Confucianism Glossary Terms

Boston Confucianism

Starting in the late 20th century, America has seen the rise of its own indigenous form of Confucianism known as Boston Confucianism. “Boston Confucians” was a term that began to be used jokingly in the late 1980s at conferences of Confucian-Christian...

Confucianism

The Confucian tradition emphasizes the importance of following inherited rites ( li) in a conscientious manner so that one can fully activate his or her humanity ( ren) and thereby realize the Way ( dao) of Heaven ( tian). Major figures include Confucius...

Confucius

Confucius (551-479 BCE) is the most famous philosopher of ancient China. The most reliable source regarding his life is the Analects ( Lunyu), which includes sayings and anecdotes by Confucius and his disciples. Although he remained modest about his...

Confucius Institute

In a reversal from the rhetoric used throughout most of the 20th century, the Chinese government is now actively promoting Confucianism as a cultural treasure, a means to better society and maintain social harmony. One result of this new political...

Dao

The term dao (or tao) literally the “path,” or “way,” has been employed in Chinese religious and philosophical traditions, including Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. In general usage, the Tao refers to the proper way to act so as...

Five Classics

The Five Classics of the Confucian tradition include the Book of History ( Shujing), Book of Poetry ( Shijing), Book of Rites ( Lijing), Book of Changes ( Yijing), and Spring and Autumn Annals ( Chunqiu). In 136 BCE Emperor Han, under the direction of the...

Four Books

The Analects, Book of Mencius, Great Learning and Doctrine of the Mean have been the central texts for the Confucian tradition since the 12th century, when the Neo-Confucian Zhu Xi (1130-1200) grouped them together as the Four Books. They gained the...

Mencius

Mencius (371-289 BCE) is often considered as one of the wisest Confucians, second only to Confucius himself. His conversations with disciples and rulers are collected in the second of the Four Books; his observations include that each person is linked in...

Zhu Xi

(also: Chu Hsi) The Neo-Confucian Zhu Xi (1130-1200) is best known for having grouped together the Analects, Book of Mencius, Great Learning and Doctrine of the Mean as the Four Books. For the next six centuries, Zhu Xi’s interpretations of these texts...