Confucianism
/kənˈfjuːʒənɪzəm/noun
A philosophical and ethical tradition based on the teachings attributed to Confucius and his followers.
Did you know?“Confucius” is not the teacher’s original Chinese name but a Latinized form of Kong Fuzi, meaning “Master Kong,” created through early European contact with China.
Etymological Timeline
6th–5th Century BCE
Ancient Chinese
Kong Qiu
“The personal name of the historical teacher later known as Confucius”
Warring States period
Chinese
Kongzi
“Master Kong; an honorific title for Confucius”
Han Dynasty
Chinese
Kong Fuzi
“Revered Master Kong, the source of the later Latinized name”
16th–17th Century
Latin
Confucius
“Latinized form used by Jesuit missionaries and European scholars”
17th Century
English
Confucian
“Relating to Confucius or his teachings”
19th Century
English
Confucianism
“The system or tradition associated with Confucian teaching”