Abstract
This chapter summarizes the history of Confucianism, focusing on the five Confucian philosophers who are the book’s main heroes: Kongzi, Mengzi, Xunzi, Zhu Xi, Wang Yangming. It emphasizes that for all of them, personal moral growth and broader social harmony are mutually supporting goals. It notes the fact that all five were men, alludes to later discussion of gender issues, and argues that their teaching are relevant universally—not just in traditionally Confucian cultures. The chapter briefly explores the different sorts of textual sources on which we rely for our knowledge of their teachings and explains the difference between Classical Confucianism, Neo-Confucianism, and Modern (or “New”) Confucianism.
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