Introduction to Beijing Forum: The 21century has brought new challenges for human civilization. More and more countries come to realize that: In addition to hard power represented by economy, technology and military power, the comprehensive national power of one country is also closely related with cultural cohesion as reflected in values, social system, development mode, lifestyle and ideology. Cultural cohesion as an invisible power, has been embedded into the consciousness of various countries and nations.

However, people still tend to believe that “hard power” is the only thing required to dominate the world. In most cases, it is such obstinate idea that leads to intensified conflicts between countries and nations and turbulence of the world. A peaceful and civilized world requires resolution of conflicts with cultural exchanges, harmonious dialogs and thus enhanced understanding. Different countries and nations achieve their goals of development by presenting their “cultural attraction” to win broad respect and finally enable progress and development of the entire human race. It is what the Confucian school called “subtle influence”.

This is the case with the entire world, so is with China! China economy saw unprecedented development in three decades after the introduction of the reform and opening-up policy. However, core values of Chinese people, such as “righteousness, propriety, wisdom and faithfulness”, “quietness and inaction”, “harmony in diversity” in interpersonal relationship, “seeking common grounds while reserving difference”, “courtesy demands reciprocity”, harmonious practices, “all under heaven are of one family”, “reaching the same goal by different means” and “all people are my brothers and sisters, and all things are my companions” have not become shared understanding of the international community. Cultural development in China cannot match up to economic development. China needs to understand and be understood by the world.

In terms of the cultural and academic field, China is in urgent need of a platform to summarize history, focus on the current world and look into the future. Chinese nation holds highly of learning and dialogs and values peace for the past 5,000 years. In this era of continuing conflicts, we propose to build a platform for dialogs on core values of China and the world to create conditions for transformation into a “dialog civilization” of the international community by addressing conflicts with dialogs.

To achieve this vision, the academic institution leaded by Henan Provincial People’s Government and Institute for Advanced Humanistic Studies at Peking University jointly launched and establish “The Center of Heaven and Earth: Songshan Forum of Chinese Civilization versus World Civilization”. Songshan Mountain in Dengfeng City, Henan Province is a world cultural heritage and world geological heritage site recognized by UN with the name of “The Center of Heaven and Earth” and also the cradle of Chinese civilization. The Songshan Forum held in “the Center of Heaven and Earth” aims to promote opening of Chinese civilization to multi-civilizations of the world and their communications, dialogs, reflections, learning and innovation. Songshan Forum combines international and local features to fully present local customs and build a high-end platform for international cultural and academic exchanges. Located at the core area of inheritance and innovation of Chinese civilization in the central plains, the Forum is open to the world for promoting understanding of cultures of different nations and countries in order to achieve mutual respect and learning as well as shared progress and prosperity.

