“It does not matter how slow you go so long as you do not stop.”
– Confucius¹⁾

Rúism,²⁾ historically mislabeled as Confucianism, is a Chinese religion and philosophy that was founded by Confucius (孔夫子, Kǒng Fūzǐ) and preserved within the Four Books and Five Classics. It is one of the three teachings with Buddhism and Daoism. Historically, it was Imperial China's state-endorsed religion for two millennia, thus allowing Rúism to influence the Sinosphere.

The primary themes of Rúism involve connections, civility, and social harmony. It used to be a prerequisite for civil service careers through the imperial examination system, as people believed it forced politicians to make ethical and moral decisions, then mass disillusionment caused by the century of humiliation led to the systems being abolished and people desiring something new to replace the old culture.

In addition to Imperial China's stagnation, the conservative nature of Rúism has also been criticized in South Korea where its influence continues to linger. Rúism has also been criticized for its views on women, being cited as a root cause for gender inequality in China and South Korea. This might also explain why feminism in South Korea has been a hot and controversial topic.

• Rúism is the main reason why Mandarin Chinese profanity usually involves one's mother.
• This really isn't for people who dislike gender inequality or either of their parents.
• Honestly, I can't take Rúism seriously after hearing that it was the 'city slicker' equivalent to Daoism, though I do intend to sift through the divination-heavy Yijing at some point.