2015/01/01 by Lizhu Fan, Na Chen · 3 citations
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #Chinese history and philosophy #Religion and Society Interactions #Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices
paper · pdf · doi:10.1515/cdc-2015-0005
openalex publication_date 2015/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
Abstract The English term “Confucianism” may refer to three different concepts in the Chinese language: the school of Confucianism, scholastic tradition of Confucianism, and the religious tradition of Confucianism. From a sociological perspective, Confucianism as an official political orthodoxy no longer exists. However, Confucianism as a cultural tradition remains, and it is expressed in various aspects of the Chinese social life, which echoes the diffused characteristics of a typical Chinese religion. In this research, we try to demonstrate that the religiousness of Confucianism fulfills the cultural and ethical needs of the on-going new religious movement in China. Also, it helps modern people in their search for a life of meaning in times of cultural crisis and social anomie .