Book contents
- The Cambridge World HistoryVolume IV
- The Cambridge World History
- A World with States, Empires, and Networks, 1200 bce–900 ce
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Maps
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface
- 1 Introduction: the world from 1200 bce to 900 ce
- Part I Global histories
- Part II Trans-regional and regional perspectives
- 10 Western and Central Eurasia
- 11 Regional study: Baktria – the crossroads of ancient Eurasia
- 12 The Mediterranean
- 13 Regional study: Athens in the fifth century bce
- 14 Late antiquity in Europe c. 300–900 ce
- 15 East Asia
- 16 Regional study: Confucianism and the state
- 17 Regional study: exchanges within the Silk Roads world system
- 18 South Asia
- 19 Regional study: Pataliputra
- 20 The Americas
- 21 Regional study: Chaco Canyon and the US Southwest
- 22 Australasia and the Pacific
- 23 Africa: states, empires, and connections
- 24 Regional study: trans-Saharan trade
- Index
- References
16 - Regional study: Confucianism and the state
from Part II - Trans-regional and regional perspectives
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 May 2015
By
Edited by
Book contents
- The Cambridge World HistoryVolume IV
- The Cambridge World History
- A World with States, Empires, and Networks, 1200 bce–900 ce
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Maps
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface
- 1 Introduction: the world from 1200 bce to 900 ce
- Part I Global histories
- Part II Trans-regional and regional perspectives
- 10 Western and Central Eurasia
- 11 Regional study: Baktria – the crossroads of ancient Eurasia
- 12 The Mediterranean
- 13 Regional study: Athens in the fifth century bce
- 14 Late antiquity in Europe c. 300–900 ce
- 15 East Asia
- 16 Regional study: Confucianism and the state
- 17 Regional study: exchanges within the Silk Roads world system
- 18 South Asia
- 19 Regional study: Pataliputra
- 20 The Americas
- 21 Regional study: Chaco Canyon and the US Southwest
- 22 Australasia and the Pacific
- 23 Africa: states, empires, and connections
- 24 Regional study: trans-Saharan trade
- Index
- References
Summary
Confucianism' was derived from the Latin transliteration of 'Confucius', the foremost thinker and culture-shaper in the history of China. This chapter examines the origin and evolution of Confucianism both as a doctrine and as an ideology that was substantially involved in the establishing and justifying of political power. The origin of Confucianism points directly to features that distinguish the Confucian tradition from other schools of thought in early China. Evidence shows that a system of formal education in China was instituted by the Shang court. Tradition holds that Confucius had 3,000 students, among whom 72 were his close disciples. The architect of the most influential school in the Confucian tradition was the sophisticated and pragmatic thinker Xunzi. While practising Confucianism, the Eastern Han dynasty also saw the introduction of Buddhism from India and Central Asia to China and the increased popularity/significance of religious Daoism. The natural starting point for a discussion of Confucian politics is the concept of divine kingship.
Keywords
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- Information
- The Cambridge World History , pp. 435 - 456Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2015
References
Further Reading
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