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Confucianism
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Confucianism: Facts & Related Content

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Did You Know?

  • Although Confucius presented the family as the foundation of society, he was divorced from his wife and lived with his students.
  • Confucius lived in a time of warring Chinese feudal states. His doctrine focused on reestablishing peace and order through virtue which he hoped would lead to prosperity.
  • During the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huan from 259-210 BCE, Confucianism was banned, texts were burned, and hundreds of Confucian intellectuals were killed.

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Key People

Xunzi
Xunzi
Chinese philosopher
Chu Hsi, ink on paper, by an unknown artist; in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
Zhu Xi
Chinese philosopher
Mencius
Mencius
Chinese philosopher
Kang Youwei, 1905
Kang Youwei
Chinese scholar
Confucius
Confucius
Chinese philosopher
Wang Yangming
Chinese philosopher
Wudi
emperor of Han dynasty
Yamaga Sokō
Japanese military strategist
Zhou Dunyi
Chinese philosopher
Dong Zhongshu
Chinese scholar
Taishi Shōtoku: ink drawing
Taishi Shōtoku
Japanese regent and author
Yan Yuan
Chinese philosopher
Shao Yong
Chinese philosopher
Liang Shuming
Chinese philosopher
Hayashi Razan
Japanese scholar
Zisi
Chinese philosopher
Cheng Yi
Chinese philosopher
Zhang Zai
Chinese philosopher
Xu Heng
Chinese scholar
Cheng Hao
Chinese philosopher

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