History and Justice

Literally it means the religion of Confucius.  But it’s more close to codes of conducts than a religion that people can relate to through rituals.  The founder, Confucius is a Chinese philosopher (551 ~ 479 BC) who taught morality, loyalty and strict social relationships. Confucianism especially emphasizes social relationship codes between the young and the old, men and women, the royal and the common people.  Filial piety is the major relationship virtues.  In Confucianism, Filial piety in the following five relationships must be strictly obeyed.

- Father and son
- Ruler and subject
- Husband and wife
- Elder and younger brother
- Between friends

Confucianism would be a good philosophy for a society based on classes.

In China, Han Wudi from Han Dynasty (206 BC ~ 220 AD) made Confucianism the official state philosophy.  There were some dynasties that didn’t give much credit to Confucianism, but it had greatly influenced people’s thoughts and ways of life.

Confucianism spread throughout many Eastern Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam.  In Korea, Lee Dynasty (1932 ~ 1910) chose Confucianism the state philosophy.