Confucianism

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Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China, and is variously described as a tradition, philosophy, religion, theory of government, or way of life. Founded by Confucius in the Hundred Schools of Thought era (c. 500 BCE), Confucianism integrates philosophy, ethics, and social governance, with a core focus on virtue, social harmony, and familial responsibility. Confucianism emphasizes virtue through self-cultivation and communal effort. Key virtues include rén (仁, "benevolence"), yì (義; "righteousness"), lǐ (禮; "propriety"), zhì (智; "wisdom"), and xìn (信; "sincerity"). These values, deeply tied to the notion of tiān (天; "Heaven"), present a worldview where human relationships and social order are manifestations of sacred moral principles. Although Confucianism does not emphasize an omnipotent deity, it upholds tiān as a transcendent moral order. Confucius regarded himself as a transmitter of cultural values from the...

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