Glossary of Confucianism
March 19, 2024 · updated March 19, 2024
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Five Elements
- Air, fire, water, earth, and ether.
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Five Elements
- Air, fire, water, earth, and ether.
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jiao
- "teaching" or "religion." Generally refers to a religion, but the word only acquired this meaning around 1900 and does not always mean "religion." The original and literal meaning is "teaching."
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li
- (Chinese) ritual norms
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ren
- (Chinese) humaneness or benevolence; central principle of Confucianism
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rujia
- "Confucian teaching." Confucianism as a philosophy or school of thought.
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rujiao
- "Confucian religion." Refers to Confucianism as a religion or religious group.
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ruxue
- "Confucian learning." Confucianism as a philosophy or school of thought.
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sanjiao
- "three teachings." Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. The phrase originated in 9th-century China.
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Scholar (Chinese)
- Often used as a symbol of Confucianism.
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shu
- (Chinese) reciprocity
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zhong
- (Chinese) loyalty to one's true nature
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zongjiao
- (Chinese, "principle-teaching.") Religion. Term introduced to China in the late 19th century in the context of Buddhism.