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

Historically made from baekja, a porcelain of refined white kaolin clay, moon jars rose to prominence in the late 17th century, a time when the country’s neo-Confucian ideals inspired an aesthetic preference for austerity, clarity and understated elegance.

From New York Times

A neo-Confucian order, channeling ancient conservatism through modern one-party rule?

From New York Times

And since 2014, Xi has been praising the Ming dynasty Neo-Confucian thinker Wang Yangming.

From Slate

One of the signatories of that campaign was Chen, the neo-Confucian academic from Capital Normal University.

From Time

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