Practical knowledge of managing state affairs
This idea was put forth by Wang Fuzhi (1619-1692), Huang Zongxi (1610-1695) and Gu Yanwu, all thinkers of the 17th century. They held that scholarly studies should be geared to meeting current needs, and be of practical value to state governance and social management. While interpreting ancient classics, scholars should expound their views on the social and political issues of their day, solve practical problems, strengthen governance, improve people's lives, and promote social reform.
This view emphasizes the political value of knowledge and the social responsibilities of scholars, and reflects the pragmatic character of traditional Chinese intellectuals.
In his speech at the opening of the International Conference Commemorating the 2,565th Anniversary of Confucius' Birth and the Fifth Congress of the International Confucian Association, Xi Jinping said: Confucianism and other schools of thought in ancient China all advocated that study should be of substantive practical value in educating the people, so that edification of individuals and society could be incorporated into state governance to achieve complementary effects.
经世致用
“经世致用”一词由明清之际思想家王夫之、黄宗羲、顾炎武等提出，指学习、征引古人的文章和行事，应以治事、救世为急务。“经世”即治理国家和社会事务，“致用”即发挥实际效用。这一理念倡导学术研究要关注现实，通过解释古代典籍来阐发社会政治见解，解决社会实际问题，以增进国家治理能力，实现民生安定、社会改良。其强调知识的政治价值和知识分子的现实担当，体现了中国传统知识分子讲求效用、专注务实的思想特点。
2014年9月，习近平在纪念孔子诞辰2565周年国际学术研讨会暨国际儒学联合会第五届会员大会开幕式上指出，儒家思想和中国历史上存在的其他学说都坚持经世致用原则，注重发挥文以化人的教化功能，探索把对个人、社会的教化同对国家的治理结合起来，达到相辅相成、相互促进的目的。