Confucianism introduction

Confucianism is an ethical and philosophical system. Some people will describe it as a religion, because it worshiped Chinese Emperors as son of God since mid Han Dynasty.

The founder of Confucianism was Chinese philosopher and educator Confucius (孔夫子 Kǒng Fūzǐ, it means "Master Kong", 551–479 BCE), and developed by his Disciples, and became the official state ideology between Han Dynasty and Qin Dynasty (note: except Tang dynasty and Mongol dynasty).

From Han Dynasty onwards, most Chinese Emperors have used a mix of Legalism and Confucianism as their ruling doctrine, but Confucianism was not Confucius' concept anymore, for fully understand Confucius' concept, I suggest reading Analects (論語) first, it records speeches by Confucius and his disciples, as well as the discussions they held.

Confucianism's concept was based on the Four Books and Five Classics (四书五经) are the authoritative books of Confucianism in China written before 300 BC.

Four Books (四书)

• Great Learning (大學)
• Doctrine of the Mean (中庸) 
• Analects (論語)
• Mencius (孟子)

Five Classics (五经)

• Classic of Poetry (詩經)
• Book of Documents (尚書)
• Book of Rites (禮記)
• Book of Changes (易經) 
• Spring and Autumn Annals (春秋)

The core of Confucianism focuses on the cultivation of virtue and maintenance of ethics. Some of the basic Confucian ethical concepts and practices include Rén, Yì, and Lǐ, and Zhì.

• Ren
  Ren is an obligation of altruism and humaneness for other individuals.
• Yi
  Yi is the upholding of righteousness and the moral disposition to do good.
• Li
  Li is a system of ritual norms and propriety that determines how a person should properly act in everyday life.
• Zhi
  Zhi is the ability to see what is right and fair, or the converse, in the behaviors exhibited by others.

Historically, cultures and countries strongly influenced by Confucianism include mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, as well as various territories settled predominantly by Chinese people, such as Singapore. In the 20th century, Confucianism’s influence has been greatly reduced.