What is Confucianism?

Confucianism is one of the hundreds of pre-Qin schools of thought. Confucianism, also known as Confucianism or Confucianism, was founded by Confucius. It initially referred to the masters of ceremonies engaged in the funeral industry. Later, based on this, a complete Confucian ideological system gradually formed and became the mainstream of traditional Chinese culture with far-reaching influence. It is the most influential school in China and the mainstream consciousness in ancient China.

Confucianism has had a profound impact on China, East Asia and even the world. The concepts of "Confucianism", "Confucianism" and "Confucianism" must be clearly distinguished. Confucianism as a theory, Confucianism as a class, and Confucianism as a belief are the same but different and need to be distinguished.

Confucianism is the most influential school of thought in ancient China after Dong Zhongshu "exclusively respected Confucianism". As a manifestation of China's inherent value system, Confucianism is not an academic or school in the usual sense. Generally speaking, especially in the pre-Qin period, although Confucianism was the most influential school, it was only one of the schools. It had the same status as the other schools, and there was no master-slave relationship. "Ru" is originally a contemptuous term. The title of Confucianism is not the title of Confucius himself, but the Mohist name for Confucius' school of thought.

Confucianism had an equal status with all other scholars in the pre-Qin period. During the reign of Emperor Qin Shihuang, it was severely damaged by the "burning of books and entrapment of Confucianism". During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, in order to maintain the autocratic rule, Confucianism "deposed hundreds of schools of thought and only respected Confucianism" and implemented ideological suppression. rise later.