simple and penetrating; he delved deeply into documents and practiced what he advocated, it said.

His representative works are regarded as classics of contemporary Chinese scholarship and important works for teaching traditional Chinese culture internationally, while his collected works, published in 2025 in eight volumes and nine books, systematically present the essence and characteristics of traditional Chinese culture and highlight Chinese cultural subjectivity, the obituary said.

In his later years, he promoted the concept of "national arts" and devoted himself to promoting Kunqu Opera, Peking Opera, guqin, calligraphy, tea ceremony and traditional Chinese medicine. He was a sincere guardian, advocate and practitioner of traditional Chinese culture, according to the obituary.

He spent his life exploring and interpreting the humanistic spirit of traditional Chinese culture, making outstanding contributions to its continuation in contemporary times and its promotion around the world, it said.

His death is not only a great loss to the department, but also a major loss to Chinese academia, the obituary said, adding that he will be deeply missed.