It did. It satisfies various criteria defining religion such as ritual, a world view and so forth. It?s just not like the later mainstream Abrahamic faiths, though since Christianity was influenced by Stoicism, there?s similarity there. It?s important not to try to make other religions fit the established Western view, secular or otherwise.
Confucianism is more of a philosophy, and pertains chiefly to matters of state and relationships, rather than answering the so-called "big questions." Confucius did not claim to be divine.
Confucianism as a philosophy does not lead to enlightenment, while the Buddhist religion leads to enlightenment.
Here are some articles about Confucianism.
http://en.epochtimes.com/news/6-7-19/44061.html
http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/china/wind-sweeping-over-grass-the-influence-of-confucius-1628.html
http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/china/confucius-and-his-influence-in-the-chinese-community-1423.html
Not relating to Buddhism, Falun Gong is a unique Buddhist school. Falun Gong was found in 1992 by Master Li Hongzhi in China. About 100 million followers like the practice in over 80 countries worldwide. Falun Gong is an ancient practice for the body, mind, and spirit based upon the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. Falun Gong consists of five sets of powerful exercises.
Falun Gong, Tibetans, other Buddhists, and Christians have been persecuted in China. The most offensive human right violation is the organ harvesting from the Falun Gong practitioners in China. Can you kindly sign a petition to stop persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, please ?
http://cipfg.org/en/news/petition.html
Confucian teachings about deities and ghosts, "Respect them and stay away from them.".
Confucian teachings about after life, "If you don't understand (this) life, how do you understand death (after life)?"
From the above two teachings, you can see than Confucian is about teaching people how to live (this life) as a human. Confucian emphasizes heavily on moral and ethic values. It avoids talking about religious topics such as deities, ghosts, death e.t.c. I think this is the reason.
Technically speaking there are 7 elements of religion - or rather 7 things a religion has to have in order to be a religion. This is a scientific process theologians agree on:
1. Practical and Ritual
2.Experiential and Emotional
3. Narrative and mythic
4. Doctrinal and Philisophical
5.Ethical and Legal
6. Social and Institutional
7. Material
This system was developed by Ninian smart.
Religion developed differently in the west and the east. So in the west threes a book, a god, and a place of worship (Judaism, Islam, and Christianity) but in the east it didn't occur that way.
They're still religions, they're just different formats. Does this make sense?
If it's not considered a religion (i am not expert on Confucianism) its because it didn't meet one of these 7 criteria, and if it does then lo and behold i guess it is one.
why didn't confucianism never became a religion as hinduism or buddhism did?
