Dozens of scholars from home and abroad gathered Saturday in East China's Qufu, the birthplace of ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius, to discuss the role of traditional culture in today's society.

Sinologists gather in Beijing

"A country, a community or an individual cannot break away from cultural traditions," said Wang Jianmin, head of the Institute of Contemporary Socialism under Shandong University. China emphasizes traditional culture with Confucianism as its core, he said at the meeting.

Yang Chaoming, head of the Confucius Research Institute, said Confucianism has evolved into the mainstay of the splendid traditional Chinese culture, but many people have a mindset, playing it down as something backward. "Only with a clear idea of the nature and soul of Confucianism can we make it play a greater role in China's reform drive," said Yang.

People see different aspects of traditional culture at different times, and thus have different interpretations of it, said Wang Shaoguang, a professor with Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Confucius (551-479 BC), an educator and philosopher, deeply influenced later generations with the school of thought known as Confucianism. His teachings are centered on peace and social harmony. During his tour to Shandong province last November, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for morality to be developed across society, building on what is useful in traditional moral standards and discarding what is unhealthy.

The seminar attracted more than 50 scholars from 29 countries and regions including the United States, Russia, Israel, Egypt and Spain.