China News Service, Beijing, October 9 (Reporter Zeng Yue) The reporter learned from Peking University that Lou Yulie, a master of Chinese traditional studies and professor of the Department of Philosophy (Department of Religious Studies) of Peking University, died of illness in Beijing in the early morning of October 9 at the age of 92.
According to the obituary issued by the Department of Philosophy (Department of Religious Studies) of Peking University, Lou Yulie was born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province on December 10, 1934. After graduating from the Department of Philosophy of Peking University in 1960, he stayed at the school and taught for 66 years. He has long been engaged in teaching and research in the history of Chinese philosophy, Buddhist philosophy, Eastern philosophy and religious studies. He served as deputy director of the Department of Philosophy of Peking University, director of the Oriental Philosophy Teaching and Research Office, and director of the Buddhism and Taoism Teaching and Research Office.
The obituary stated that Lou Yulie upheld the belief of "preaching, teaching, and solving doubts" and was deeply loved by students. He always adhered to the character of a scholar and kept writing. Starting from the metaphysics of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, he understood Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, advocated Eastern philosophy, and advocated the creation of religious theories in line with the characteristics of Chinese culture. His representative works "Commentary and Interpretation of the Collection of Wang Bi" are contemporary Chinese academic classics, and "Chinese Character" and "The Fundamental Spirit of Chinese Culture" are important international works for teaching Chinese traditional culture. The "Collected Works of Lou Yu Lie" published in 2025, consisting of eight volumes and nine volumes, systematically presents the connotation and characteristics of traditional Chinese culture and demonstrates the subjectivity of Chinese culture.
Public information shows that Lou Yulie studied under famous scholars such as Feng Youlan and Tang Yongtong. Over the years, he has continued to work hard in many aspects such as the history of Chinese philosophical thought, Chinese philosophical methodology, Chinese philosophical historical materials, and the interpretation of traditional Chinese cultural classics. He once named his study room "Sanbutang", summarizing his life-long experience in studying Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism as "meticulous", "not deliberate" and "non-persistent".
The obituary stated that Mr. Lou Yulie was a dignified person with a simple and thorough approach to scholarship. He studied literature deeply and practiced it personally. In his later years, he advocated the concept of "national arts" and devoted himself to promoting Kun Opera, Peking Opera, guqin, calligraphy, tea ceremony and traditional Chinese medicine. He was a sincere guardian, advocate and practitioner of traditional Chinese culture. He has spent his life exploring and interpreting the humanistic spirit of traditional Chinese culture, and has made outstanding contributions to the continuation of traditional culture in the contemporary era and its development in the world.
