Turkey’s only Chinese professor opens Confucian school

Bülent Okay, Turkey’s only professor at the Sinology Department at Ankara University, has opened the Confucius Research and Development Center, or KAGEM, where topics such as Chinese, Confucius philosophy, Tai Ji Chuan sports and Chinese history will be taught.

“KAGEM provides education on everything about China,” Okay said. In the center, which he has opened with instructor and businessman Şeref Gültekin, commercial consultations for China-related businesses and Turkish-Chinese translation services are also available.

Okay said the center would be able to meet the need for an organization in Turkey to provide information about Chinese culture and high-quality education.

Okay said Tai Ji Chuan sports, which are known as the root of the Far East art of fighting, were some of the most popular sports in China and received interest from those who were experiencing stress.

Confucius philosophy is popular

Okay, who has also written a book about Confucian philosophy, said the most popular seminars in the center are the ones on Confucian philosophy. He said Confucius lived from 551 and 479 B.C. and was the founder of the Ru Thought School, which is known as Confucianism in Turkey.

He also pointed out the differences in Chinese housing, dress, writing, speaking and lifestyle, and said: “Because of these differences, China draws the attention of the Western world all the time. It was a country that was too far from us but now, thanks to this center, Turkish people will learn about this country.”

Okay added that KAGEM would continue its lessons but that the official opening would be this month.