Abstract
Confucianism, a Chinese philosophy founded roughly 2,500 years ago,
has traditionally been understood to be, by historians and philosophers
alike, a strongly conservative philosophy. Yet after taking a look at the
historical context of Confucianism, the atmosphere and political
climate of China during Confucianism’s formation, a new perspective
can be taken on the ancient school of thought. After examining the
central Confucian teachings of filial piety, ritual, self-cultivation, and
the supremacy of achievement over hierarchal birthright, Confucianism
is shown to have challenged the status quo of its day and presented a
more open-minded and altruistic approach to human interaction than
had been witnessed previously. This paper challenges Confucianism’s
traditional view as a conservative and partisan school of thought and
explores its historical roots as a radically new and tolerant philosophy
meant for the common person.