This presentation invites participants to explore the governance of the Song Dynasty and its neighbours (the Liao, Jin, Xia dynasties) through the lens of the Confucian governing framework: the people are most important, the state next, and the ruler least. By examining 28 pivotal historical events, this presentation moves beyond modern concepts of the nation-state to explore a “Greater China” perspective defined by ethnic fusion and cultural complexity. Participants will delve into the tensions between centralized authoritarian policies and humanistic concern, discovering how the historical “Song Spirit” of prioritizing the common good before one’s own can inform contemporary leadership and social responsibility.
This lecture directly supports Youth Accord’s mission by grounding youth-led peacebuilding and civic education in a long-standing intellectual tradition of social responsibility and moral courage. The emphasis on responsibility toward the broader community resonates with Youth Accord’s goal of empowering young people as peacebuilders and social innovators, equipping them with civic values, critical thinking skills, and ethical frameworks needed to foster dialogue, inclusion, and sustainable alternatives to violence in conflict-prone contexts.
