Confucianism

This article deals with Confucianism as it relates to NationStates. For more general information, see the Wikipedia article on this subject.

Confucianism is an ethical and philosophical system based on the teachings of the Chinese sage Confucius. It is a complex system of teachings on moral, political, philosophical, religious and social matters which exerts tremendous influences in many nations with East Asians cultures or influences. In the Confederal Member of Zeng, Confucianism is promoted, although not mandated, by local government.

Confucianism in the modern world is mostly Neo-Confucianism, a form of Confucian thought influences by Buddhism and Taoism in order to create a much more complete metaphysics than can be found in more orthodox Confucianism. However, many more conservative Confucians have declared their opposition to Buddhist and Taoist belief and have sought to maintain Confucianism in its earlier and more orthodox form.

The Analects of Confucius is generally considered the most important book in Confucian thought, laying out the basic philosophical doctrines of the system. These doctrines include a strong system of virtue ethics which is comparable to that of the Greek philosopher Aristotle although the way of viewing virtue is highly contextualized and seems obscure and hard to follow to many readers from different cultural traditions.