Fafang 法舫 (1904–1951) was a prominent scholar-monk who made great contributions to China’s Buddhist reform during the first half of the twentieth century. He inherited and further developed the concept of “Humanistic Buddhism” (renjian fojiao 人間佛教), which is often associated with the reformist vision of his teacher Taixu 太虛 (1890–1947), offering a systematic and philosophically rich interpretation that has not received sufficient scholarly attention, particularly in English-language scholarship. Situating Fafang’s thought within the broader context of modern China, this talk introduces his conception of Humanistic Buddhism, including its definition and historical foundations, as well as his articulation of the reasons for its establishment, its significance, and the approaches he proposed for its realisation. By foregrounding Fafang’s contributions, this study provides a more nuanced understanding of the diversity and complexity of Humanistic Buddhism in the twentieth century.

Yu Sang is a lecturer (assistant professor) in Chinese Studies in the School of Languages and Cultures at the University of Sydney. She holds a PhD from the Australian National University and an MA (Research) from the University of Sydney. Her main research interests include Chinese philosophy and religion, particularly Buddhism and Confucianism, as well as the intellectual history of modern China. She has published book chapters and journal articles in both English and Chinese on these topics, and is the author of a monograph on the ti-yong 體用 metaphysics of Xiong Shili 熊十力 (1885–1968), a founding figure of the modern New Confucian school. She is currently exploring the development of Humanistic Buddhism, with a particular interest in the thought and activities of Fafang 法舫 (1904–1951).

The "Longzhong Plan" (Longzhong Dui) proposed by Zhuge Liang for Liu Bei embodies the essence of profound Chinese traditional wisdom. As a classic masterpiece of strategic decision-making recognized throughout history and across cultures, its insights remain as illuminating today as ever, offering immense practical guidance for modern strategy. Based on his extensive research and practical experience, Professor Li Xiao has distilled the "Longzhong Strategic Decision-making Model." Through persuasive and successful case studies, he will decode this model to share the strategic wisdom of Chinese traditional culture, providing unique insights for professionals in the business and industrial sectors.

Prof. Li Xiao is a Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the Business School of China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL).

He serves as the Director of the Research Center for Non-Performing Financial Assets and is the Editor-in-Chief of the Business History Review.

Concurrent Appointments:
Vice President, China Association of Business History
Research Fellow, Institute of Historical Research, Peking University
Visiting Professor, Faculty of Economics, University of Kitakyushu, Japan
Senior Visiting Scholar, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), USA
Executive Director, China Association of Market Economy
Board Member and Consultant for multiple listed companies

Principal Research Areas:
Chinese Economic History, Business History, and Entrepreneurship.

This lecture will lead the audience in a deep exploration of the social order of the "Four Classes" (scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants) that has influenced Chinese society for millennia. It reveals how this order evolved from an initial division based on economic functions to a solidified hierarchy centered on the Confucian ethics of loyalty and filial piety under the integration of Legalist systems. Following Dong Zhongshu’s promotion of Confucianism as the sole orthodox ideology during the Han dynasty, the policy of suppressing commerce and the state-managed industrial system not only shaped the market structure of ancient China but also set the stage for subsequent historical transformations.
As history progressed, the tensions and social contradictions among the four classes became increasingly apparent, leading Confucianism to adapt its ethical management by absorbing elements of Buddhism and Taoism. During the Song and Ming dynasties, the rise of private commerce and the prosperity of merchant groups posed profound challenges to the traditional hierarchy. From the consolidation of the Cheng-Zhu school to the breakthroughs of Ming and Qing scholars such as Wang Yangming and Huang Zongxi, the "New Four Classes" theory—which posited that "both industry and commerce are fundamental"—eventually emerged. This shift not only reintegrated economic functions with ethical order but also laid the intellectual foundation for the rise of modern industrial and commercial civilization. This lecture will trace this thousand-year transformation of thought and social structure, analyzing the complex dynamics between social mobility, economic development, and Confucian ethics to provide a new perspective on the internal logic of China’s traditional social transition.

Professor LAN Rixu is a Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the School of Economics, Central University of Finance and Economics (CUFE). He also serves as the Director of the Research Center for Comparative Sino-Foreign Economic Studies. His prominent professional affiliations include serving as Executive Director of the China Economic History Society, Vice President of the China Business History Society, and Director of the Society for the History of Chinese Economic Thought.

