Debate Of Confucianism:Based On Thought,School And Religion

What is the difference and connection between Confucianism thought,Confucian school and Confucian religion? Is Confucian religion a religion? What is the religion of Confucianism ? These questions have been a big issue in modern Chinese academic circles since the "debate on etiquette" and Kang youwei's "Confucian religion" in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.The discussion on the nature of Confucianism is of great theoretical and practical significance.Based on the research of this paper,the three concepts of Confucianism thought,Confucian school and Confucian religion are three aspects of Confucian culture."One body",its root in one;"Three sides",each has its own focus.The word "Confucianism religion" is originally an inherent concept in ancient Chinese classics.With the continuous evolution and development,the word has at least the following three meanings in today's society.The first is "Civilizing Confucianism",which refers to one side of the three-sided Confucian culture as the main body of Chinese culture.The second is "Religious Confucianism",which refers to a small range of religious groups produced by the extreme development of Confucianism since modern times.The third is the "Theory of Chinese culture is religion" put forward by some scholars,which refers to the ridiculous theory that regards the whole Confucianism as religion for more than two thousand years.Although they are called "Confucianism",their meanings are quite different.In the discussion of specific issues,we must pay attention to distinguish the exact meaning of the word "Confucianism".In the previous discussions,most of the academic circles have fallen into the simplified and stereotyped tendency of "Confucianism and Confucianism" : Confucianism is either a religion or not a religion,which is biased.We believe that Confucianism,as one of the background colors of Chinese culture,should be non-religious.The main part of neo-confucianism or daoism was not religion;Most of the other stages of development of Confucianism did not produce a fully formed religion.It seems that it is not necessary for non-religious Confucianism to be transformed into a religion.In fact,the "religious transformation of Confucianism" envisaged by some scholars is likely to be divorced from reality and extremely difficult.In theory,there seems to be no reliable basis,and it is also difficult to operate in practice.Moreover,such religious transformation is likely to reduce the value of Confucianism,hinder the development and progress of Confucianism and even affect the revival of Chinese culture.We should be open and inclusive to the small "religious Confucian" groups that already exist in China's Hong Kong,Macao,Taiwan,South Korea,South Asia and other regions.If "Religious Confucianism" can be guided correctly,it can also become one of the effective forces for the modernization of Confucianism.