Appreciate Guoxue as it is

Guoxue is hot, it is sizzling.

Guoxue, of course, is the study of traditional Chinese culture, especially Confucianism. In much of the past century, it was the target of relentless criticism, something to be thrown out, bath water, baby and all. Now, it is dangerously close to being overhyped as the panacea for all social ills.

Just this week, a principal of a painting and calligraphy school in the Central China city of Zhengzhou knelt down in piety while handing out 5,000 free copies of a Confucianist booklet that is the equivalent of "Dos and Don'ts for Students".