This concise, illustrated introduction is an accessible digest of the key themes of Confucianism – the life of Confucius and his teachings, the Five Classics and other sacred texts, social harmony, behaviour and etiquette, filial piety, and loyalty, virtue and benevolence. Providing a unique distillation of this highly distinctive tradition, the book traces the course of Confucianism from its origins in ancient China to its place in society today. Jennifer Oldstone-Moore is Assistant Professor in the departments of Religion and East Asian Studies at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. Her previous publications include Understanding Taoism (DBP).