Did Confucianism change throughout time

Answer 1

It is important to distinguish between the thought of a teacher and the thought of that teacher's students. Once he died, of course, the thinking of Confucius himself did not change, but he left followers who gave his fundamental ideas new formulations and emphasis. Furthermore, not all of his students accepted everything he said. Confucius (K'ung Ch'iu of Lu) himself, for example, formulated this as the heart of his ethics: "What you do not yourself desire do not do to others." He believed that jen, which is usually translated as 'benevolence', an unselfish concern for others' welfare, was the chief virtue. Not everyone accepted the ideas of Confucius. They were challenged over time, and some, such as Mencius, defended the fundamental ideas of Confucius. In the course of the dialectic, the give and take of argument, some Confucian concepts were altered. For example, the concept of jen itself becomes clarified. This kind of change is common in intellectual history. Even though Mencius was a Confucian philosopher, his philosophical thinking was not identical to the thinking of Confucius. The same holds for other Confucian philosopher

Answer 2

Yes, Confucianism has evolved over time. Different scholars and practitioners have interpreted Confucian teachings in various ways, leading to different branches of Confucian thought. Additionally, historical events and cultural influences have also impacted the development of Confucianism.