Confucian Junzi Leadership: A model of authentic moral transformation for educational leaders

The specific personality of junzi is the primary concern of Confucian philosophy. This study explores Confucian junzi leadership so as to understand Confucian ethics in its own terms as well as to contribute to the contemporary forum of educational leadership. Through analyzing the unique Confucian moral principles and insights, the study presents a model of educational leadership with an emphasis on authentic moral transformation. Seven qualities of junzi leadership have been highlighted, including: a high degree of moral accomplishment, an awareness of moral obligation, a consciousness of being human, a passion for social harmony, an integration of self and others, an illustration of transformation, and a state of balance. The study also unveils five aspects of junzi leadership that make sense particularly to educational leadership. They are: the awareness of self-identity, the moral meaning of learning, the construct of moral transformation, the respect towards culture, and the relation between teacher and student. Today’s education landscape presents a new set of challenges for educational leaders. Junzi leadership may not be able to solve every practical problem of modern education, but Confucian commitment to transformation and devotion to moral cultivation may provide a concrete universal platform for today’s educators who wish to sustain their leadership.