num_pages: 136
description: First formulated in the sixth century BCE the teachings of Confucius came to dominate Chinese society politics economics and ethics. In this Very Short Introduction Daniel K. Gardner explores the major ideas of the Confucian tradition showing their profound impact on life in China over the last twenty-six centuries. Gardner focuses on two of the Sage's most crucial philosophical questionswhat makes for a good person and what constitutes good governmentand traces how the great thinkers within the Confucian tradition responded often quite differently to these questions. As Gardner makes clear Confucianism is still very much alive even today. The current Chinese government invokes Confucian political ideals to promote its policies and the Chinese people are again looking to its teachings for moral direction in a time of rapid socioeconomic change.
language: English
title: Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction
publisher: Oxford University Press