Confucianism 

is a philosophy and belief system from ancient China,

which laid the foundation for much of Chinese culture. Confucius was
a philosopher and teacher who lived from 551 to 479 B.C.E. His
thoughts on ethics, good behavior, and moral character were written
down by his disciples in several books, the most important being
the Lunyu. Confucianism believes in ancestor worship and human-
centered virtues for living a peaceful life. The golden rule
of Confucianism is “Do not do unto others what you would not want
others to do unto you.”
There is debate over if Confucianism is a religion. Confucianism is
best understood as an ethical guide to life and living with strong
character. Yet, Confucianism also began as a revival of an earlier
religious tradition. There are no Confucian gods, and Confucius
himself is worshipped as a spirit rather than a god. However, there are
temples of Confucianism, which are places where important
community and civic rituals happen. This debate remains unresolved
and many people refer to Confucianism as both a religion and a
philosophy.

While Confucius gave his name to Confucianism, he was not the first
person to discuss many of the important concepts in Confucianism.
Rather, he can be understood as someone concerned with the
preservation of traditional Chinese knowledge from earlier thinkers.
After Confucius’ death, several of his disciples compiled his wisdom
and carried on his work. The most famous of these disciples were
Mencius and Xunzi, both of whom developed Confucian thought
further.

Confucianism remains one of the most influential philosophies in

China. During the Han Dynasty, emperor Wu Di (reigned 141–87
B.C.E.) made Confucianism the official state ideology. During this
time, Confucius schools were established to teach
Confucian ethics. Confucianism existed alongside Buddhism and
Taoism for several centuries as one of the most important Chinese
religions. In the Song Dynasty (960–1279 C.E.) the influence from
Buddhism and Taoism brought about “Neo-Confucianism,” which
combined ideas from all three religions. However, in the Qing dynasty
(1644–1912 C.E.), many scholars looked for a return to the older
ideas of Confucianism, prompting a Confucian revival.

What is the main philosophy of Confucius?

Confucius believed that all people–and the society they live in—benefit from a lifetime of
learning and a moral outlook. Confucius was a Chinese philosopher, politician, and teacher
whose message of knowledge, benevolence, loyalty, and virtue were the main guiding
philosophy of China for thousands of years.

The Five Classics (wujing) and Four Books (si shu) collectively create the foundation of Confucianism. The Five
Classics and Four Books were the basis of the civil examination in imperial China and can be considered the
Confucian canon. The Five Classics consists of the Book of Odes, Book of Documents, Book of Changes,
Book of Rites, and the Spring and Autumn Annals. The Four Books are comprised of the Doctrine of the Mean,
the Great Learning, Mencius, and the Analects. From the Han to the early Song, the Five Classics grew into
thirteen classics. In the early Song, however, scholars focused on the original Five Classics again. By the mid-
Song, however, the Analects, Mencius, Great Learning, and Doctrine of the Mean began gaining importance
and by the early fourteenth century, the Four Book were the texts for the civil examinations.

Zhu Xi prescribed a specific order to the Four Books and Five Classics. The Four Books were to be read before
the Five Classics, and were to be read this way:

I want men first to read the Great Learning to fix upon the pattern of the Confucian Way; next the Analects to
establish its foundations; next the Mencius to observe its development; and next Maintaining Perfect
Balance to discover the mysteries of the ancients. The Great Learning provides within its covers a series of
steps and a precise order in which they should be read first. Although the Analects is concrete, its sayings are
scattered about in fragments; on first reading, it is difficult. Mencius contains passages that inspire and arouse
men's minds. Maintaining Perfect Balance, too, is difficult to understand; it should be read only after the other
three books.

Throughout imperial China, the Confucian canon changed dramatically (see Versions of the Canon) but the
following is a brief description of the various writings. Online translations are provided, when possible.
Five ClassicsBooks

The Book of Changes is also known as the I-Ching. It has been used for over 3,000 years to
gain knowledge of the future or to interpret how you should act. It is a kind of oracle if you
like.
The book is one of the oldest classic books from China. Rulers, royalty, armies and all kinds
of people have used the book for hundreds of years to make moral and strategic decisions.
Along with the Tao Te Ching, the Book of Changes is one of China’s most consulted,
translated and respected books.
Confucius has a lot to do with the book, as he added commentary, and it has strong
connections with Daoism too. Changes are the key here. The book is about an acceptance
of change and a willingness to act in the best way possible. Unlike Western thought, where
things are supposed to have a cause, Chinese people often believe in synchronicity.

