In the long history of Chinese civilization, there is a hereditary family that has lasted for more than 2,000 years, and it is the descendant of Confucius. Since the Song Dynasty, the heir of this family has been named "Yan Sheng Gong", and the title has been hereditary for more than 800 years. However, the wheels of history rolled forward, and in 1935, at the age of 15, Kong Decheng took the initiative to request the revocation of the title of "Yansheng Gong" and became the last heir to this ancient title. In 1949, he moved to Taiwan with the Nationalist Government, opening a new chapter in his life. On the island of Taiwan, what kind of old age did this last "Yan Shenggong" spend? Did he continue the traditions of his ancestors? How does he see his special identity in a foreign land? What kind of inspiration did his life leave for future generations?
Kong Decheng's early life
Everyone in the world knows Confucius and even the Holy Prophet, but few people know that his descendants have inherited a title for more than 800 years. This title is "Yan Sheng Gong", and Kong Decheng is the last heir to this ancient title.
By 1919, Kong Lingyi, who was the 30th generation of Yan Shenggong, was terminally ill, but he had no children under his knees. This can be anxious for the Kong family, after all, the title of Yan Sheng Gong is related to the glory of the entire family. Just as Kong Lingyi was dying, the good news came from his side chamber, the Wang family, that he was pregnant with a dragon seed. However, God did not fulfill people's wishes, and Kong Lingyi died after all before the descendants were born.
In 1920, Wang gave birth to a son, and this posthumous son is the protagonist we want to talk about today - Kong Decheng. This baby, who was born in troubled times, was canonized as the 31st generation of Yan Sheng Gong by the Beiyang government just after birth. Who would have thought that this ancient title would become a resounding sound when it reached him.
Kong Decheng's childhood was not as prosperous and healthy as people think. He was not only a posthumous child, but only 20 days after he was born, his mother Wang died of puerperal fever. This newly-born baby suddenly lost the protection of his parents. Fortunately, the Kong family was quite kind and raised this orphan to adulthood.
Although his family background is prominent, Kong Decheng's childhood was not easy. From an early age, he was required to memorize Confucian classics such as the Analects and the University, as well as to learn tedious rituals. After all, as the Holy Father of Yan, presiding over the sacrifice is his important duty. At a young age, Kong Decheng had to wear a heavy dress and stand in the Confucian Temple for several hours, which was not an easy task.
However, such a life did not wear out Comte's love for learning. He was gifted and soon became proficient in calligraphy, oracle bone inscriptions, and epigraphs. It is often said that if there is a father, there must be a son, and Kong Decheng did inherit the academic talent of his ancestors.
By 1935, the 15-year-old Kong Decheng was able to distinguish between right and wrong. This year, he made an astonishing decision - he took the initiative to request the revocation of the title of "Yan Shenggong". You know, this title is the golden sign of their family, and it has been hereditary for a full 800 years!
What would have made such a decision? It turned out that he thought that he was already the government of the Republic of China at that time, but he was still a hereditary official, which was inconsistent with national law. This decision shocked the entire Confucian family and also aroused widespread concern in society.
After receiving Kong Decheng's request, the Nanjing Nationalist Government also took a lot of thought. On the one hand, they appreciated Kong Decheng's enlightenment; On the other hand, they are worried that the complete abolition of the post will affect the morale of the people. In the end, they came up with a compromise solution: to revoke the title of "Yan Shenggong", but at the same time to grant Kong Decheng the hereditary title of "Dacheng Most Holy Ancestor Enshrined Official".
This decision is a smart one. On the surface, Kong Decheng is no longer a "Yan Shenggong", but in fact, the treatment and responsibilities he enjoys have not changed much. He still needs to preside over the festival every year on Confucius's birthday, and he is still the representative of the Confucian family.
In this way, Kong Decheng became the last "Yan Shenggong" and opened a new chapter in his life. He is no longer just a hereditary nobleman, but has to rely on his talents and abilities to earn respect. This decision also laid the groundwork for his future life in Taiwan.
Life and contributions in the early days of going to Taiwan
In 1949, the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party took a sharp turn for the worse, and the Nationalist Government was defeated one after another. As a descendant of the Confucian family who had close ties with the Nationalist government, Kong Decheng was faced with a major choice: should he stay on the mainland or retreat to Taiwan with the Nationalist government? In the end, the 29-year-old chose the latter. This decision not only changed his personal destiny, but also had a profound impact on Taiwan's cultural development.
