Confucianism as a World Religion: Contested Histories and Contemporary Realities
Confucianism (Ancient Philosophies)
The Analects (Oxford World's Classics)
Confucius and Confucianism: The Essentials
An Introduction to Confucianism
Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction
Confucianism
| Fast Facts: Confucianism | |
|---|---|
| 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 .
- Sun, Anna, Confucianism as a World Religion: Contested Histories and Contemporary Realities (Princeton University Press, 2015).
- 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 11 May. 2021. <religionfacts.com/confucianism> |