Publication of "Confucius revisited: From Confucian merchant to 21st-century entrepreneur, the rushang phenomenon in contemporary China".

Ifrae is pleased to announce the publication of the book: "Confucius revisited: From Confucian merchant to 21st-century entrepreneur, the phenomenon rushang in contemporary China".

This book is the result of the PhD thesis completed at IFRAE in December 2021, under the supervision of Sébastien Billioud. It constitutes a wide-ranging investigation into a recent and important phenomenon in contemporary China: the emergence of an entrepreneurial figure openly claiming a Confucian heritage. Through a socio-anthropological approach, this book explores the mechanisms by which this phenomenon takes shape and spreads in today's Chinese society, while questioning the economic and social dynamics that flow from it.

The Book

Since the beginning of the 21st century, a "Confucian renaissance" has been emerging in China. Often perceived as a reaffirmation of cultural traditions, it has found particular resonance with many entrepreneurs who openly claim adherence to these values. At the same time, the model of the "Confucian merchant", rushang, which designated a particular type of merchant during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), is making a strong comeback.

Through a field survey conducted between 2016 and 2020 and a study of the Bo'ao rushang Forum, this book explores the nature and various facets of the rushang phenomenon and its emergence and spread in Chinese society. What are the motivations and practices of entrepreneurs who claim to be part of the Confucian tradition? Combining socio-anthropological analysis with a reappraisal of the ancient notion of rushang, Lan Jiang Fu has written nothing less than the story of the invention of a tradition. That of a modernized, globalized China in which recourse to Confucian values can be interpreted as a moral validation of Chinese capitalism - a fascinating insight into the societal dynamics at work in the country.

The author

A PhD in Asian history and social sciences, Lan Jiang Fu is a senior lecturer in Chinese studies at the AEI International School, Université Paris-Est Créteil. Her research focuses on the Confucian revival in business in contemporary China.