Kong Decheng and his family left Qufu in Shandong Province by boat and crossed the ocean to Taiwan. When he first arrived in Taiwan, Kong Decheng's situation was not easy. As a "provincial", he needed to adapt to a new environment and lifestyle. More importantly, as a descendant of Confucius and a "Dacheng Most Holy Master Enshrined Officer", he shoulders the heavy responsibility of inheriting Chinese culture.
After settling in Taiwan, Kong Decheng's first problem was how to settle his family and make ends meet. Fortunately, the Nationalist Government still attached great importance to this descendant of Confucius and arranged a teaching position for him at National Taiwan University. Although the salary is not high, at least the problem of food and clothing is solved. Kong also lived up to the government's expectations, worked diligently, and soon established himself in the academic world.
For Kong, however, teaching at a university is not enough. He deeply felt his responsibility as a descendant of Confucius, and was determined to rebuild the Confucius family temple in Taiwan and continue the tradition of worshiping Confucius. This idea was supported by the Taiwan authorities at that time, but it was difficult to implement.
The first is the issue of location. In the urban area of Taipei, every inch of land is at a premium, and it is not easy to find a suitable place to build a temple. After multi-party coordination, a vacant land was finally found in Datong District, Taipei City. Then there is the issue of funding. Although the government has provided some funding, it is far from enough. Kong Decheng ran around to collect donations from people from all walks of life in Taiwan. His sincerity touched the hearts of many people, and many business tycoons and ordinary citizens donated generously.
The construction of the temple took three years and was finally completed in 1962. Although the scale of this newly built Confucian temple is not as large as that of the Confucian Temple in Qufu, it is also quite imposing. The inauguration of the Temple of Confucius marks the first important achievement of Kong Decheng's efforts to inherit Chinese culture in Taiwan.
With the Temple of Confucius, the next step is to restore the tradition of worshiping Confucius. Every year on the birthday of Confucius on September 28 of the lunar calendar, Confucius will wear ancient dresses and lead everyone to hold a grand sacrificial ceremony. This tradition has continued to this day and has become one of the important cultural activities in Taiwan.
In addition to presiding over sacrifices, Kong Decheng also actively promoted Confucianism. He often gave lectures at various universities and cultural institutions to introduce Confucianism to the Taiwanese people. His speeches are always in-depth, both academic and interesting, and are well received by the audience.
Kong also co-founded the Chinese Confucius and Mencius Society, which was dedicated to the study and dissemination of Confucian culture. Under his promotion, the society regularly held academic seminars and published Confucian works, making important contributions to the study of Confucianism in Taiwan.
It is worth mentioning that Kong Decheng is not blindly sticking to tradition. He also realized that in order for Confucianism to continue to play a role in modern society, it was necessary to keep pace with the times. Therefore, he encouraged scholars to explore the relationship between Confucianism and modern society, and to think about how to apply Confucianism to contemporary life.
With the efforts of Kong Decheng, Confucian culture has been well inherited and developed in Taiwan. His contributions are not limited to academia, but have also influenced the entire Taiwanese society. Through him, many Taiwanese people have re-acquainted themselves with traditional Chinese culture and enhanced their cultural self-confidence.
However, Kong's work was not without its challenges. He has also faced some doubts and criticisms. Some people think he is too conservative, while others criticize him for being too close to the KMT. In the face of these voices, Kong Decheng has always remained silent and responded to doubts with practical actions.
Academic achievements and social impact in later years
As he grew older, Mr. Kong's influence in Taiwan grew. In his later years, he did not choose to enjoy his old age, but devoted more energy to academic research and cultural dissemination. During this period, Kong's academic achievements reached their peak, and his social influence reached unprecedented heights.
In the 1970s, Kong Decheng, who was over half a hundred years old, began to compile the "Confucius Encyclopedia". It was a huge undertaking to collect and organize all the documents about Confucius. Kong Decheng led a group of scholars and spent a full decade to finally complete this monumental work in 1980. The Encyclopedia of Confucius is divided into 10 volumes, covering the life, thoughts, and writings of Confucius, as well as the research and evaluation of Confucius by later generations. This work is considered the most comprehensive and authoritative reference work for the study of Confucius, and has had a significant impact not only in Taiwan but also in the international Confucian community.
