Confucianism

Very short introduction

Author Name: Daniel K. Gardner

Understanding the nature of China is necessarily linked to understanding Confucianism. The teachings of Confucius, first formulated in the sixth century BC, have dominated Chinese society, politics, economics, and ethics. This Very Short Introduction surveys the major philosophical ideas of the Confucian tradition and highlights its profound influence on Chinese ideology, imperial government, the civil service examination system, family life, and social relations over twenty-six centuries. The book focuses on two of Confucius's most important philosophical questions: the characteristics of a good man and the characteristics of good government, explaining their profound relevance in our time and how the Confucian tradition can survive in the face of Western technology and ideologies.