25Sep/090

Confucian family tree ‘triples’

Confucian family tree 'triples'

A statue of Confucius in Nanjing, China (file image)

Confucianism has grown in popularity in recent years

Two million people are now recognised as being descendants of the Chinese philosopher Confucius, more than tripling the number in the last count.

The announcement was made as the fifth update to Confucius' family tree was unveiled on the 2,560th anniversary of his birth, say Chinese state media.

Last updated in 1937, the book lists all 83 generations of descendents.

For the first time women, ethnic minorities and descendants living overseas have been included.

The 43,000-page document, spreading over 80 books, was unveiled at a ceremony in Confucius' home town of Qufu, said Xinhua news agency.

It adds 1.4 million names to the family tree of Confucius, known in China as Kong Fuzi, and is believed by the authorities to be the world's largest.

"Confucius' family tree is a national treasure," said Kong Deyong, a 77th generation descendant and head of the International Confucius Association.

Mr Kong said the family tree was important not only for academic research, but also for "helping Confucius' descendants around the world discover their ancestors and strengthen family bonds".

Confucius' blood is flowing in our body

Kong Dejun

Confucianism has traditionally given women a lower status than men in its strict hierarchy, so female descendants were not counted, but genealogists announced in 2006 that they had decided to "move with the times".

Mr Kong said that even if many descendants were not Chinese nationals or Han Chinese - the majority ethnic group in China - "we should count them in because we are one big family".

Kong Dejun, a former university teacher who travelled from Switzerland for the ceremony, said being included in the book was "the most exciting moment in my life".

"In terms of genes, Confucius' blood is flowing in our body," she told Xinhua, adding that the inclusion of women "shows Chinese females' status is improving".

The new family tree cost 10m yuan ($1.4m; £1m) to produce, paid for by the descendants.

Confucius was dismissed as bourgeois and a relic of China's feudal past by Mao Zedong during the 1960s Cultural Revolution.

But Confucian thought has enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent years and the Chinese government has even funded a film of the philosopher's life, starring Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8275269.stm

25Sep/090

Bribes firm ordered to pay £6m for breaching Iraq sanctions

A British company that admitted bribing ministers and officials in Ghana and Jamaica, and breaching sanctions in Iraq, was yesterday ordered to pay £6.6 million in fines and compensation.

In the first prosecution brought in Britain against a company for overseas corruption, the bridge-building company Mabey & Johnson admitted employing “the white man’s handshake” to build trust and confidence before signing contracts.

The company’s “culture” of kickbacks in Iraq was said to have struck at the very heart of the United Nations’ Oil-for-Food programme designed to make life easier for the Iraqi people under Saddam Hussein.

Its backhanders, combined with those from other companies all over the world, could have been used “for purposes severely detrimental to the proclaimed interests of the UK and, indeed, the UN”, Judge Geoffrey Rivlin, QC, said.

Southwark Crown Court was told that the specialist company parted with £1 million in sweeteners. They are thought to have helped it to harvest contracts worth £60 million.

The case is a victory for the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) — the first against a company for overseas corruption and the first US-style plea-bargaining negotiation. It is also the first case relating to the Oil-for-Food programme. The SFO investigation was triggered by the company’s appearance in a UN report on the scandal in Iraq.

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