Confucianism (Ru Jiao) is rooted in ancient Chinese ancestral traditions (dating back to 3000 BC) formulated by the prophet Confucius (551-479 BC) in China. Focusing on virtue, ethics, and social harmony, these teachings served as a moral guide for Chinese dynasties, spread throughout East Asia, and entered Indonesia with a long history of recognition.
The following is a complete history of Confucianism:
Ancient Roots and the Pre-Confucian Era (before 551 BC) This teaching has its roots in ancient Chinese traditions that existed approximately 2,000-3,000 years before Confucius was born, often referred to as Ru Jiao (the religion of filial piety and gentleness). Ancient saints such as Fu Xi, Huang Di, Yao, and Shun are considered to have established the foundations of this teaching.
Confucius (551-479 BC) Confucius was born in the state of Lu, Zouyi City (present-day Shandong Province). He did not create a new religion, but rather reorganized, refined, and retaught ancestral traditions and rituals that focused on virtue (Ren), morality (Li), and filial piety (Xiao). His teachings aimed to create harmony between humanity, the universe, and God (Thian).
Development in China (Dynastic Period) Han Dynasty (206 BC):
This teaching was adopted as the state religion and official way of life. The civil service examinations were based on Confucian teachings.
Spread:
This teaching spread to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, influencing government and social structures.
Scriptures:
Consisting of the Wu Jing (Five Scriptures) and the Si Shu (Four Scriptures).
Modern Era and Global Spread In the early 20th century, figures such as Kang Yu-wei advocated for a more structured state religion. Today, Confucianism is recognized as one of the world's leading philosophical and religious traditions, particularly in China, Taiwan, Singapore, and overseas Chinese communities.
History of Confucianism in Indonesia Initially Entered: It arrived with the arrival of Chinese immigrants, marked by the founding of Boen Tjhiang Soe in Surabaya (1883). New Order Era: It experienced a dark period, being banned from 1967 to 1999 (Presidential Instruction No. 14 of 1967). Reform Era: President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) lifted the ban (Presidential Instruction No. 1 of 2000), restored civil rights, and made Chinese New Year a national holiday. Places of Worship: Litang, Kelenteng, Bio, or Miao.
Confucianism emphasizes that happiness in life is obtained by being filial to one's parents, respecting one's ancestors, and doing good in society.
According to international academics (historians, sociologists, and experts in Chinese studies), the history of Confucianism (Ru Jiao/儒教) is a complex evolution from an ancient ethical philosophy to an institutionalized belief system. The following is a complete history according to academic studies:
Ancient Roots (Pre-Confucianism):
The Ru Tradition (Before 551 BC) Academics emphasize that Confucius was not the creator of a new religion, but rather a transmitter of the ancient cultural values of the Xia, Shang, and Western Zhou dynasties.
Ru Jiao: The original term is Ru Jiao (teachings of learned men). Tian Worship: This tradition is rooted in the reverence for Tian (God/Heaven) and the worship of ancestral spirits practiced by ancient emperors.
Zhou Culture:
Confucius emulated the cultural ideals established by the Duke of Zhou (Zhougong).
Classical Period: Confucius and His Disciples (551-479 BC) Confucius was born in the state of Lu (Shandong) during the Spring and Autumn period.
Kongzi was born in the state of Lu (Shandong) during the Spring and Autumn period.
Humanitarian Focus: Confucius' teachings center on human beings (humanism), moral ethics, and virtue (Ren), not on supernatural theology or the afterlife. Goal: To bring harmony to society and the family through Li (ritual/manners) and Filial Piety (filial piety). Lunyu (Analects): His teachings were recorded by his disciples after his death.
State Consolidation and Adoption (Han Dynasty, 206 BC – 220 AD) According to historians (such as those in The Cambridge History of China), Confucianism only truly became a structured state system during the Han Dynasty.
Dong Zhongshu:
Scholar who combined Confucian ethics with cosmological (Yin-Yang) theory to legitimize the empire. Official Teaching: Emperor Wu of Han established the Five Classics as the basis of the educational curriculum and state examinations, banishing other schools of thought.
Challenges and Evolution:
Neo-Confucianism (Tang-Song Dynasties) Confucianism declined when Buddhism and Taoism entered China. Neo-Confucianism: Emerged as a response during the Song Dynasty (circa 1000 CE) to address metaphysical questions not addressed in classical Confucianism.
Zhu Xi:
A key figure who reinterpreted the classical texts and emphasized li (fundamental principles) and qi (energy/matter).
Modern Confucianism and Its Spread (20th Century - Present) Decline: In the early 20th century, Confucianism was seen as hindering China's modernization. Diaspora: The teachings spread to Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and overseas Chinese communities (including Indonesia, beginning in the 17th century). Revival: Today, Confucianism is recognized as a dominant cultural heritage and social ethic in East Asia, contributing to the formation of work ethics and social stability.
In Indonesia, its history experienced a dark period (restrictions) after 1965, but was recognized again as one of the official state religions through a Presidential decree in 2000.
Confucianism, the way of life propagated by Confucius in the 6th–5th century bce and followed by the Chinese people for more than two millennia. Although transformed over time, it is still the substance of learning, the source of values, and the social code of the Chinese. Its influence has also extended to other countries, particularly Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
Confucianism, a Western term that has no counterpart in Chinese, is a worldview, a social ethic, a political ideology, a scholarly tradition, and a way of life. Sometimes viewed as a philosophy and sometimes as a religion, Confucianism may be understood as an all-encompassing way of thinking and living that entails ancestor reverence and a profound human-centred religiousness. East Asians may profess themselves to be Shintōists, Daoists, Buddhists, Muslims, or Christians, but, by announcing their religious affiliations, seldom do they cease to be Confucians.
(According to the official article or journal Britannica)