Social Propagation And Development Of Taiwanese Confucianism

Taiwanese Confucianism is the regional Confucianism that spreads into Taiwan from Mainland China, roots and strengthens in the Taiwanese society and has had significant effects on its culture. The study of Taiwanese Confucianism has seen more attention since the eighties in the last century; however, there is so far not much research on the topic and thus, the scarcity of research articles and books dedicated to the topic.This thesis attempts to survey more systematically the social propagation and development of Taiwanese Confucianism and hopes to contribute to the study of the development of Confucianism. Four hundred years of propagation and development of Taiwanese Confucianism has continued to influence the social life of Taiwan. The spirit of Confucianism can be observed, directly and indirectly, in human interactions, attitudes towards life, regulations on daily life, rituals of ancestor worshipping, ethical binding by families, religions, traditional operas and even responsibilities required of politicians and how one runs businesses. The spreading of Confucianism in a society such as this, which has been deeply influenced by Confucianism at various levels, should be an important part of the study of Chinese philosophy.This thesis is organized into four parts.(ⅰ) Chinese immigration and the propagation of Taiwanese Confucianism, which looks at the history of Chinese immigration and its influence on the spreading of Taiwanese Confucianism.(ⅱ) Education and Taiwanese Confucianism, which studies the education system under the Ming Zheng rule, Qing Dynasty rule and Japanese rule and how they influence the development of Taiwanese Confucianism.(ⅲ) Religions, cultures and Taiwanese Confucianism, which looks at how Confucianism is expressed in Taiwanese religions and traditional operas.(ⅳ) Development and transformation of Taiwanese Confucianism, which studies the popularization of Confucianism by the Kuomingtang government, the symbolic meaning of A manifesto for a Re-apparisal of Sinology and Reconstruction of Chinese culture written by Tang Junyi, the development of Taiwanese Confucianism during the period of New Confucianism and so on.The thesis concludes that, from the point of view of the four hundred years of Taiwanese history, staring from the introduction of Confucianism under the Ming Zheng rule, moving on to the prosperity of Confucianism under the Qing Dynasty rule and the decline of it under the Japanese rule, up to the second period of prosperity and development during the period of New Confucianism under the Kuomingtang rule, Confucianism has been a major part of the establishment of Taiwanese culture and society. This includes the enrichment of people’s spiritual life, the cultivation of ethics and patriotism and the stability and development of the society. Taiwanese Confucianism has even, to a large extent, been used as a strategy against Japanese colonial culture under the Japanese rule. A detailed analysis of the propagation and development of Taiwanese Confucianism will benefit New Confucianism and further development of the society.