THE RISE OF CONFUCIAN CITIZENS IN CHINA: THEORETICAL REFLECTIONS AND EMPIRICAL EXPLORATIONS. By CanglongWang. Routledge Contemporary China Series. London and New York: Routledge, 2024. Pp. xiv + 162. Hardback, $180.00; Paperback, $54.99.

This book provides a timely and insightful analysis of the complex interplay between Confucianism's resurgence and the evolving concept of citizenship in contemporary China. Wang's approach, grounded in ethnographic research and interdisciplinary scholarship, successfully illuminates the intricate dynamics of this transformation, proposing a novel understanding of the “Confucian citizen” as a distinct civic subject. This book is organized in two parts. The first, comprised of three chapters, offers a rigorous theoretical examination of the relationship between Confucianism and citizenship. Chapter One undertakes a comprehensive review of existing scholarship on Confucianism and citizenship, exposing the limitations of existing frameworks. By employing a four-part classification—distinguishing between liberal and illiberal interpretations of Confucianism and between thin and thick understandings of citizenship—Wang critically analyzes three prevailing models. Wang's innovative contribution lies in advocating for the reconstruction model, leading him to introduce the concepts of the “Junzi citizen” and “tianxia citizenship” as novel civic archetypes. Chapter Two compares the Confucian idea of the jūnzǐ 君子with the modern notion of the citizen, revealing common ground in moral-ethical aspects but highlighting differences in the political–legal sphere. Chapter Three explores two approaches to integrating Confucian ideals with modern citizenship: cultivating “civic Junzi” and fostering “citizens with Junzi qualities,” ultimately arguing that the latter is more practically applicable to contemporary China. The latter half of the book shifts to empirical analysis, examining the complex relationship between Confucianism and citizenship within the context of Confucian classical education. Wang's ethnographic research, conducted between 2012 and 2015 at a dújīng 读经 (classics reading) school, offers a rich tapestry of voices and perspectives. Through detailed analyses of the discourses and practices of teachers, parents (Chapter Four), and students (Chapter Five), Wang uncovers a profound civic consciousness often overlooked in previous studies. This civic awareness manifests in various forms—in articulating distinct identities, asserting rights, accepting responsibilities, and through active engagement. However, Wang equally highlights the inherent contradictions and challenges encountered at the micro-level, exposing the practical dilemmas that individuals and families confront while navigating this complex social and political landscape. Finally, Chapter Six delves into the intricate tension between nationalists and cosmopolitan aspirations in cultivating Confucian citizens, illustrating the pedagogical challenges inherent in fostering a civic identity deeply rooted in national culture and simultaneously open to global engagement. In conclusion, this book challenges the simplistic view of Confucianism's incompatibility with modern citizenship. Its central contribution articulates and empirically substantiates a unique “Confucian citizen” shaped by traditional values and contemporary civic ideals. This analysis offers a non-Western perspective that enriches citizenship studies.