Ruism

also known as Confucianism

A digital library of the Confucian humanist tradition.

To learn and to practice what you have learned at the proper times, is this not a joy?

To have friends come from distant places, is this not a pleasure?

To remain unbothered when others fail to recognize you, is this not the mark of a noble person?

The Analects 1.1《論語·學而》

不亦說乎學而時習之

不亦樂乎有朋自遠方來

不亦君子乎人不知而不慍

Key Thinkers

All thinkers

孔子 Confucius Kǒngzǐ · 551–479 BCE Early Confucianism 孟子 Mencius Mèngzǐ · 372–289 BCE School of Mencius 荀子 Xunzi Xúnzǐ · 310–235 BCE School of Xunzi 朱熹 Zhu Xi Zhū Xī · 1130–1200 School of Principle 王陽明 Wang Yangming Wáng Yángmíng · 1472–1529 School of Mind

Essential Works

The library

The Four Books 四書

The collection →

The Analects 論語 · Confucius ~475 BCE The Great Learning 大學 · Zengzi ~450 BCE The Doctrine of the Mean 中庸 · Zisi ~450 BCE Mencius 孟子 · Mencius ~300 BCE

The Five Classics 五經

The collection →

Classic of Poetry 詩經 ~1000 BCE Classic of Documents 書經 ~900 BCE Classic of Changes 易經 ~800 BCE Spring and Autumn Annals 春秋 · Confucius ~480 BCE Book of Rites 禮記 1st c. BCE

Key Concepts

The glossary

仁

禮

義

智

信

孝

天

君子

Movements & Schools

The genealogy

Pre-Qin Confucianism

先秦儒學 551–221 BCE

Neo-Confucianism

道學 960–1644

From the Reading Room

儒

What is Ruism?

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

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名

Rectifying a Name: Why "Ruism" Rather Than "Confucianism"

The tradition's own name, the European coinage, and the rectification of names.

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人

The Confucian Roots of Humanism

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

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史

Timeline

Works and thinkers across six dynastic periods.

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