Confucianism: The Core of Chinese Philosophy and its Global Influence

Confucianism is the most influential school of thought in China and the mainstream consciousness of ancient China. Since the Han Dynasty, Confucianism has been one of the guiding ideologies of the feudal ruling class. Confucianism advocates self-cultivation and believes that people can be educated and perfected. One of the grand objectives of Confucianism is to achieve a 'Great Harmony Society' where everyone can play their own roles well and maintain good relationships with others. The Analects is one of the classic works of Confucianism, consisting of twenty chapters that mainly record the words and deeds of Confucius and his disciples. Like the other three books in the Four Books ('Mencius', 'Doctrine of the Mean', and 'The Great Learning'), The Analects teaches basic Confucian values such as ritual, righteousness, loyalty, and filial piety, all of which revolve around the core Confucian concept of ren (benevolence). Since the time of Confucius, The Analects has had a profound impact on the philosophical and moral values of China and later East Asian countries.