Songshan Forum 2012, sponsored by IAHS at Peking University, Foundation of Inheritance and Innovation of Chinese History and Civilization in Henan and Zhengzhou Institute for Songshan Civilization and organized by Dengfeng Municipal People's Government, was held in Dengfeng City, Henan from September 20 to 23, 2012. Historic monuments of “the Center of Heaven and Earth” of Songshan Mountain of Dengfeng City, Henan Province were designated by 34th World Cultural Heritage Committee as a world heritage site in 2010.. The 11 historic monuments at 8 places entering the World Heritage List include Songyang Academy, Zhongyu Temple, Taishi Towers, Shaoshi Towers, Qimu Towers, Huishan Temple, Pagoda in Songyue Temple, Regular Yard of Shaolin Temple, Pagoda Forest and Chuzu Convent, which comprise a cultural heritage of Chinese people in central plains for over 2,000 years and are vivid embodiment of Chinese civilization. Themed with “From Axial-Age Civilization To Dialog Civilization”, the Forum invited famous scholars with deep knowledge of various civilizations in the world to this world cultural heritage site renowned as “the Center of Heaven and Earth” to exchange and communicate in order to promote opening up of Chinese cultures in 21th century to the world and enable worldwide development and prosperity.
Location: Jinpeng Ecology Hotel and Songyang Academy (World Cultural Heritage)
Attending experts:
Xu Jialu: Former Vice Chairman of NPC Standing Committee, Director of Institute for Advanced Study of Humanities and Religions at Beijing Normal University
Zhang Guangzhi: Deputy Governor of People's Government of Henan Province
Chi Huisheng: Deputy Director of School Administration Committee, former Executive Vice President and Professor in College of Engineering at Peking University
Foreign keynote speakers:
Leonard Swidler Professor of Temple University, Dean of School of Dialog
Richard A. Falk Professor Emeritus of International Law of Princeton University
Livia Kohn Deputy Director of Department of Religious Studies of Boston University, Taoism research expert
Sergey Khoruzhy  Fellow of Russian Academy of Sciences, famous philosopher, mathematician and physicist
Professor of Global Studies of University of California Santa Barbara
Foreign experts:
Fritz-Heiner Hanna Mutschler: Chair Professor of Humanities Peking University
De-min Tao: Professor of Kansai University
Rebecca Mays, Ph.D: Director of School of Dialog
Karin Moser v. Filseck: Executive Director of the International Center for Academic Cooperation (IC) at the University of Tübingen, Chairwomen of German-East Asian Science Forum at the University of Tübingen
Xiaoming Wu: Professor of University of Canterbury, New Zealand (IAHS Visiting Professor)
Daniel A. Bell: Professor of Philosophy Department of Tsinghua University
Glenn Shive, Ph.D: Director of Hong Kong America Center of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Christine Hale: IAHS Visiting scholar
Thorsten Pattberg: IAHS
Scholars from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan
KWOK Siu Tong: Professor and Vice President of Hong Kong Baptist University
Wing-hoi Chan: Professor of Division of Humanities of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
HAN Xiaorong: Associate Professor of Faculty of Arts of Lingnan University
Hao Yufan: Professor and Dean of Department of Humanities and Social Sciences of University of Macau
Cai Zhenfeng: Professor of Chinese at Taiwan University
Domestic scholars:
Tu Weiming: Dean and Chair Professor of IAHS, Fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Lou Yulie: Senior Professor of Philosophy Department of Peking University
Yan Shaodang: Senior Professor of Department of Chinese Language and Literature of Peking University
Luo Zhitian: Professor of Department of History of Peking University
Wang Bangwei: Professor and Director of Institute of Orientalism at Peking University
Dong Zhenghua: Professor of Department of History of Peking University, Distinguished Professor of Humanities of Peking University
Ouyang Zhesheng: Professor of Department of History of Peking University, Distinguished Professor of Humanities of Peking University
Niu Dayong: Professor of Department of History of Peking University, research fellow of IAHS
Huang Yang: Professor of Department of History of Peking University
Zhang Zhigang: Professor of Philosophy Department of Peking University, Director of Academy of Religious Studies
Peng Guoxiang: Director and Professor of Center of Cultural China of IAHS
Yang Xusheng: Director of Center for Universal Ethic of IAHS
Li Silong: Professor and Deputy Director of Philosophy Department of Peking University
Guan Shijie: Professor of College of Journalism and Communications of Peking University
Gao Chao: Deputy Secretary General of Education Foundation of Peking University
Yan Jun: Deputy Secretary of International Cooperation Department of Peking University, Director of Beijing Forum
Wang Jiande: Chairman of China Culture Administration Society of the Ministry of Culture
Zhai Jianjun: Director and Fellow Researcher of Cultural Inheritance and Development Program of  IAHS
Wang Qi: The Center for Modernization Studies across the Taiwan Strait, Peking University
Sha Zongping: Associate Professor of Philosophy Department of Peking University
Zhou Shengchun: Professor of Department of Economics of Zhejiang University, Executive Director of Center for Confucian Entrepreneurs and East Asian Civilizations
Zhu Xiaojian: Professor and Deputy Director of Institute for Advanced Study of Humanities and Religions at Beijing Normal University
Yang Lichuan: Director of Beijing Oriental Historical Society, Deputy Director of Guangdong Humanities Society
Yu Jiandong: Director of Beijing Oriental Historical Society
Lei Yuan: Deputy Director of Institute of Historical Culture Resources at Peking University
Xu Han: Deputy Director of Institute of Historical Culture Resources at Peking University
Yang Rui (female): Peking University Law School
Huang Yanyu (female): Institute of Orientalism at Peking University
Yang Yusheng: Director and Professor of Center for Legal History Research of China University of Political Science and Law
Chen Xia (female): Fellow Researcher of Institute of Religions of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Liu Lihua (female): Associate Professor of College of Marxism School at Renmin University of China
Guan Changlong: Professor of Philosophy Department and Institute of Ancient Book of Zhejiang University
Zhang Jiacheng: Professor of Philosophy Department of Zhejiang University
