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What is it? - Although it was spread to other people by philosophers, it is unclear if Confucianism is a religion or a philosophy. It can be considered a bit of both.

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When did it start? - Before the philosopher Confucius (551-497 BCE) popularized the teachings of the belief system, the basics of it existed in ancient traditions.

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Different - In this way, Confucianism is different from other religions. Christianity was named after Jesus Christ and Buddhism was named after the Buddha. However, Confucianism is more of a revival of already existing rituals by one man.

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Where is it practiced? - Confucianism is most prevalent in China. But its influence can also be felt in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. It is often mixed with Buddhist and Taoist beliefs.

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Omnipotent - Confucianism is not just a philosophy. It is also one of the main bases for ethical, moral, and educational codes in China. In short, it is an all-encompassing belief. It is even possible to have a Confucianist worldview but adopt a different religion.

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Books - The teachings of Confucianism are known to us because of books written by the disciples of Confucius. The works are called the Analects and contain all his ideas and teachings.

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The Analects - The teachings of Confucius were preserved in conversation-style writings. In these books, the personality of the man comes out. It is clear that he is extremely determined in his mission to change society for the better.

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Confucius (551-497 BCE) - Confucianism was brought to the forefront, neatly packaged, by Confucius. He was a teacher, philosopher, and political theorist. It is important to know a bit of his background to understand Confucianism.

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Growing up - Confucius came from a modest background. He worked menial jobs in the stables but slowly worked his way up to become important on the political scene.

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Conservation - Confucius did not see himself as an inventor and did not believe he had particularly new insights. He saw himself more as a conserver of traditions from the Zhou dynasty, where they had worked so well.

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Inspiration - Confucius was inspired by Zhougong. He was the duke of Zhou (11th century BCE) who consolidated a feudal system in his region based on rituals.

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Zhou - This meant that society was bound together by covenants, blood ties, and marriage. He believed that ritual observance, instead of law and punishment, created a coherent society. With this system, the Zhou dynasty lasted for more than five centuries.

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Timing -

Confucius grew up during the decline of the feudal system in China. There were many political crises that were associated with diminishing morals and ethics.

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Ambition - Confucius dedicated himself to learning about the human condition in order to herald a return to more virtuous times. He believed deeply that community and connection were vital for a healthy society.

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The beliefs - The core of Confucianism is respect for those around you. It is embodied in the well-known saying “do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you.”

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Morals - In Confucianism, it is important to be a moral person. To become moral, you have to engage in virtuous behaviors. These include being respectful, altruistic, and humane.

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Education - Confucius emphasized the role education played in making moral people. He believed that everybody was essentially good; they just need the right kind of learning to adopt good forms of conduct.

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Rituals - Rituals in Confucianism, such as sacrifices to elders, are an important way for people to learn a respectful attitude and create social cohesion.

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Family - A key concept in Confucianism thought is family. It is not just your genetic ties but also the idea that society is a form of family. Everybody should practice some sort of “filial piety.”

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Filial piety - Showing your devotion to your family comes in many forms. From worshipping past ancestors and obeying your parents, to calling the emperor “Son of God.”

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Gods - There are no gods in Confucianism. Instead, the spirits of people who have passed on are venerated. They have temples and rituals to facilitate this.

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Bigger picture - If you are a moral person and respect your family, then you will contribute to what is called “cosmic harmony.” This purports that if everyone follows these principles, then they will affect the world positively. Therefore, every single person matters.

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Continued - Confucius’ teachings were conserved and added to by his students. Upon his death, the main group of Confucian thinkers split up into eight schools of thought.

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Mencius (372-289 BCE) - One of the most prominent followers of Confucianism was Mencius. He also believed in the importance of the family and tried to bring that into his political dealings.

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Other followers - All of the important followers had a different take on Confucianism. The collectivist and individualist schools were always at loggerheads. Mencius offered a good middle ground.

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Xunzi (3rd century BCE) - The other most important disciple brought Confucianism away from the larger picture and reduced it to a study of the human condition. Through these different paradigms, Confucianism became a way of life rather than a political ideology or a religion.

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Han dynasty (100 CE- 50 BCE) - During the Han dynasty, the emperor Wu Di made Confucianism the official state ideology. It coexisted with Buddhism and Taoism.

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Neo-Confucianism - During the Song dynasty (960-1279 BCE), the literary elite created a new brand of Confucianism. It focused more on self-improvement alongside social ethics and moral metaphysics. It was essentially an update that made the older philosophy more relevant to newer times.

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New Confucianism -

Confucianism still plays a role in modern China. It is a synthesis of traditional Confucianism, Western rationalism, and humanism. However, it is less prevalent in society than it was in the past.

Sources: (Britannica) (National Geographic)

See also: Everything you've always wanted to know about Buddhism

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