On the Confucian virtue of shallow roots

This essay teases the customary Confucian reverence for deep roots by advocating the cultivation of shallow roots for Confucians. Given the fact that Confucians, as well as the tradition as such, move around a lot, from one cultural and geographic setting to another, deep roots in one culture or place are likely to make Confucianism irrelevant or ineffective, and often wrongly conservative, when it is transplanted to another place. Rather, Confucians should cultivate the capacities to put down fast-growing shallow roots in new places so as to be thoroughly engaged there, not ghettoized. Nevertheless, there are great strands of continuity within Confucianism that need to be cultivated from place to place, not cultural or geographic roots but those having to do with the virtues and rituals that need to be adapted to new circumstances.