t of Islam or Orthodox Judaism in its focus on the activities of daily life.
What are some of the important elements of Confucianism throughout its history:
There is general agreement that Confucianism is a mixture of philosophy, religion, and basic ideology. It served effectively as the state religion in mainland China for many years and still serves a similar purpose in Taiwan. According to Rozman (1991), Confucian thought has had an impact in the region for over 2,000 years, with its tenets gradually accommodating to different countries and historical eras in a form of development similar to that of Buddhism. Yet to him the basic elements remained the same, with the focus being on family, education, service to society, harmony and ethical conduct, and individual self-cultivation.
Rozman (1991) also provided a useful chart of the tendencies of China, Japan, and Korea as primarily influenced by Confucian thought. This included a geographical orientation toward continuity (rather than change), a control tendency toward moral behavior and ideas (which works toward conformity), and social orientations which included familialism, harmony, paternalism, diligence, spiritual strength, heritage, loyalty, and work orientation. Contrast that with Western Europe, and the U.S., with its emphasis on individualism, individual rights, freedom, property rights, the rule of law, and the specially-talented, achieving individual. There are considerable differences between the ideas and values represented by these qualities and characteristics.
The structure of the family mimicked, and worked to support, the structure of the state for most of these 2,000 years. Family relationships were based on a patriarchal model in which the father was the head, the sons were the important factor in carrying on the family, and age and status were also respected. The role of women, however, was problematic and both the Chinese Communists and co...