The development of Confucianism has gone through four stages. They are four stages: pre-Qin Confucianism represented by Confucius, Han Confucianism represented by Dong Zhongshu, Song and Ming Confucianism marked by Zhu Cheng Neo-Confucianism, and modern Confucianism influenced by the spread of western learning to the east.

Pre-Qin Confucianism

At the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, Confucius founded the Confucian School. Its establishment has its profound historical roots. At that time, during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, an unprecedented change was going on. This change is the change of social form from slave society to feudal society, and the political system is the change from the "ritual system" of Zhou rites to the "legal system" society.

"oust a hundred schools of thought and respect Confucianism alone"

In the early Han Dynasty, Huang Lao's skill was practiced and the policy of "rest and recuperation" was implemented. From the historical development to the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the economic strength of the Han Dynasty gradually recovered and strengthened. However, the growing power of the vassal states, the fierce land annexation and the invasion of Xiongnu all threatened the stability of the Western Han Dynasty. In order to strengthen centralization, it is extremely important to cultivate positive thoughts.

Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties

Confucian scholars in the Song Dynasty launched activities to revive Confucianism and attack Buddhism and Taoism. Formed a new Confucian system with rationality as the core-"Neo-Confucianism". The representatives of this period are Cheng Hao, Cheng Yi and Zhu. Therefore, it is also called Zhu Cheng Neo-Confucianism. They believe that justice is the origin of all things in the universe, and there is only one justice for all things, and they advocate reason before things, which is the core idea of Neo-Confucianism. It is emphasized that the source of rationality lies in Tian Li, and Tian Li regards the three cardinal guides and the five permanent members as moral norms, which is the highest realm of human nature; It is also pointed out that human nature is consistent with natural principles, but it is blinded by acquired desires, so it emphasizes "preserving natural principles and destroying human desires".

Modern neo-Confucianism

In modern China, there were internal troubles and foreign invasion. At the turn of the May 4th Movement, Beijing was immersed in a countercurrent that respected Confucius' retro style. The fact of the restoration of monarchy shows that the cancer of absolute monarchy still exists. This makes a group of young radical Democrats feel that the fundamental reason is that they have not been exposed to the old ideas, old morality and old culture with Confucianism as the core.