Abstract：“Confucian Orthodoxy” is a fundamental theory which has a significant impact on the development of Confucianism. The concept of“Confucian Orthodoxy”has existed since ancient times. It was first officially brought up in Tang Dynasty with clear theoretical pertinence as a response to the prevalence of Buddhism that challenged the orthodox Confucianism in Sui and Tang Dynasties. As many ideologists presented and advocated such theory in Song and Ming Dynasties, there was a consensus that the inheritance of Confucianism had never been suspended since the era of Confucius so as to stand up to the challenges from Buddhism and Taoism. They promoted enlightenment by education with morality (dao道) as its core doctrine, and benevolence, righteousness, rites and music as its content with an aim to create a new academic atmosphere focusing on universal principle, humanity, disposition and morality. The appearance of “Confucian Orthodoxy” was inevitable. It promotes the development of Confucianism and has far-reaching impact upon Chinese culture. However, there are some pernicious and?corrupt?tendencies in the course of its evolutionary development worthy of analysis, such as its reversionary historical view, exclusive orthodox thought, more emphasis on morality than on literature, and “be sage within” being more valued than “be kingly without”, etc.. “Confucian Orthodoxy”, with its profound cultural origin, deserves to be given much more attention to dig out its value that might be beneficial to modern society. On the basis of inheritance and development of Chinese cultural tradition, the theory needs continuous development and innovation to go with the times.
蔡方鹿. 道统思想的历史嬗变及其流弊——以宋明时期为主[J]. 《深圳大学学报》（人文社科版）, 2016, 33(1): 66-74.
CAI Fang-lu. The Historical Evolution and Abuses of“Confucian Orthodoxy”in Song and Ming Dynasties. , 2016, 33(1): 66-74.
2016, Vol. 33 
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