"Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China, and is variously described as a tradition, philosophy, (humanistic or rationalistic) religion, theory of government, or way of life."
Examination of the ethical, political, and philosophical teachings of Confucianism, including the Analects and Mencius.
Confucius: The life, teachings and philosophy of Confucius, who is the founder of Confucianism.
Analects: A collection of sayings and conversations between Confucius and his disciples, which serves as one of the chief sources of Confucianism.
Five Confucian Virtues: Five virtues that are central to Confucian thought: Ren (benevolence), Li (propriety), Yi (righteousness), Zhi (wisdom) and Xin (integrity).
The Mandate of Heaven: The idea that rulers have divine sanction to rule as long as they are just and benevolent.
Confucianism and Buddhism: The relation between Confucianism and Buddhism, which share numerous similarities.
Confucianism and Taoism: The similarities and differences between Confucianism and Taoism, and how the two religions complement each other.
Filial Piety: The idea that children should respect and care for their parents, which is a crucial aspect of Confucianism.
Confucian Ethics: The ethical system of Confucianism, which emphasizes personal responsibility, social harmony and moral duty.
Confucian Rituals: The role of rituals in Confucianism, including ancestor worship, the performance of Confucian rites, and the cultivation of virtue through daily practices.
Confucian Education: The importance of education in Confucianism, and the role of education in cultivating moral character and social responsibility.
Confucianism in Modern Times: The impact of Confucianism on contemporary society, and the challenges that Confucianism faces in the modern world.
Han Confucianism: This is the oldest and most traditional form of Confucianism. It emphasizes the importance of the Analects, a collection of Confucius' sayings and teachings, and stresses the importance of self-cultivation, filial piety, and government by virtuous rulers.
Neo-Confucianism: This movement emerged in the Song dynasty and combined the teachings of Confucianism with Buddhist and Taoist ideas. It emphasized the importance of inner cultivation and spiritual development, while also advocating for active involvement in social and political affairs.
New Confucianism: This is a modern form of Confucianism that emerged in the 20th century, particularly in China and Taiwan. It emphasizes the relevance of Confucian teachings to contemporary issues and challenges, and has been particularly concerned with social morality, political ethics, and environmental stewardship.
Korean Confucianism: This form of Confucianism has been particularly influential in Korea, and emphasizes filial piety, ancestor worship, and a hierarchical social system based on age and rank. It also integrates Taoist and Buddhist ideas, and has historically had a strong influence on Korean politics and culture.
"Confucianism developed from what was later called the Hundred Schools of Thought from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551–479 BCE)."
"Confucius considered himself a transmitter of cultural values inherited from the Xia, Shang, and Western Zhou dynasties."
"Confucianism was suppressed during the Legalist and autocratic Qin dynasty, but survived."
"During the Han dynasty, Confucian approaches edged out the 'proto-Taoist' Huang–Lao as the official ideology."
"In the late Tang, Confucianism developed in response to Buddhism and Taoism and was reformulated as Neo-Confucianism."
"The abolition of the examination system in 1905 marked the end of official Confucianism."
"The intellectuals of the New Culture Movement of the early twentieth century blamed Confucianism for China's weaknesses."
"With particular emphasis on the importance of the family and social harmony, rather than on an otherworldly source of spiritual values, the core of Confucianism is humanistic."
"According to American philosopher Herbert Fingarette's conceptualization of Confucianism as a philosophical system, it transcends the dichotomy between religion and humanism."
"While the Confucian concept of tian shares some similarities with the concept of a deity, it is primarily an impersonal absolute principle like the tao or the Brahman."
"In religious Confucianism, liturgy led by Confucian priests or 'sages of rites' to worship the gods in public and ancestral Chinese temples is preferred on certain occasions."
"The worldly concern of Confucianism rests upon the belief that human beings are fundamentally good, and teachable, improvable, and perfectible through personal and communal endeavor."
"Some of the basic Confucian ethical concepts and practices include ren, yi, li, and zhi."
"Ren is the essence of the human being which manifests as compassion. It is the virtue-form of Heaven."
"Yi is the upholding of righteousness and the moral disposition to do good."
"Li is a system of ritual norms and propriety that determines how a person should properly act in everyday life in harmony with the law of Heaven."
"Zhi is the ability to see what is right and fair, or the converse, in the behaviors exhibited by others."
"Traditionally, cultures and countries in the East Asian cultural sphere are strongly influenced by Confucianism, including China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam."
"Today, it has been credited for shaping East Asian societies and overseas Chinese communities, and to some extent, other parts of Asia."