In addition to "The Complete Works of Confucius", Kong Decheng also wrote many Confucian works such as "New Interpretation of the Analects" and "New Interpretation of the Mean". These writings differ from traditional commentaries and offer innovative interpretations of the Confucian classics in combination with modern thought. For example, in The New Interpretation of the Analects, Kong Decheng connects the concept of "benevolence" with the moral concept of modern society, and explores how to practice Confucianism in modern life. These works have injected new vitality into the study of Confucianism, and have also made more young people pay attention to traditional culture.
Kong Decheng's academic achievements have been widely recognized. In 1975, he was elected a member of the Academia Sinica, the highest honor in Taiwanese academia. In 1982, he was awarded the "Cultural Award of the Executive Yuan" in Taiwan for his contributions to cultural inheritance. These honors are not only an affirmation of Kong Decheng personally, but also enhance the status of Confucianism in Taiwan's academic circles.
However, Kong is not content to make an impact in academic circles. He knew that for Confucian culture to really work, it had to step out of the ivory tower and influence a wider range of social groups. To this end, he began to appear frequently in various public places, giving speeches and giving interviews.
In 1985, the 65-year-old Kong Decheng accepted the invitation of Taiwan TV to host a TV program called "Confucius and Modern Life". In one episode a week, Mr. Kong explains how Confucianism can be applied to modern life in easy-to-understand language. As soon as the show aired, it received extremely high ratings. Many viewers said that through this program, they truly understood the essence of Confucianism for the first time.
Kong Decheng is also actively involved in social welfare activities. In 1988, when a serious flood occurred in Taiwan, Kong Decheng immediately launched a fundraising campaign and personally went to the disaster area to express his condolences. His actions affected many people and set off a wave of relief. This experience made Kong deeply realize that the spirit of "benevolence" in Confucianism is still of great significance in modern society.
In the 1990s, when he was already in his seventies, Kong Decheng began to pay attention to cross-cultural communication. He has visited many European and American countries, and has given lectures at famous universities such as Harvard and Oxford, introducing Confucian culture to Western scholars. These activities not only enhanced the cultural exchanges between the East and the West, but also raised the status of Confucianism in the international academic community.
In 1995, at the age of 75, Kong Decheng made an important decision: to donate his family's cultural relics that he had treasured for many years to the "National Palace Museum" in Taiwan. These cultural relics include the writings, calligraphy and paintings of the descendants of Confucius in previous dynasties, as well as sacrificial supplies, etc., which are of great value. Kong Decheng said that these cultural relics belong to all the sons and daughters of China and should be seen by more people. This move caused a sensation and was hailed as the "donation of the century" by the Taiwanese media.
In his later years, Kong Decheng, although his body gradually weakened, still adhered to his cultural mission. Even during his hospitalization, he often invited scholars to his ward to discuss his studies. He often said that it is his life's responsibility to inherit culture, and as long as he still has a breath, he must continue to work hard.
Kong's later years were the peak of his academic achievements and social influence. Not only did he achieve significant academic results, but more importantly, he brought Confucian culture back to life in modern society. His influence has transcended academia and penetrated into all aspects of Taiwanese society.
Contribution to the improvement of cross-strait relations
With the gradual relaxation of cross-strait relations in the late 80s of the 20 th century, Kong Decheng played an increasingly important role in cross-strait cultural exchanges. As the eldest grandson of the 77th generation of Confucius, his special status makes him an important bridge for cross-strait cultural exchanges.
In 1987, the Taiwan authorities allowed people to visit relatives on the mainland, which opened a window for cross-strait cultural exchanges. Although Kong Duc himself was temporarily unable to go to the mainland in person due to his special status and political reasons, he actively supported and promoted cross-strait nongovernmental exchanges. He has met with mainland scholars who have come to Taiwan on many occasions and conducted academic exchanges with them to discuss the development of Confucianism in modern society.
In 1988, a non-governmental delegation from Qufu, Shandong Province came to Taiwan, which was the first official visit to Taiwan by the descendants of the Confucian family. Kong Decheng warmly received the delegation and had in-depth conversations with them to learn about the recent situation of the Confucian family on the mainland. Although the meeting was short, it laid the foundation for subsequent in-depth exchanges.
