Ruism (Confucianism)

學而時習之，不亦說乎

"Is it not a pleasure to learn and practice constantly?" — Analects 1.1

Key Thinkers

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孔
Confucius
孔子 · 551–479 BCE
Early Confucianism
孟
Mencius
孟子 · 372–289 BCE
School of Mencius
荀
Xunzi
荀子 · 310–235 BCE
School of Xunzi
朱
Zhu Xi
朱熹 · 1130–1200
School of Principle
王
Wang Yangming
王陽明 · 1472–1529
School of Mind

Essential Works

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詩 ~1000 BCE
Classic of Poetry
詩經
書 ~900 BCE
Classic of Documents
書經
易 ~800 BCE
Classic of Changes
易經
禮 ~500 BCE
Book of Rites
禮記
論 ~500 BCE
Analects
論語 · Confucius
春 ~480 BCE
Spring and Autumn Annals
春秋 · Confucius
大 ~450 BCE
The Great Learning
大學 · Zengzi
中 ~450 BCE
Doctrine of the Mean
中庸 · Zisi
孟 ~300 BCE
Mencius
孟子 · Mencius

Key Concepts

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仁
Humaneness
Rén
 禮
Ritual Propriety
Lǐ
 義
Righteousness
Yì
 智
Wisdom
Zhì
 信
Faithfulness
Xìn
 孝
Filial Piety
Xiào
 天
Heaven
Tiān
 君子
Exemplary Person
Jūnzǐ

Movements & Schools

先
Pre-Qin Confucianism
先秦儒學 · 551–221 BCE
儒家
Early Confucianism
Rújiā · 4 thinkers
孟學
School of Mencius
Mèng Xué · 1 thinker
荀學
School of Xunzi
Xún Xué · 1 thinker
道
Neo-Confucianism
道學 · 960–1644
理學
School of Principle
Lǐxué · 5 thinkers
心學
School of Mind
Xīnxué · 2 thinkers

Articles

儒 Article

What is Ruism?

Origins, core principles, and historical development of the Confucian tradition.

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名 Article

Why "Confucianism" Should Be Called Ruism

The tradition's own name, the Jesuit invention, and the rectification of names.

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人 Article

The Confucian Roots of Humanism

How Ruist ideas shaped the birth of secular ethics in the West.

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史 Article

Timeline

Works and thinkers across six dynastic periods.

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