Confucianism

A new philosophy has started to spread throughout Japan. The Chinese philosopher Confucius' teachings have developed into an ethical and philosophical system called 'Confucianism', of which the core is humanism. The focus of spiritual concern is the current world and the family, instead of the afterlife and the gods, and it does not extol devotion to divine will or a higher power.\n\nFurthermore, the central tenet of meritocracy allows all individuals of the appropriate skill to occupy positions of power, rather than restricting such positions to those of noble birth. This is convenient, as adopting these views allows us to hire a highly-skilled, yet lowborn advisor for a wage no self-respecting noble would consider.