neo-Confucian

[ nee-oh-kuhn-fyoo-shuhn ]

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.

noun

1. an advocate or follower of neo-Confucianism.

Other Words From

• neo-Con·fucian·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of neo-Confucian¹

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