Brill’s Encyclopedia of China

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Confucianism
(4,330 words)

1. Concept and General Characteristics

Confucianism is one of several philosophical and political currents, still important in modern China, that first developed in response to a profound political and social crisis in Chinese society during the middle of the 1st millennium BCE in the period designated the "Axial Age" by Karl Jaspers. "Confucianism," however, is a modern, Wes…

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Roetz, Heiner, “Confucianism”, in: Brill’s Encyclopedia of China, Managing Editor English Edition: Daniel Leese. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1877-0339_bec_COM_00073>
First published online: 2008
First print edition: ISBN: 9789004168633, 20121018



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