Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Confucianism
Table of Contents
References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images
Confucius Confucius Mencius Zhu Xi
For Students
Confucius
Confucianism summary
Quizzes
Statue of Confucius in Beijing, China
Confucianism
Related Questions
Read Next
The Chinese philosopher Confucius (Koshi) in conversation with a little boy in front of him. Artist: Yashima Gakutei. 1829
The Axial Age: 5 Fast Facts
Confucius statue at a Confucian Temple in Shanghai, China. Confucianism religion
What is the Difference Between Daoism and Confucianism?
Discover
Ice Sledge Hockey, Hockey Canada Cup, USA (left) vs Canada, 2009. UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver, BC, competition site for Olympic ice hockey and Paralympic ice sledge hockey. Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver Olympics
10 Best Hockey Players of All Time
Taj Mahal, India
23 Must-See Buildings for Your First Trip to India
coffee beans, ground coffee, cup of coffee
Know Your Joe: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Coffee
Baseball laying in the grass. Homepage blog 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society, sports and games athletics
10 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time
Communism - mosaic hammer and sickle with star on the Pavilion of Ukraine at the All Russia Exhibition Centre (also known as VDNKh) in Moscow. Communist symbol of the former Soviet Union. USSR
Why Did the Soviet Union Collapse?
Illustration by the CDC, reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes on the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. A novel coronavirus,
The Top COVID-19 Vaccine Myths Spreading Online
Hindu Holi Festival celebrations with colored water, powder and colorful flower petals thrown over celebrants at a Hindu temple in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India on March 24, 2021.
Holi: Festival of Colors

Confucianism: Facts & Related Content

verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/facts/Confucianism
Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Did You Know?

  • Although Confucius presented the family as the foundation of society, he was divorced from his wife and lived with his students.
  • Confucius lived in a time of warring Chinese feudal states. His doctrine focused on reestablishing peace and order through virtue which he hoped would lead to prosperity.
  • During the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huan from 259-210 BCE, Confucianism was banned, texts were burned, and hundreds of Confucian intellectuals were killed.

Photos

Confucius
Confucius
Mencius
Zhu Xi
See All Images →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Key People

Xunzi
Xunzi
Chinese philosopher
Chu Hsi, ink on paper, by an unknown artist; in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
Zhu Xi
Chinese philosopher
Mencius
Mencius
Chinese philosopher
Kang Youwei, 1905
Kang Youwei
Chinese scholar
Confucius
Confucius
Chinese philosopher
Wang Yangming
Chinese philosopher
Wudi
emperor of Han dynasty
Yamaga Sokō
Japanese military strategist
Zhou Dunyi
Chinese philosopher
Dong Zhongshu
Chinese scholar
Taishi Shōtoku: ink drawing
Taishi Shōtoku
Japanese regent and author
Yan Yuan
Chinese philosopher
Shao Yong
Chinese philosopher
Liang Shuming
Chinese philosopher
Hayashi Razan
Japanese scholar
Zisi
Chinese philosopher
Cheng Yi
Chinese philosopher
Zhang Zai
Chinese philosopher
Xu Heng
Chinese scholar
Cheng Hao
Chinese philosopher

Related Quizzes and Features

Quiz
Statue of Confucius in Beijing, China
Confucianism
List
The Chinese philosopher Confucius (Koshi) in conversation with a little boy in front of him. Artist: Yashima Gakutei. 1829
The Axial Age: 5 Fast Facts
Demystified
Confucius statue at a Confucian Temple in Shanghai, China. Confucianism religion
What is the Difference Between Daoism and Confucianism?