Book of Rites/ Ceremonies

The Book of Rites described the social norms, governmental organization, and the ritual conduct during the
Zhou dynasty. Believed to have been compiled by Kongzi, the Book of Rites is the foundation of many ritual
principles that arise in later imperial China. According to the Book of Rites, proper ritual conduct would maintain
harmony in the empire, as well as emphasize the virtue of piety.

Book of Documents
The Book of Documents is a compilation of 58 chapters detailing the events of ancient China. The Book of
Documents tells the deeds of the early sage-kings Yao and Shun. These narratives are influential in the
development of the understanding of a sage. The compilation also includes the history of the Xia, Shang, and
Zhou dynasties. The Book of Documents is often considered the first narrative history of ancient China.

Book of Odes/Poetry

The Book of Odes is also translated as the Book of Songs or Book of Poetry. The Book of Odes is comprised of
305 poems dealing with a range of issues, including love and marriage, agricultural concerns, daily lives, and
war. The Book of Odes contains different categories of poems, including folk songs and hymns used in
sacrifice. Kongzi is believed to have selected the 305 poems in this collection from a much wider collection.

Spring and Autumn Annals

As the longest of the Five Classics, the Spring and Autumn Annals is a historical chronicle of the State of Lu.
Unlike the Book of Documents, the Spring and Autumn Annals appear to have been created specifically for
annalistic purposes. The Spring and Autumn Annals was traditionally understood as being written by
Confucius, but modern scholars believe the text was actually written by various chroniclers from the State of
Lu.

Four Books
The Great Learning
The Great Learning is a guide for moral self-cultivation. According to the Great Learning, the key to moral self-
cultivation is learning, or the investigation of things. Through the investigation of things, one comes to
understand the principle in all things, which allows one to better comprehend the world. Through this moral self-
cultivation, one's li (principle) and qi (psychophysical stuff) are in harmony, leading to consistent moral
behavior. Zhu Xi prescribed that The Great Learning be the first of the Confucian Classics read, as the
message contained in The Great Learning would orient scholars to think about the value of their studies.

Read A. Charles Muller's translation of The Great Learning

Analects
Written during the Spring and Autumn period through the Warring States period, the Analects is a collection of
Kongzi's teachings and discussions with disciples. Just as The Great Learning emphasized learning, so did the
Analects. According to the Analects, the first step in knowing the Way is to devote oneself to learning. In
addition to learning, the Analects emphasize the importance of good governance, filial piety, virtue, and ritual.

Read James Legge's English translation of the Analects

Mencius
Mencius is a collection of conversations Mencius had with Kongzi. Mencius places a strong emphasis on the
responsibility of the emperor to practice good governance through following the Way. Additionally, Mencius
believes that all human beings are inherently good. One of the most popular passages from Mencius notes that
all humans instinctively respond with alarm and compassion when we see a child teetering on the edge of a
well, suggesting that everyone is innately good and moral. Yet, he notes that not everyone actually rushes to
save the child and emphasizes the idea that though we are all born with the seeds of righteousness and
goodness, but must learn how to nurture and cultivate those seeds.

Read James Legge's English translation of the Mencius with commentary

The Doctrine of the Mean

The Doctrine of the Mean has been translated in many ways, including The Constant Mean (Legge) and
Maintaining Perfect Balance (Gardener). The Doctrine of the Mean is attributed to Zisi, Kongzi's grandson, and
deals with how to maintain perfect balance and harmony in one's life. The Doctrine of the Mean focuses on
following the Way and acting in accordance with what is right and natural, but acknowledges that people often
do not act properly. To rectify the situation, people are encouraged to engage in moral self-cultivation to act
properly. In addition, the Doctrine of the Mean emphasizes the fact that the good governance rests with men
and that rulers who maintain balance are not only more effective, but also encourage the Way in others.