Confucianism,also known as Ruism or Ru classicism,is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China,and is variously described as a tradition,philosophy,religion,theory of government,or way of life. Confucianism developed from teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551–479 BCE),during a time that was later referred to as the Hundred Schools of Thought era. Confucius considered himself a transmitter of cultural values inherited from the Xia (c. 2070–1600 BCE),Shang (c. 1600–1046 BCE) and Western Zhou dynasties (c. 1046–771 BCE). Confucianism was suppressed during the Legalist and autocratic Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE),but survived. During the Han dynasty,Confucian approaches edged out the "proto-Taoist" Huang–Lao as the official ideology,while the emperors mixed both with the realist techniques of Legalism.
Confucius,born Kong Qiu (孔丘),was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages,as well as the first teacher in China to advocate for mass education. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the philosophy and teachings of Confucius. His philosophical teachings,called Confucianism,emphasized personal and governmental morality,correctness of social relationships,justice,kindness,sincerity,and a ruler's responsibilities to lead by virtue.
Korean Confucianism is the form of Confucianism that emerged and developed in Korea. One of the most substantial influences in Korean intellectual history was the introduction of Confucian thought as part of the cultural influence from China.
Neo-Confucianism is a moral,ethical,and metaphysical Chinese philosophy influenced by Confucianism,which originated with Han Yu (768–824) and Li Ao (772–841) in the Tang dynasty,and became prominent during the Song and Ming dynasties under the formulations of Zhu Xi (1130–1200). After the Mongol conquest of China in the thirteenth century,Chinese scholars and officials restored and preserved neo-Confucianism as a way to safeguard the cultural heritage of China.
Qufu is a city in southwestern Shandong province,East China. It is located about 130 kilometres (81 mi) south of the provincial capital Jinan and 45 km (28 mi) northeast of the prefectural seat at Jining. Qufu has an area of 815 square kilometers,and a total population of 653,000 inhabitants,of which,188,000 live in urban areas.
Văn Miếu,literally translated as Temple of Literature,is a temple dedicated to Confucius in Hanoi,northern Vietnam. The temple was built in 1070 at the time of Emperor LýThánh Tông,and it hosted the Imperial Academy,Vietnam's first national university,from 1076 to 1779.
Lotus Pond is an artificial lake and popular tourist destination on the east side of Zuoying District in Kaohsiung,Taiwan. Opened in 1951,it is famous for the lotus plants on the lake and the numerous temples around the lake,including the Spring and Autumn Pavilions (春秋閣),the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas (龍虎塔),and the Confucian Temple (孔廟).
Munmyo is Korea's primary temple of Confucius. It is located in central Seoul,South Korea,on the campus of Sungkyunkwan University.
The Duke Yansheng,literally "Honorable Overflowing with Wisdom",sometimes translated as Holy Duke of Yen,was a Chinese title of nobility. It was originally created as a marquis title in the Western Han dynasty for a direct descendant of Confucius.
The Tainan Confucian Temple or Quan Tai Shou Xue,is a Confucian temple on Nanmen Road (南門路) in West Central District,Tainan,Taiwan.
Beijing Temple of Confucius is the second-largest Confucian temple in China,after the one in Confucius's hometown of Qufu.
The Taipei Confucius Temple is a Confucian temple in Datong District,Taipei,Taiwan.
Kong is a Chinese and Korean surname. It can also be written as Kung in Taiwan,Hung in Hong Kong,Khổng in Vietnam,and Gong in Korea. There are around 2.1 million people with this surname in China in 2002,representing 0.23% of the population. In 2018,it was the 97th-most common surname in China. It is the 25th name in the Hundred Family Surnames poem.
The Temple of Confucius in Qufu,Shandong Province,is the largest and most renowned temple of Confucius in East Asia.
The Four Sages,Assessors,or Correlates,are four eminent Chinese philosophers in the Confucian tradition. They are traditionally accorded a kind of sainthood and their spirit tablets are prominently placed in Confucian temples,two upon the east and two upon the west side of the Hall of the Great Completion.
The Kong Family Mansion was the historical residence of the direct descendants of Confucius in the City of Qufu,the hometown of Confucius in Shandong Province,China. The extant structures mainly date from the Ming and Qing dynasties. From the mansion,the family tended to the Confucian sites in Qufu and also governed the largest private rural estate in China. The Kong family was in charge of conducting elaborate religious ceremonies on occasions such as plantings,harvests,honoring the dead,and birthdays. Today,the mansion is a museum and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu".
The Confucian church is a Confucian religious and social institution of the congregational type. It was first proposed by Kang Youwei (1858–1927) near the end of the 19th century,as a state religion of Qing China following a European model.
The Taichung Confucian Temple is a Confucian temple in North District,Taichung,Taiwan.
The Confucian royal ancestral shrine (宗廟制) is a system of Confucian worship for royal ancestors in East Asian region. It is historically originated from Chinese culture,yet later redeveloped among countries in East Asian cultural sphere as cultural diffusion. Nowadays this system became famous around the world for its authentic cultural heritage preserved in Korea,'Jongmyo',designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
Miao (廟/庙) are buildings in traditional East Asian religions enshrining gods,myths or legends,sages of past dynasties,and famous historical figures. They are a kind of Chinese temple architecture and contrast with Ci Shrines which enshrine ancestors and people instead of deities.
