Neo-Confucianism and its influence in Song Dynasty

Abstract

Confucianism, embodying the finest aspects of traditional Chinese culture, has its roots in the pre-Qin period and has evolved over thousands of years, influencing every Chinese. It represents the internalized value system and externalized behavioral standards of the Chinese people. During the Song Dynasty, Confucianism entered a new phase, known as Neo-Confucianism, which was disseminated to Japan alongside Buddhism during the Song-Japanese exchanges. Japan was also undergoing a transition from the Heian period to the Kamakura period, necessitating the establishment of a new culture to solidify its rule. Lin Luoshan, recognizing the political potential of Neo-Confucianism, transformed it into an ideological tool to safeguard the regime, significantly elevating its status in Japan and establishing it as an “official school”. Post-Meiji Restoration, Confucianism seemingly disappeared from Japanese society, yet in reality, it was gradually integrated into the value systems and moral codes of the Japanese people. The reach of Confucianism’s influence is vast and profound, with all East Asian countries being influenced, to varying degrees, by Confucianism in their history. A “Confucian cultural circle” has thus formed in East Asia, with China at its core, and extending to the surrounding regions. Currently, by examining the value of the recognition of Confucianism in East Asian countries, we can establish a “Confucian cultural circle” in modern East Asia and foster the cooperation, development, and integration of a region where “each country has its unique beauty”.