Karl Marx and Confucius may have lived 2,400 years apart, but recently, on Chinese state television, their characters were depicted meeting. The show, “When Marx Met Confucius” is one of the latest attempts to promote Xi Jinping Thought on Culture—the leader’s new doctrine for stronger cultural confidence in China. It, and the series, are part of a larger national rejuvenation plan.
This week, Alice Su, The Economist’s senior China correspondent and David Rennie, our Beijing bureau chief, watch the show and explore its significance. They ask: why is it so useful for these two historical giants to meet in Xi Jinping’s China?
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