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1

A statue of Confucius grows across the screen next to the title: “Confucianism.” We see two people holding hands. A pair of hands forming a heart shape in front of the sun.

What’s the difference between right and wrong? Who should you listen to when making decisions? How do you become a better person?

2

A misty mountain range out in the distance zooms out to show a man on a cliff, looking over the horizon. A bronze statue of Confucius against a red background.

Humans have always struggled with these questions, and no one has figured out all the answers yet. But over two and a half thousand years ago, a philosopher named Kong Qiu began collecting ancient teachings and rituals designed to answer the big questions in life and improve society as a whole.

3

An ancient scroll showing a painting of Confucius.

These teachings, which came to be known as Confucianism, became a worldwide phenomenon, and are still essential to any discussion of behavior, leadership and ethics to this day.

4

The front of a Confucian temple, with the Yin Yang symbol overlayed. The symbol slowly fades to the background as it zooms out.

Confucianism stands somewhere between religion and philosophy. It has spiritual elements, such as respect for one’s ancestors and harmony with nature. But it doesn’t include belief in any gods or deities, and isn’t interested in salvation or life after death.

5

An idyllic etching of a Chinese village by a river.

Instead, Confucianism is focused on creating a kind of Heaven here on Earth, by preserving traditions and promoting ethics designed to bring out the best in people.  

6

Pupils of Confucius sit before him in class. Zoom in on Confucius.

Confucius didn’t really lay down laws. He instead had conversations, between teacher and student, that suggested the best thing to do in any situation. Still, we can see some common threads tying these ideas together, teachings about trust, duty, kindness and loyalty.

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An etching of a Chinese man and his child, next to a banner reading, “filial piety.” An ancient painting showing the ideal of filial piety, with children paying respect to their parents.

One of the most vital concepts in Confucianism is filial piety. Basically, this means treating your parents well, obeying their wishes, and making sacrifices for their happiness. Filial piety is hugely significant in Confucian thought, and has been called the one uniting idea in all of Chinese culture.

8

A statue of Confucius outside of a temple. A quote appears in the sky: “perfect virtue is: ‘not to do to others as you would not wish done to yourself.’”

Humaneness, another central pillar of Confucianism, can be summed up by the golden rule: “not to do to others as you would not wish done to yourself.”

9

Modern followers of Confucius perform a ritual, next to a banner reading, “ritual & custom.” An image of a spider web covered in dew.

Following rituals and customs is also a main part of this philosophy. Confucius believed that all humans are connected to nature in a cosmic web, which is strengthened by disciplined practice of social rules and traditions.

10

Ancient drawings of Chinese emperors from the Tang dynasty. Zoom in on the faces of the Emperor’s subjects.

Lastly, the ideal of loyalty helps guide Confucian ethics, but it doesn’t mean blindly following your leaders. Instead, Confucius saw it as a two-way street-- subjects should be loyal to their rulers, but rulers need to treat their subjects fairly.

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Images of modern Confucian temples with statues and portraits of Confucius.

Although Confucianism has been criticized for its strict observance of traditional class and gender roles, it deserves credit for being one of the first philosophies to put the power of self-improvement in the hands of everyday people. Confucius suggests that by respecting your elders, remembering your culture, and practicing kindness, you can begin to perfect yourself and help build a better world.