Though Confucius is sometimes credited with founding Confucianism, he said that he was interpreting the philosophy of Zhougong, the duke of Zhou, rather than creating new doctrine. Zhougong was said to have helped consolidate, expand, and refine the “feudal” ritual system. This system depended on blood ties, marriage alliances, and old covenants as well as on newly negotiated contracts.
Where does Confucianism come from?
How did Confucianism spread?
Confucianism was not successfully spread by Confucius. Instead, the scholar Mencius, who was born more than a century after Confucius died, adapted his philosophy and preached in different states. At first the Chinese people embraced Confucianism more readily than the ruling class did, but Confucianism was revived and popularized by the Han dynasty, from 206 BCE to 220 CE.
