Confucianism
Fast Facts | |
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Adherents | 5-6 million |
Name Means | Teachings of Confucius, the Latinized form of K'ung-fu-tzu. |
Practices | none |
Texts | Analects |
Symbols | Chinese characters for scholar and water, yin-yang, Confucius images |
Confucianism (rujiao) is a way of life taught by Confucius (Kong Fuzi) in China in the 6th-5th century BCE and the rituals and traditions associated with him.
Sometimes viewed as a philosophy, sometimes as a religion, Confucianism is perhaps best understood as an all-encompassing humanism that is compatible with other forms of religion.
Confucianism has deeply influenced spiritual and political life in China; its influence has also extended to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. East Asians may profess themselves to be Shintoists, Taoists, Buddhists, Muslims, or Christians - but seldom do they cease to be Confucians.
"Confucius," the common name of Confucianism's founder, is a Latinized form of the Chinese K'ung-fu-tzu, "Master K'ung." The terms "Confucianism" and "Confucian" are not meaningful terms in Chinese. They are Western terms, coined in Europe in the 19th century.1582
Table of Contents
Sources
- Weiming, Tu. “Confucianism.” Encyclopaedia Britannica Online.
- “Confucius.” Encyclopaedia Britannica Online.
- “Confucian canon.” Hinnells, John R. (ed.), Penguin Dictionary of Religions (London: : Penguin Books).
- “Confucian State Cult.” Hinnells, John R. (ed.), Penguin Dictionary of Religions (London: : Penguin Books).
- “Confucius.” Hinnells, John R. (ed.), Penguin Dictionary of Religions (London: : Penguin Books).
- Sun, Anna, Confucianism as a World Religion: Contested Histories and Contemporary Realities (Princeton University Press, 2015) 23.
Further Reading
- Gardner, Daniel K., Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction .
- Confucius; Dawson, Raymond (tr.), The Analects (Oxford World's Classics) (Oxford University Press, 2008).
- Goldin, Paul R., Confucianism (Ancient Philosophies) (University of California Press, 2011).
- Yao, Xinzhong, An Introduction to Confucianism .
- Rainey, Lee Dian, Confucius and Confucianism: The Essentials (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010).
- “Confucianism.” Wikipedia.
- Foreman, Amanda. “An Introduction to Confucianism (video).”
- “Confucianism.” Patheos.
- Weiming, Tu. “Confucianism.” Encyclopaedia Britannica Online.
Article Info
Title | Confucianism |
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Published | December 20, 2005 |
Last Updated | February 13, 2021 |
URL | religionfacts.com/ |
Short URL | rlft.co/1582 |
MLA Citation | “Confucianism.” ReligionFacts.com. 13 Feb. 2021. Web. Accessed 5 Mar. 2021. <religionfacts.com/confucianism> |