Mythologis
The Confucianism Book: Confucius, Virtue, Ritual, and the Wisdom of the Sages

Confucianism Mythology

The Confucianism Book: Confucius, Virtue, Ritual, and the Wisdom of the Sages

Confucius, Virtue, Ritual, and Wisdom

The teaching that shaped East Asia for 2,500 years: the life of Confucius, the meaning of ren and li, the bonds between ruler and ruled, parent and child, and the long argument over what makes a good human being. From the Analects to the great commentators.

150 pagesPDFEnglishMythologis Library

$14.99

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Inside this book

What you will read

  • 11 chapters, primary sources
  • Instant PDF download
  • Original ink illustrations
  • Inline citations to the classical texts
  • Designed for print quality
See all chapters  +
  1. 01The World of the Warring States
  2. 02The Life of Confucius
  3. 03The Analects: The Words of the Master
  4. 04Ren: The Heart of Goodness
  5. 05Li: Ritual, Music, and Right Order
  6. 06The Five Relationships and the Bonds of Society
  7. 07Heaven, the Mandate, and the Way (Tian and Dao)
  8. 08Mencius and the Goodness of Human Nature
  9. 09Xunzi and the Straightening of the Crooked
  10. 10Ancestors, Rites, and the Sacred Family
  11. 11The Examination State: Confucianism Across the Ages

About this book

About this Confucianism mythology guide

The teaching that shaped East Asia for 2,500 years: Confucius, the meaning of virtue and ritual, and the long argument over what makes a good human being.

Twenty-five centuries ago, a minor official in a collapsing Chinese state failed at almost everything he tried, and changed the world anyway. Confucius taught that society holds together through virtue and ritual, that the family is the model for the state, and that anyone, by effort, can become a noble person. His students wrote his words down. Empires were built on them.

This book is a clear guide to that tradition. Eleven chapters cover the life of Confucius, the Analects, the meaning of ren (humaneness) and li (ritual), the five relationships, the concept of Heaven and the Mandate, the great debate between Mencius and Xunzi over human nature, ancestor reverence, and the examination state that carried Confucianism across two thousand years. Every chapter cites the classical texts.

Delivered as a print-quality PDF within 24 hours of purchase.

What you will discover inside

  • The life of Confucius: the failed official who became the teacher of a civilization
  • Ren and li: the goodness of the heart and the order of ritual
  • The five relationships that held society together for two thousand years
  • Heaven, the Mandate, and the right to rule
  • Mencius and Xunzi: is human nature good, or does it need straightening?
  • How the examination system turned a philosophy into an empire

Confucianism mythology book at a glance

TraditionConfucianism mythology
Chapters11 chapters
Length150 pages
SourcesDrawn from the primary sources, cited inline
Reading levelBeginner-friendly. Every name and place is explained from scratch
FormatPrint-quality PDF
DeliveryPDF within 24 hours

Formats and editions

EditionWhat you getPrice
Instant PDFPrint-quality download, readable on any device. PDF within 24 hours.$7.99
PaperbackA paperback edition is on the way. Sign up on this page to hear when it lands on Amazon.Coming soon

About the author

Guillaume Henry, founder of Mythologis

Guillaume Henry

Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Mythologis

Guillaume Henry founded Mythologis to make the world's mythologies readable without losing what makes them strange. Every Mythologis book draws on the primary sources first, cross-references multiple translations, and avoids inventing details that aren't in the originals.

More about the author

Keep exploring Confucianism mythology

Prefer to read before you buy? These free, fully sourced guides cover the same gods, myths and sources you will meet in the book.

Read the complete Confucianism mythology guide

Questions about the Confucianism mythology book

When will I receive my PDF?

Within 24 hours of purchase. Your download link arrives in your inbox automatically.

Is Confucianism a religion or a philosophy?

Both, and the book explains why. Confucianism is an ethical and political philosophy, but it also carries a cosmology (Heaven and the Mandate) and a ritual practice (ancestor reverence and the rites) that function religiously. The book covers the teaching and the sacred dimension together.

Is this book based on primary sources?

Yes. It cites the Analects (Lunyu), the Mencius, the Xunzi, the Doctrine of the Mean, the Great Learning, and the Book of Rites, with references to the standard translations (Legge, Lau, Watson).

How long is the book?

Eleven chapters, around 150 pages depending on the final layout. Designed to be read in evenings or in one long sitting.

Is this book for beginners or specialists?

Beginners welcome. The book explains every name, place, and concept from scratch. Specialists will find the source citations useful for further reading.

Will there be a paperback on Amazon?

The PDF is available immediately. A KDP paperback edition follows once the book has been validated by readers.

What formats is this book available in?

Every title is available as an instant PDF, downloaded the moment you buy it: the link appears on the confirmation page and lands in your inbox. Selected titles also have a paperback edition on Amazon. Where the paperback is not out yet, you can sign up to be notified the day it does.

What is the return policy?

The PDF is delivered instantly by Mythologis. If a download ever fails or a file looks wrong, get in touch and we will make it right. Paperbacks bought on Amazon are handled under Amazon's own returns and refund policy.

Can I order from outside the United States?

Yes. The PDF is a digital download, so it works instantly anywhere in the world, with nothing to ship. Where a paperback edition exists, it is sold across Amazon's international marketplaces, with shipping rates and delivery times depending on your country.

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