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The Analects and Modern Enterprise Management

Jul 09-2026   



On July 9, 2026, the 62nd session of the Chengze Business Forum was held at the National School of Development, Peking University, under the theme "The Analects and Modern Enterprise Management." The guest speakers for this session included Liu Qian, Dean of Chongxian Academy and Co-Dean and Chair of the Academic Committee at Beijing Tongzhou Zhizhonghe Academy; Lyu Feng, Associate Professor at the Business School of Nankai University and author of Effective Leadership; Liang Gang, Associate Professor at the School of Digital Media and Design Arts, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications; and Zhang Jie, a graduate of Peking University's Department of Chinese Language and Literature, an EMBA and DPS doctoral alumna of the National School of Development, Chairwoman of Shengxin Sunshine Group, and author of Morale.

The event was co-hosted by the National School of Development, Chengmei Reading Club, and Chengzhang Reading Club, and organized by the NSD Communication Center, MBA Center, EMBA Center, and DPS Doctoral Center. It was moderated by Wang Xianqing, Director of the NSD Communication Center.

Liu Qian centered his talk on the influence of The Analects on both Chinese and Western managers. Against the backdrop of the global trend toward decentralized management and cultural differences between China and the West, he explored the value of traditional Chinese culture in contemporary management, as well as the West's growing interest in and reflection on Chinese culture. He stressed that the original Confucian ideals of self-cultivation and "perfecting oneself in order to help others succeed," as embodied in The Analects, represent a precious indigenous cultural resource well suited to emerging global management trends. However, he noted that for The Analects to truly unlock its management value, it must overcome the dual barriers of millennia-old cultural dross and the ruptures of modern cultural history.

Lyu Feng grounded his talk in The Analects and the self-cultivation of entrepreneurs. He began by laying out a progressive argument: why entrepreneurs need self-cultivation, why they need a different kind of leadership, and why that leadership cannot be separated from The Analects. Using multiple real-world examples, he illustrated the text's value for entrepreneurial self-development. He argued that The Analects is an authentic work, its principles are accessible, and its textual structure aligns with insight-based, gradual self-cultivation, making it the ideal indigenous classic for entrepreneurs. It serves as both a practical tool for self-cultivation and business management, and as a distinctive cultural and spiritual marker for the Chinese people. At the same time, he emphasized that an entrepreneur's self-cultivation relies on long-term immersion, with the core goal being inward reflection and daily improvement in the pursuit of becoming a better version of oneself.

Liang Gang took The Analects as his core text, and by incorporating various academic perspectives, systematically introduced five practical methods for reading the Chinese classics. Using two passages as examples — Zigong's inquiry about self-cultivation and Duke Jing of Qi's inquiry about governance — he clarified the authentic meaning of the core text, correcting subsequent misinterpretations of Confucius' thought. Liang also recommended using Collected Commentaries on the Four Books as a study aid, stressing that the classics cannot be read in isolation from their historical context, thereby providing a clear and actionable path for the public to understand traditional classics.

Zhang Jie contended that while Western management theories and psychology serve as operational tools, the traditional Confucian and Daoist cultures form the very foundation for a company's long-term development. She observed that businesses typically integrate Chinese philosophical principles on an as-needed basis, without rigid adherence to original contexts. Furthermore, when evaluating people, one must look not only at talent but also at character. Some individuals may be exceptionally gifted, yet if they cross moral red lines, they must never be hired. Concurrently, managers need to be attuned to their employees' voices and create a psychologically safe environment. When an industry is in a downturn and momentum is lacking, entrepreneurs in particular should learn to find contentment in simplicity and stay true to the Dao, accepting limitations while remaining steadfast in overcoming difficulties.

During the panel discussion, moderated by Wang Xianqing, the four speakers — Liu Qian, Lyu Feng, Liang Gang, and Zhang Jie — engaged in an in-depth exchange in response to questions from the moderator and the audience. The discussion spanned topics from interpreting traditional Confucian texts, modern corporate human resources and leadership, market competition strategy, and cross-border management, to the integration of Chinese and Western management approaches. The speakers expressed that The Analects, grounded in a humanistic philosophy that engages with the real world, is well suited to serve as the spiritual bedrock of corporate management. Business competition, they suggested, should move beyond zero-sum games, and companies should leverage Confucian values of humility, deference, and altruism to build commercial ecosystems and construct win-win business models. The key to studying Confucianism lies in distilling its core principles and applying them flexibly. For companies expanding internationally, it is particularly crucial to squarely recognize the cultural differences between China and other countries in order to minimize conflict and opposition.


