Confucianism in Vietnam

Confucianism: invented by Confucius (551-479 BC), a Chinese minister of Justice in exile, Confucianism is not concerned with the origins of the world, nor with the ultimate ends of man, but it enacts a moral code based on 5 virtues: humanism, equity, urbanity, intelligence, and honesty

Minh Nguyen

Mise à jour le 23/01/2026

Among the many beliefs and religions present in Vietnam, Confucianism undoubtedly remains the most deeply rooted practice in people's minds. Founded by the sage Confucius (K'ong-tseu in Chinese, Khổng Tử in Vietnamese), this school of thought shaped the country's social structure for millennia.

The Origins
The Doctrine
The Evolution
The Anchoring of Confucianism in Vietnam
Advantages and Disadvantages
Confucianism Facing Modernity

The Origins

Confucius was born in China around 551 BC. He became not only a great educator but also an essential moralist of ancient society.

According to historical documents and legends, his birth was marked by extraordinary phenomena: five strange stars appeared in the sky, transforming into an old man who came to visit him, while three dragons watched around his house. These signs were interpreted as a good omen, announcing the arrival of a man with an exceptional destiny.

A life of mediation and teaching

From his early childhood, Confucius already showed great intelligence and a thirst for knowledge (thirst for study). Although from a modest family, he rose to the prestigious position of mandarin through his own merits and hard work.

However, a victim of court intrigue, he was stripped of his rank. He then left his hometown to wander, meditating at length on the injustices of men and the weaknesses of institutions. It was during this exile that he gradually won over high-ranking literate officials to his cause and founded a school of rigorous discipline, based on codes of propriety, morality, and equity.

His students numbered 3000, of whom 72 disciples became very famous. He died at the age of 73. After his death, his teaching was perpetuated thanks to a major literary work: The Analects (or Lun Yu).

This collection consists of dialogues between the students and the master, where the student must find the answers to the questions posed in the form of metaphors. This method is not unlike the Socratic method; it is perhaps just a question of approach that separates Eastern pedagogy from Western pedagogy.

The Doctrine

Confucianism primarily deals with the relationship between man and the State, as well as family discipline.

Hierarchy and the Superior Man

In this philosophy, the role of the father or ancestor is essential: he is the sole possessor of wisdom, and absolute obedience is sometimes owed to him. Similarly, social hierarchy and the sovereign must be scrupulously respected.

Confucius contrasts two types of men:

The superior man (Junzi): He is cultivated, humanist, moral, and acts with patience and honesty. He respects rites and laws.
The petty man (Xiaoren): He is vulgar and guided by his sole profit.

It is difficult to speak of "transcendent religion" with Confucianism, as it refers to no creator god. Instead, it establishes a moral philosophy based on respect for family and social hierarchy, the natural goodness of man, and his infinite capacity for self-improvement. Confucianism is not concerned with the origins of the world, nor with the ultimate ends of man, but it sets out a moral code based on 5 cardinal virtues:

Humanism (Nhân)
Equity (Nghĩa)
Propriety/Decorum (Lễ)
Intelligence (Trí)
Honesty/Loyalty (Tín)

Self-improvement

According to Confucius, man is born good; his deep nature leads him to do good. However, most men later turn out to be bad. What causes this depravity? It comes from the neglect of their intellectual faculties, which suffer the harmful influence of the external environment and atrophy in routine.

One can overcome this by self-improvement. To do this, there are 4 prescriptions to follow:

To be interested in everything that exists.
To penetrate the secret of things.
To have clear ideas.
To maintain the purity of the heart.

Ultimately, those who practice good are always rewarded. The golden rule is simple: “Do not do to others what you would not want done to yourself.” For Confucius, it is absurd to pray to the gods of heaven, because no prayer can sway divine will or destiny.

*Dignitaries of the Nguyen dynasty entering the Forbidden City in Hué.*

The Evolution

Upon Confucius' death, other thinkers enriched the doctrine. Mencius (Manh Tu), his spiritual disciple, brought an important nuance: he gave men the right to judge the morality of the father, ancestor, or sovereign.

Along this lineage later appeared Xunzi, who granted mandarins the right to advise the sovereign and even to set him back on the right path if he was not up to his tasks or rank.

The Anchoring of Confucianism in Vietnam

More of a religious philosophy than an organized religion, Confucianism (Nho Giao or Khong Giao) forged Vietnam's social system and greatly influenced daily life and the beliefs of its population.

A Millennial Cultural Importation

According to Confucius, man cannot exist outside the community. A Confucian must serve his king, honor his parents, and manage his family. From the first period of Chinese domination (3rd century BC - 968 AD), Chinese culture was introduced into the Red River Delta, primarily in its Confucian form.

Vietnamese people were even able to go to China to obtain high university degrees (like Ly Tien and Ly Cam in the 2nd century). The first period of independence (939-1404) did not deny this cultural heritage.

A Temple of Literature (Van Mieu) was built in Hanoi in 1070. The triennial literary competitions, created from 1076, were reorganized in 1232 and 1374. This religious and cultural edifice is dedicated to the worship of Confucius.

A Rigid but Meritocratic Social System

It is in the social sphere that Confucianism left its strongest mark on the history of Vietnam.

For nearly a millennium, it established a system of effective but rigid rules between father and son, husband and wife, subject and sovereign. For order to reign in the world, families must first be ordered, then states.

On the other hand, it established the very democratic system of literary competitions which allowed anyone to become a mandarin solely through their culture, intelligence, and merits. No one was a prisoner of their birth. One was not born a mandarin; one had to become one through study.

Politics and the People

In the political sphere, Confucianism also left deep traces, including among authorities. For Confucius, the people as a whole embody Heaven; therefore, what the people want, Heaven wants. Leaders therefore have a duty to love what the people love and to hate what they hate. Mencius (372-289 BC) summarized this idea well in a famous adage: “The people first, the state comes after, the king is negligible.”

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages: Confucianism is a philosophy that corresponds to the natural order of the Universe and the temperament of man, remaining accessible to all. Most often, Confucians demonstrate virtue and heart. A country governed by this doctrine generally has a stable social order and is easy to govern, allowing the population to enjoy happiness and peace.

Disadvantages: Confucianism deals with many philosophical concepts, sometimes chimerical, which complicate certain simple questions. Furthermore, this doctrine imposes several constraints and rites that are difficult to observe rigorously. In particular, it highly values a welcoming attitude, sometimes too conciliatory or "soft," which can, in some cases, reduce boldness and courage in man.

Confucianism Facing Modernity

For decades, the European way of life and modernization have entered Vietnam, bringing with them many new ideas and experiments.

Strict Confucianism has fewer devotees than before, and the study of Chinese characters (Hán Nôm) is no longer common, especially in Southern Vietnam, a trend that is also gradually affecting the North. This is a normal evolution, as all religions and philosophies experience vicissitudes, sometimes rising, sometimes declining, making way for novelty.

The Confucius Festival of Yore

Historically, it took place on the 28th day of the 9th lunar month. On this occasion, scholars gathered and read their best poems. It was a solemn festival to honor the "master of ethics and morality." In the temples, homage was paid to him. On this day dedicated to wisdom, families, clans, and village leaders gathered to make important decisions for the community.

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