Confucianism

Also called

Ruism

Origin

China, in the sixth to fifth centuries BCE, from the teaching of Confucius (Kong Fuzi).

Texts

The Analects, the Mencius, the Great Learning, the Doctrine of the Mean and the Five Classics.

Place of worship

Temples of Confucius (Wen Miao) and family altars.

Main beliefs

• Ren (humaneness) and li (proper conduct, ritual and respect) as the base of a good life.
• Duty within relationships: ruler and subject, parent and child, husband and wife, older and younger, friend and friend.
• Education and self-improvement for all, and virtuous government.

Practice

Respect for parents and ancestors, family rites, ceremonies at the temples of Confucius, and moral education; many see it as an ethical system and a social tradition more than as a religion.

Holy days and festivals

The birthday of Confucius (Teachers' Day in some places) and ancestor festivals such as Qingming.

Visiting a place of worship

Be respectful in a Confucian temple; many are also museums.

A note

Confucian thought has shaped East Asia's ideas of family, education and government, often side by side with Buddhism and Taoism.

The other eleven faiths · Comparison table

Questions people ask

This is a short, neutral introduction written from widely agreed facts. Every faith has many traditions and its members may describe it differently; for a true account, ask a member of that faith. We state no figures and no dates of moveable festivals.