The Analects and Modern Enterprise Management

Jul 09-2026   



On July 9, 2026, the 62nd session of the Chengze Business Forum was held at the National School of Development, Peking University, under the theme "The Analects and Modern Enterprise Management." The guest speakers for this session included Liu Qian, Dean of Chongxian Academy and Co-Dean and Chair of the Academic Committee at Beijing Tongzhou Zhizhonghe Academy; Lyu Feng, Associate Professor at the Business School of Nankai University and author of Effective Leadership; Liang Gang, Associate Professor at the School of Digital Media and Design Arts, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications; and Zhang Jie, a graduate of Peking University's Department of Chinese Language and Literature, an EMBA and DPS doctoral alumna of the National School of Development, Chairwoman of Shengxin Sunshine Group, and author of Morale.

The event was co-hosted by the National School of Development, Chengmei Reading Club, and Chengzhang Reading Club, and organized by the NSD Communication Center, MBA Center, EMBA Center, and DPS Doctoral Center. It was moderated by Wang Xianqing, Director of the NSD Communication Center.

Liu Qian centered his talk on the influence of The Analects on both Chinese and Western managers. Against the backdrop of the global trend toward decentralized management and cultural differences between China and the West, he explored the value of traditional Chinese culture in contemporary management, as well as the West's growing interest in and reflection on Chinese culture. He stressed that the original Confucian ideals of self-cultivation and "perfecting oneself in order to help others succeed," as embodied in The Analects, represent a precious indigenous cultural resource well suited to emerging global management trends. However, he noted that for The Analects to truly unlock its management value, it must overcome the dual barriers of millennia-old cultural dross and the ruptures of modern cultural history.

Lyu Feng grounded his talk in The Analects and the self-cultivation of entrepreneurs. He began by laying out a progressive argument: why entrepreneurs need self-cultivation, why they need a different kind of leadership, and why that leadership cannot be separated from The Analects. Using multiple real-world examples, he illustrated the text's value for entrepreneurial self-development. He argued that The Analects is an authentic work, its principles are accessible, and its textual structure aligns with insight-based, gradual self-cultivation, making it the ideal indigenous classic for entrepreneurs. It serves as both a practical tool for self-cultivation and business management, and as a distinctive cultural and spiritual marker for the Chinese people. At the same time, he emphasized that an entrepreneur's self-cultivation relies on long-term immersion, with the core goal being inward reflection and daily improvement in the pursuit of becoming a better version of oneself.

Liang Gang took The Analects as his core text, and by incorporating various academic perspectives, systematically introduced five practical methods for reading the Chinese classics. Using two passages as examples — Zigong's inquiry about self-cultivation and Duke Jing of Qi's inquiry about governance — he clarified the authentic meaning of the core text, correcting subsequent misinterpretations of Confucius' thought. Liang also recommended using Collected Commentaries on the Four Books as a study aid, stressing that the classics cannot be read in isolation from their historical context, thereby providing a clear and actionable path for the public to understand traditional classics.

Zhang Jie contended that while Western management theories and psychology serve as operational tools, the traditional Confucian and Daoist cultures form the very foundation for a company's long-term development. She observed that businesses typically integrate Chinese philosophical principles on an as-needed basis, without rigid adherence to original contexts. Furthermore, when evaluating people, one must look not only at talent but also at character. Some individuals may be exceptionally gifted, yet if they cross moral red lines, they must never be hired. Concurrently, managers need to be attuned to their employees' voices and create a psychologically safe environment. When an industry is in a downturn and momentum is lacking, entrepreneurs in particular should learn to find contentment in simplicity and stay true to the Dao, accepting limitations while remaining steadfast in overcoming difficulties.

During the panel discussion, moderated by Wang Xianqing, the four speakers — Liu Qian, Lyu Feng, Liang Gang, and Zhang Jie — engaged in an in-depth exchange in response to questions from the moderator and the audience. The discussion spanned topics from interpreting traditional Confucian texts, modern corporate human resources and leadership, market competition strategy, and cross-border management, to the integration of Chinese and Western management approaches. The speakers expressed that The Analects, grounded in a humanistic philosophy that engages with the real world, is well suited to serve as the spiritual bedrock of corporate management. Business competition, they suggested, should move beyond zero-sum games, and companies should leverage Confucian values of humility, deference, and altruism to build commercial ecosystems and construct win-win business models. The key to studying Confucianism lies in distilling its core principles and applying them flexibly. For companies expanding internationally, it is particularly crucial to squarely recognize the cultural differences between China and other countries in order to minimize conflict and opposition.