Confucianism is characterized as a social organization and morality system than a religion. There is no belief in a higher being or supernatural powers in Confucianism. In addition, it is built on the ancient religious foundations that seek to establish social values, institutions, and transcendent ideals within Chinese society. It acted as the golden rule for the ancient Chinese people with the primary idea of social Hierarchy, ritual, humaneness, and investigation of things. Ancient China was divided into merchants, farmers, artisans, and gentry. Confucianism dwelt on the possibility of living together without fights and making sincere relationships that are informed from Kindness. Also, it was based on the source of all virtues that made the people recognize their failings and rectify them in society. Therefore, Confucianism is more of a system than religion because its purpose was human nature and transformation.
Before the Ming Dynasty, Confucianism marked the key efforts in expressing the traditional Confucian into a coherent theoretical worldview and influence other religions. The social structure of the Ming Dynastic was based on the five principles of Confucianism. Ruler to the subject, brother to young brother, husband to wife, and friend reporting to a friend (China and East Asia to the Ming Dynasty, 2020). It believed in having an orderly society where people behaved well and were their examples giving the government opportunity to trust and let the society be free. After 421 CE, Confucianism existed alongside Buddhism as one of the key Chinese religions. They clashed on bowing to the emperor and the Buddhist routine to faith. The doctrine of Buddhism stimulated developments that were adopted by neo-Confucianism. In addition, both religions interacted in the public and social sphere. This led to most Confucian teachings being adopted and transmitted to the Buddhist monks.
Reference
China and East Asia to the Ming Dynasty. (2020). Middle Georgia State University. Web.