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Confucianism was a philosophy developed by Confucius in the 5Th century BC. For the next 300 years it would clash with two opposing philosophies: Mohism and Legalism. Mohism believed that a person should love all equally and that men of all races formed a "brotherhood", while Legalism held that all people are inherently evil and prone to wickedness, and must therefore be kept in control by the state. Confucianism served as a system of belief between these two extremes, upholding the innate goodness that all people are born with (as opposed to the concept of original sin in most religions), whilst accepting that such virtue had a limit, and that it was only natural for a man to love is family and nation over others. it also held that a ruler should take a more active role in governing and promoted a system where the most capable administrators were given power.
The end to this philosophical "battle" came in 221 BC when Qin Shi Huang conquered the last warring State and declared himself the first Emperor of China. He banned Confucian and Mohist teachings, ordering any texts found to be burnt, and adopted a Legalist approach to governing. His dynasty was short-lived however, and the following dynasty, the Han, encouraged the return of ideas banned by the First Emperor, and supported Confucianism. While Mohism also saw a revival, it could not hold its ground against its Confucian rival, which had the backing of the Emperor and was eventually reduced to a small sect of thought in Chinese Society, leaving Confucianism to dominate Chinese culture.
The influence of Confucianism itself is everywhere in Chinese culture. The idea of the family as the basic unit in a society, the Imperial Examinations which ran for 2000 years to select the best and brightest to govern the country and the dedication to the past and the general Conservative nature of the Chinese (out of respect to the past) can be attributed to Confucianism.
Finally contrary to what some believe, Confucius was never worshiped as a god, at least not universally. Confucius made it clear that he was just a man, and nothing more. For this, Confucius is perhaps the "religion that isn't". It has no concept of divine retribution (heaven or hell), or intervention (God affecting your life on earth). The only religious aspect it possesses is ancestor worship (more out of habit than in the belief the ancestors could hear the worshipers) and mourning periods. Worship of Confucius himself DOES occur in some parts of China, but is nowhere to be seen at the heart of Confucianism; Confucius' mansion. It's filled with "priests" who give advice on the practical things in life rather than any spiritual guidance. Sacrifices are made here, but they're made to a being the Chinese call the "Lord Above" or "Heavenly Father", which has more to do with the indigenous religion of China than Confucianism as a philosophy.
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how did Confucianism became a powerful cultural influence within ancient China?
