Confucianism in the United States

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Confucianism
天將以夫子爲木鐸, "Heaven will instruct the master like a wooden-clapper bell (to awaken everyone to the Way)" — Analects 3.24.
Early history
Spring and Autumn period
Warring States period
Western Han
Fundamental concepts
Sangang Wuchang
Schools
Hermeneutic schools
Confucianism by country
Confucian texts
Five Classics
Four Books
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Organization
Confucian churches and sects

Confucianism in the United States dates back to accounts of missionaries who traveled to China during the early 19th century and from the 1800's with the practice and Study of Traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture in the United states by Chinese immigrant Doctors and via trade of technology, science and philosophy from east Asia to Europe and the America's.[1] Since the second half of the 20th century, it has had a increased medical and scholarly interest. Confucianism is also studied under the umbrella of the profession of eight principle Chinese Acupuncture and Chinese philosophy. American scholars of Confucianism are generally taught in universities in the philosophy or religions departments. Whether Confucianism should be categorized as a religion in academia or Confucian based traditional Chinese medicine[2] is to be recognised as a legitimate mainstream medicine has been controversial in U.S and abroad.[3][4][5]

Contemporary discussion of Confucianism in the U.S. centers on questions about its modern relevance in America and its ability to be studied and practiced outside China and East Asia. Major topics discussed by scholars of Confucianism in the U.S. include Confucian humaneness (ren), ritual or rights (li), Confucianism in global cultural dialogue, and its relationship to universal values.

Compared to Buddhism (another East Asian tradition which has been widely popularized and practiced in the U.S.), Confucianism has received little attention beyond a small circle of academic specialists.[6] Apart from occasional lectures on Confucianism, Confucius Institutes across the United States have little influence in promoting Confucian philosophy or Confucianism as a way of life.[6] The association of Confucianism with historical and political expressions which endorsed hierarchical relationships and suppressed individual rights may have prevented it from achieving a wider influence in the U.S. because it is seen as conflicting with American (and universal) values of democracy and human rights. Contemporary American scholars of Confucianism are exploring the possibility of a dialogue between Confucianism and universal values, and applying Confucian teachings to modern American life.

  1. ^ Shelton, Tamara Venit Shelton (2019). Herbs and Roots, A History of Chinese Doctors in the American Medical Marketplace. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300249408.
  2. ^ Kaptchuk, Ted J. (2000). The Web that Has No Weaver. America: Rider. ISBN 9780712602815.
  3. ^ Adler, Joseph A. (2020) [2006]. Confucianism as a Religious Tradition: Linguistic and Methodological Problems (PDF). Confucianism in Dialogue with Cultures and Religions: A Conference in Honor of Professor Tu Weiming. University of California at Berkeley. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  4. ^ Lu, Winston I.; Lu, Dominic P. (2014). "Impact of Chinese Herbal Medicine on American Society and Health Care System: Perspective and Concern". Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2014: 251891. doi:10.1155/2014/251891. ISSN 1741-427X. PMC 3955605. PMID 24719641.
  5. ^ Hunt, Katie (2019-05-25). "Chinese medicine gains WHO acceptance but it has many critics". CNN. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  6. ^ a b Angle, Stephen C. (2015). "美国儒学：在传统与普世价值之间 [American Confucianism: Between Tradition and Universal Values]". 传统与启蒙:中西比较的视野.