What is Confucianism?

Confucianism is a comprehensive ethical and social philosophy that has shaped Chinese — and broader East Asian — civilization for over two and a half millennia. Based on the teachings of Confucius (Kong Qiu, 551–479 BCE) as recorded in the Analects, it provides a detailed framework for personal conduct, family relationships, social organization, and political governance.

At its core, Confucianism teaches that human nature is fundamentally good and can be perfected through education, self-discipline, and ritual practice. The ideal person — the junzi, or 'exemplary person' — cultivates five cardinal virtues: ren (benevolence or humaneness), yi (righteousness), li (propriety and ritual), zhi (wisdom), and xin (trustworthiness). These virtues are developed through study of classical texts, careful self-reflection, and practice in daily life.

Social harmony, for Confucius, depends on the proper ordering of five fundamental relationships: ruler and subject, parent and child, husband and wife, elder and younger sibling, and friend and friend. Each relationship carries mutual obligations. The concept of filial piety (xiao) — reverence and care for one's parents — is perhaps the most fundamental Confucian value, seen as the root from which all other virtues grow.

Confucianism became China's official state ideology under Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (r. 141–87 BCE). The civil service examination system, which tested candidates on Confucian classics, ensured the philosophy's dominance over Chinese governance for over two thousand years. Confucian values also profoundly influenced Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese societies, shaping attitudes toward education, family, and social responsibility that persist today.