Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism and the Late Qing Society

In the late period of the Qing dynasty,Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism was not so influential in terms of its philosophical ideas but it was closely related to the turbulent society.The Qing Government had Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism as the official philosophy,scholar-officials used it as the ladder for higher positions while the common people regarded it as a cultural and ethical principle.Either the upper class or the lower class were under the restraint of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism but they also tried to maintain it.Thus,Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism should not be regarded simply as some metaphysical talking or some tool to fool the people because it has the feature of multi-facets and great influence.