In 1990, Kong Decheng founded the Cross-Strait Confucianism Research Center, aiming to promote cross-strait exchanges and cooperation in Confucian research. The center regularly holds academic seminars, inviting scholars from both sides of the strait to participate in discussions on the modern value of Confucianism. Through this platform, many mainland scholars have been able to come to Taiwan for academic exchanges, and the research results of Taiwanese scholars have also been disseminated to the mainland.
In 1992, an important opportunity arose. The mainland invited Kong Decheng to Qufu to participate in activities to commemorate the 2,543rd anniversary of Confucius' birth. This is the first time in the 43 years since Kong Decheng left the mainland that he has had the opportunity to return to his ancestral home. However, due to the political environment at the time, the Taiwan authorities did not support Kong Decheng's personal visit. Faced with this situation, Kong Decheng adopted a compromise approach: he entrusted his eldest son, Kong Chuichang, to return to Qufu to participate in the event on his behalf.
During this trip, Chief Kong not only participated in the sacrificial activities, but also brought back a large number of first-hand information about the current situation of the Confucian Mansion in Qufu. These materials are extremely precious to Kong Decheng, through which he has a deeper understanding of the situation of the Confucian family in the mainland, and also prepares for a possible trip back to his hometown in the future.
In 1994, an even bigger breakthrough emerged. Against the backdrop of further improvement in cross-strait relations, Kong Decheng was finally allowed to return to the mainland to visit his relatives. This trip back to his hometown is of great significance to Kong Decheng, who is 74 years old. He not only revisited his hometown of Qufu after a 45-year absence, but also visited cultural monuments in Beijing, Shanghai and other places. In Qufu, Kong Decheng met with the tribesmen who stayed on the mainland and visited the newly renovated Confucian Mansion and Confucian Temple. This experience made him deeply feel that the two sides of the strait have the same roots and origins, and further strengthened his determination to promote cross-strait cultural exchanges.
After returning to Taiwan, Kong Decheng compiled his observations into a document and published them in many newspapers and periodicals in Taiwan. These articles objectively and in detail introduced the development and changes of the mainland, especially the efforts in the field of cultural protection, which aroused widespread concern and discussion in Taiwan society.
In 1996, Kong returned to the mainland again, this time with the main purpose of attending the "International Confucianism Symposium" in Beijing. At the conference, he delivered a speech entitled "Confucianism and Modernization", which explored how to integrate Confucianism with modern society. This speech evoked strong repercussions in academic circles on both sides of the strait and was regarded as an important attempt to promote the modernization of Confucianism.
In 1998, Kong Decheng put forward a bold idea: to establish a "Confucian exchange center" between Taiwan and the mainland. The center will regularly organize exchanges between scholars from both sides of the strait to jointly study Confucian classics and explore the modern significance of Confucianism. Although this idea was ultimately not realized due to various reasons, it reflected Kong Decheng's determination to promote cross-strait cultural exchanges.
After entering the 21st century, despite his advanced age, Kong Decheng still maintained his concern for cross-strait cultural exchanges. He has repeatedly called for strengthening cross-strait cultural exchanges on many occasions, holding that this is an important way to enhance cross-strait mutual trust and promote peaceful development.
In 2000, at the age of 80, Kong Decheng returned to the mainland again and participated in the "World Confucianism Congress" held in Qufu. At the meeting, he called on both sides of the strait to make joint efforts to promote Chinese culture and make contributions to world peace. This speech was regarded as his important contribution to promoting cross-strait cultural exchanges.
Kong Decheng's contribution to the improvement of cross-strait relations is not limited to academic exchanges, but also reflected in his promotion of the peaceful development of the two sides of the strait. He stressed on many occasions that the two sides of the strait have the same roots and origins, and that they should seek common ground while reserving differences in culture and develop together. His proposition has eased the tense atmosphere between the two sides of the strait to a certain extent and made a positive contribution to the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.
Kong Decheng's death and historical evaluation
On October 28, 2008, Kong Decheng passed away at Taipei Rongmin General Hospital at the age of 88. His death is not only a great loss to Taiwan's Confucian scholars, but also triggers widespread remembrance and evaluation of this descendant of Confucius from all walks of life on both sides of the strait.
