neo-Confucian

American  

[nee-oh-kuhn-fyoo-shuhn] / ˌni oʊ kənˈfyu ʃən /

adjective

1. of or relating to an eclectic philosophical movement of the 12th to the 16th centuries, incorporating Taoist and Buddhist elements with an adaptation of Confucianism.

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noun

1. an advocate or follower of neo-Confucianism.

Other Word Forms

• neo-Confucianism noun

Etymology

Origin of neo-Confucian

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Curator Virginia Moon, who organized the exhibition, says the more than 500 years of continuous rule by 27 kings provided Korea with a "sense of stability bound by strict neo-Confucian principles."

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2014

The parallel Kano school, which looked to China, and specifically monochromatic brush painting, for its sources, was favored by the neo-Confucian shoguns.

From New York Times • Jan. 30, 2014

For instance, missionaries in Asia expect newly baptized Christians to take personal blame for their actions; that is not an easy lesson for people raised in neo-Confucian societies that emphasize group responsibility.

From Time Magazine Archive