Confucian philosophy provides the mainstream traditional Chinese values permeated throughout history with its morals and political ideals playing dominant roles in most of ancient Chinese dynasties. These values are still very influential in shaping the ethics and outlooks of Chinese people.
The Confucian world outlook is generally based on two questions: a person's understanding about heaven, and people's relationships with heaven. The significance of the human being is highly valued -- even as great as heaven and earth are with one's own efforts and creation.
The emphasis of Confucianism is to explore the heavenly part of human nature to follow the codes of universe. Numerous Confucian scholars in history have given their own solutions to attain this ideal.
Social philosophy is the most treasured part of Confucian theory. To design and build an ideal human society is the most primitive concern of Confucianism. Important thinkers like Confucius, Mencius, and Xunzi all have systematic views about society, politics, economy, and ethics.
The structure of Confucian social philosophy is very well organized. Political system, administrative principles like policies of benevolence, light taxes, and ruling by rites are very representative views in traditional Confucian thoughts. The study of Confucius classics during the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) gave birth to the social system designed in accordance with the Confucius theories.
To build an ideal society, the family relationship is an essential part of thinking, thus the doctrine of filial piety is the cornerstone of all ethics in The Analects of Confucius.
At last, the book Yi Zhuan, an annotation of The Book of Changes, provides the knowledge foundation of conducting oneself in the society, especially when various ethics contradict with each other.