Li Mingyou: Professor of Philosophy Department of Zhejiang University
Huang Baozhong: Editor of Zhejiang University Press
Li Shen: Professor of Shanghai Normal University
Chen Yun: Professor of Philosophy Department of East China Normal University
Yang Guiping (female): Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies of Minzu University of China
Chen Xun: Associate Dean of Studies of Yanjing Theological Seminary
Zhu Cheng: Professor of Philosophy Department of Shanghai University
You Xilin: Professor of Department of Humanities of Shaanxi Normal University
Gao Yanli (female): Associate Professor of College of Foreign Languages of Peking University
Li Xianghai: Deputy Executive Director and Professor of Research Center for Chinese Cultural Development of Peking University
Guo Wu: Professor of Institute of Taoism and Religious Culture at Sichuan University
Zhou Youhong (female): Fellow Researcher of Center for Confucian Entrepreneurs and East Asian Civilizations
Li Pingye (female): Inspector of United Front Work Department of CPC Central Committee
Xu Jianping (female): Professor and Associate Dean of History and Culture College of Hebei Normal University
Wang Lixin: Associate Professor of Department of History of Hebei Normal University
Fu Youde: Professor and Director of Center for Judaism and Interreligious Research
Yang Hengda: Professor of School of Literature of Renmin University of China
Wu Guang: Fellow Researcher of Institute of Philosophy of Zhejiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences
Chen Peiyu: Editor of Zhejiang University Press
Chen Jiaojiao (female): Center for Confucian Entrepreneurs and East Asian Civilizations of Zhejiang University
Kong Xianglai: Center for Confucian Entrepreneurs and East Asian Civilizations of Zhejiang University
Lv Yufei: Associate Fellow Researcher of Institute of Latin America of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Chen Changwei: Postdoctor and Lecturer of School of International Studies of Peking University
Wei Han Doctor of Department of History of Peking University (Indian)
Walid: Doctor of Department of History of Peking University (Tunisian)
Lang Lang (female): Associate Professor of Center for Humanistic Studies of Department of Medicine of Peking University
Wang Xianhua (female): Fellow Researcher of College of Medicine of Hunan University of Science &Technology
Liang Tao: Professor of School of Chinese Classics of Renmin University of China
Xu Jingbo: Doctor of Department of Department of Sociology of Shanghai University
Deng Yang: The Center for Modernization Studies across the Taiwan Strait, Peking University
Yi Hong: Center for Culture Inheritance and Protection Research of Peking University
Xue Buqiang: Center for Culture Inheritance and Protection Research of Peking University
You Bin: Professor of Minzu University of China
Jing Haifeng: Professor and Director of Institute of Chinese Classics of School of Literature of Shenzhen University
Yang Zhucai: Professor of Philosophy Department of Nanchang University, Director of Jiangyou Research Center
Liu Boyun (female): Doctor and Lecturer of Beijing Language and Culture University
Shi Xiumei (female): Director of Executive Office of IAHS
Ai Pei (female): Visual Culture Research Center of IAHS
Liu Hong: Assistant to the Dean of IAHS
Chen Yichen (female): Assistant to the Dean of IAHS
Lu Pengyi: Postdoctor of IAHS
Lu Yin: Postdoctor of IAHS
Zhu Weiping (female): Doctor of Philosophy Department of Peking University
Wu Lei: Doctor of Philosophy Department of Peking University
Wu Zhengjie: IAHS
Li Zhuo: Doctor of Philosophy Department of Peking University
Zhang Zhaowei: Postdoctor of IAHS
Alim: Postdoctor of IAHS
Ming Xu: Postdoctor of IAHS
Sheng Ke: Professor of Philosophy Department of Capital Normal University
Gan Xiaoqing: Professor and President of Jiujiang University
Cao Huanrong: Professor of Jiujiang University
Li Ningning: Professor of Jiujiang University
Zheng Yushu (female): Chinese Representative at Taiwan Foguang Mountain Foundation
Lu Feng: Professor and Director of Philosophy Department of Tsinghua University
Ren Ping: Professor and Director of Calligraphy Research Center of China Academy of Arts
Xie Xialing: Professor of Social Development and Public Policies Fudan University
Shao Fei (female): Beijing Painting Academy (painter)
Yan Wangjia (female): Vice Chairman of Culture China Foundation
Gu Jiafeng: Deputy Director and Associate Follow Researcher of Institute of Innovations at Peking University
Wang Yueshu:
Li Junfeng: Bo’aitang Traditional Chinese Medical Service Center
Pang Fei: Secretary General of Yidan School
Li Linghan: Professor and Director of Shantou University - Chinese University of Hong Kong Joint Research Center for Christianity
Zhang Jiantao: Professor of Henan University of Finance and Economics
Chen Jiangfeng: Deputy Director and Professor of Zhengzhou Light industry Institute, Vice Chairman of Henan Society for the Study of Folk Literature and Art
Zhang Yunpeng: Professor of Henan University, Chief Editor of Henan University Press
Cheng Youwei: Fellow Researcher of Henan Provincial Academy of Social Sciences
Nie Zhentao: Professor of Nanyang Normal University
Li Xueshan: Professor of Anyang Normal University, Director of Henan Center for Studies of Oracle-Bones Inscriptions and Yinshang Culture
Wu Tao: Associate Professor of Luoyang Normal University
Zhou Luheng: Chief Editor of Composition Guidance
Hao Jinjun: Worker
Yan Tiecheng: Director General of Zhengzhou Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics
Ren Wei: Deputy Executive Director General of Zhengzhou Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics
Guo Lei (female): Vice-County Researcher of Zhengzhou Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics
Song Yuqin: Director of Zhengzhou Institute of Songshan Mountain Culture, Professor of Peking University
Chen Ying (female) Deputy Director of Zhengzhou Institute of Songshan Mountain Culture
Liu Huixia (female) Director of Executive Office and Associate Researcher of Zhengzhou Institute of Songshan Mountain Culture
Shen Lixia (female) Director of Academic Division and Research Librarian of Zhengzhou Institute of Songshan Mountain Culture
Zhang Guohui Zhengzhou Institute of Songshan Mountain Culture
Zhang Ying: Zhengzhou Institute of Songshan Mountain Culture
Jiang Wei (female) Zhengzhou Institute of Songshan Mountain Culture
Zheng Taisen Counselor of Henan Provincial People’s Government, Director and Fellow Researcher of Institute of Economics of Henan Provincial Development and Reform Commission