Kong's funeral, which was held in Taipei on Nov. 8, was of a high standard that is rare in Taiwan in recent years. The Taiwan authorities gave the highest level of courtesy, and Ma Ying-jeou, then leader of the Taiwan region, personally attended and delivered a eulogy. In his eulogy, Ma Ying-jeou praised Kong Decheng as a "master of contemporary Confucianism" and a "guardian and disseminator of traditional culture." At the funeral, many people from Taiwan's political and academic circles came to mourn and express their respect for Kong Decheng.
It is worth noting that the mainland side also expressed deep condolences over the death of Kong Decheng. The Confucius Foundation of China, the Confucius Institute of China and other institutions have issued statements of condolence. In the Confucius Temple in Qufu, a grand memorial ceremony was held, and a large number of people spontaneously came to pay respects. This kind of mourning across the strait reflects Kong Decheng's important position in cross-strait cultural exchanges.
After Kong Decheng's death, the evaluation of his life also unfolded. In general, whether it is Taiwan or the mainland, the evaluation of Kong Decheng is positive, but the emphasis is slightly different.
In Taiwan, Kong is widely regarded as the master of Confucian studies. He devoted his life to the study and dissemination of Confucianism, and his writings were equal to others, making significant contributions to the development of Confucianism in Taiwan. In particular, the Encyclopedia of Confucius, which he edited in his later years, is considered an authoritative work on the study of Confucius's thought. Taiwan's academic circles generally believe that Kong Decheng's academic achievements have made indispensable contributions to the maintenance and development of Chinese cultural traditions.
At the same time, Taiwanese society also highly appreciates Kong Decheng's contribution to social welfare. Over the years, he has been actively involved in various charitable activities, especially in the field of education, and has cultivated a large number of talents for Taiwan. Many of the students he sponsored publicly expressed their gratitude after Kong's death.
At the political level, the Taiwan authorities affirmed Kong Decheng's contribution in safeguarding Chinese culture and promoting cross-strait exchanges. Although he was rarely directly involved in politics, his cultural influence undoubtedly had a profound impact on Taiwanese society.
On the mainland, the evaluation of Kong Decheng focuses more on his identity as a descendant of Confucius and his contribution to cross-strait cultural exchanges. Mainland academic circles generally believe that Kong Decheng is an important bridge connecting the study of Confucianism on both sides of the strait. He has returned to the mainland many times to participate in academic activities, which has promoted exchanges and cooperation between academic circles on both sides of the strait.
It is particularly worth mentioning that the mainland side spoke highly of the work done by Kong Decheng after he returned to his hometown for the first time in 1994 to visit relatives. He gave an objective briefing on the situation of cultural protection and development on the mainland, and made important contributions to easing the cultural gap between the two sides of the strait. Mainland scholars believe that such exchanges based on cultural identity are of great significance to promoting the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.
However, there are also some voices that have a different view of Kong Decheng. Some have questioned his representation as a descendant of Confucius, arguing that he has lived in Taiwan for a long time and has less contact with the mainland. Others argue that his Confucian studies were too conservative and failed to adapt well to the needs of modern society.
But by and large, these critical voices did not dominate after Kong's death. The vast majority of the commentators affirmed Kong's contribution to cultural inheritance and cross-strait exchanges.
More than a decade after his death, Kong's legacy continues. The Chinese Confucius and Mencius Society in Taiwan, which he founded, continued to operate to promote the study and dissemination of Confucianism. His writings are still widely cited and have become important references in the study of Confucianism. The concept of cross-strait cultural exchanges, which he advocated in his later years, has also been continuously deepened and developed under the new historical conditions.
Looking back on Kong Decheng's life, from the upheaval of the war-torn years, to taking root and developing in Taiwan, and then to promoting cross-strait exchanges in his later years, his experience itself is a condensed history of modern China. As a descendant of Confucius, he shoulders the heavy responsibility of inheriting Chinese culture; As a scholar, he made important contributions to the study of Confucianism; As a promoter of cross-strait cultural exchanges, he has played a unique role in enhancing cross-strait mutual trust. All these constitute an important basis for later generations to evaluate Kong Decheng.