Professor Lan’s research primarily focuses on financial theory and history, comparative Sino-foreign economics, and traditional Chinese culture. He has published 9 monographs (in both Chinese and English), edited 6 volumes, and co-authored 6 textbooks—three of which have been included in the National Social Science Fund of China (NSSFC) Chinese Classics Translation Project. With over 100 published papers, he has spearheaded 5 NSSFC projects, 1 Ministry of Education Research Fund project in Philosophy and Social Sciences, and 13 other research initiatives. His academic excellence has been recognized with 4 provincial and ministerial-level awards, and he is the lead instructor for a National First-class Undergraduate Course.

The theory of "Differential Mode of Association" (Cha-xu Ge-ju) proposed by Mr. Fei Xiaotong has had a profound impact on Chinese academia. However, it should be contextualized within specific historical conditions or applied primarily to the common populace. Historically, the scholar-official class—and today, many outstanding Chinese entrepreneurs—view the world as their responsibility and social well-being as their mission. Their worldview is not one of "Differential Mode," but rather a "Universalist Mode" (Tian-xia Ge-ju).

The "Differential Mode" and the "Universalist Mode" together constitute the "Dual Pattern" of Chinese social relationships. In this structure:
The "Universalist Mode" belongs to the "Great Tradition" of Chinese culture, representing official and mainstream values—the Yang (active/manifest) side.

The "Differential Mode" belongs to the "Little Tradition", representing folk etiquette, customs, and habits—the Yin (receptive/latent) side.

Just as Yin and Yang interact to achieve harmony, and the Great and Little Traditions blend through interaction, the "Universalist" and "Differential" modes exchange and merge, forming the organic whole of the "Dual Pattern." This theory offers a broader and more comprehensive framework to explain Chinese behavioral patterns and social dynamics.

Prof. Chao Gang is a Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the School of Business Administration, South China University of Technology (SCUT). He also serves as the Director of the Research Center for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Research & Contributions:
Professor Chao specializes in Chinese-style Management and has served as the Principal Investigator for three projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). He has long been dedicated to the innovative transformation of excellent Chinese traditional culture within contemporary enterprises. Through extensive and in-depth longitudinal field studies, he has accumulated over 10 million words of primary research material. Based on this foundation, he has pioneered original theoretical concepts such as the "Universalist Mode" (Tian-xia Ge-ju), "Super-familism", and "Corporate Academies" (Qi-ye Shu-yuan).

Professional Affiliations:
Deputy Secretary-General, National Joint Conference of Confucian Business Groups
Vice President, Guangdong Enterprise Social Responsibility Research Association
Executive Director, China Enterprise, Management, and Ethics Forum
Academic Committee Member, Guangdong Lantai Happiness Culture Charity Foundation
Expert Professor, Hunan Renji Academy

During the Republican period, the Chinese Buddhist community underwent a revival movement characterized by institutional reforms and the emergence of "Humanistic Buddhism." Buddhism began to actively serve the needs of the era, participating in the modern transformation and construction of culture, morality, and values. During this period, the Shanghai Lay Buddhist Studies Society, the first organization of its kind in China, brought together many devout industrialists, serving as a quintessential model for the integration of Buddhism with secular society and economic activities.

Professor Zhou Jianbo is the Director, Professor, and Doctoral Advisor of the Department of Economic History at the School of Economics, Peking University. He also serves as the President of the Association of the History of Chinese Economic Thought.
He has published over 100 papers in prestigious journals such as Social Sciences in China, Economic Research Journal, China Economic Quarterly, Management World, Studies in World Religions, Journal of Peking University, and Researches in Chinese Economic History.

As a chief expert for major projects under the National Social Science Fund of China, his published works include The Westernization Movement and Early Thought of Modernization in China (which was featured in a special segment on Phoenix TV's "Eight Minutes of Reading"), The Boundaries and Innovation of Finance, and The Success and Failure of Shanxi Merchants. His accolades include the 8th Excellent Achievement Award in Scientific Research in Higher Education (2020) and the Second Prize of the 7th Beijing Philosophy and Social Sciences Excellent Scientific Research Monograph Award (2002).