Whether ancient China was a religious or secular country has long drawn various opinions. Those who agreed that Confucianism was religion were very few in number. However, Mr.Ren Jiyu, the Director of China National Library, said, “Confucianism is a traditional religion specific for the Chinese nation. All nationalities and all dynasties in ancient China generally regarded Confucianism as the national religion and regarded Confucius as the head of the religion…Confucianism, taking advantage of the combination of the political power and the religious power has become the national religion. Confucianism as a religious power has merged with the imperial power and has been inseparable from the imperial power”.
　　In olden times in China Confucianism as a religion combined the system at gods, the worship of gods and ancestors, and the Confucian philosophy, with Heaven regarded as the supreme god. It claimed that the persons who “educated the people by his virtues”, “stabilized the country by his services”, “protected the people from serious calamities”and “defended the country against powerful aggressors” would become gods after their death. For instance, Liu Zongyuan was consecrated a god after his death. The most important principle of Confucianism was: “The same reason applies to the gods and the people”, combining the conduct of people with worship of gods. Confucianism advocated governing his people. In the Warring States Period, Mencius said, “Teacher is required for governing the people”. In the Han Dynasty, Confucianism was predominant and Confucius was respected as the teacher, thus laying the foundation of Confucianism as a religion. 　
Confucius set up Confucianism through traveling to different states and dissemination his teachings to his disciples. Confucianism furnished the theoretical basis for the patriarchal religion that combined religion and politics. His attitude toward “rites” demonstrated from one angle his piety toward a patriarchal religion. When Yan Yuan asked him about benevolence, he said, “Restraining oneself and following the rites constitute benevolence. When these two prevail, benevolence dominates the world. Benevolence is achieved by oneself, not by others”. His words signify that, if people restrain their greed and emotions and behave in accordance with the social criteria specified in the rules of rites, the entire world will become a harmonious entity. Etymologically, rites have a religious sense. When Confucius talked about rites, rites seemed to have wider implications, inclusive of social organization, social order, political system and other super structural institutions.
“Benevolence” is the most controversial and the most representative concept of Confucianism. In the short book of “Analects” the word “benevolence” appeared sixty-six times. To quote some of these: “The benevolent person will not impair benevolence seeking for survival but will even sacrifice his life in order to accomplish benevolence”. “Be resolute, steadfast, and simple and slow of speech borders on benevolence”. “Clever words and ingratiating manner are hardly benevolence”. “Only the benevolent person can love and loathe people heartily”.These quotations demonstrate the views of Confucius on “benevolence”.　
Confucius was the earliest Chinese scholar who noted the similarities of the human nature. This theory of similarities is the basis of the ontology of humanism. Matched with the “analogies and similarities” methodology, this theory was the basic orientation of Confucianism on humanity. Mencius complemented this theory by asserting the existence of differences between sages and ordinary people. The Confucian theory, on human nature presupposes the identity of humans. This supposition leads to harmony and unity of the people, serving a political purpose. But this theory must also include the assertion of the differences between the emperor and the people and between the sages and the ordinary people. These differences are compatible with the inherent demands of harmony this is the logic of all religious theories. Confucianism has become a religion without the title of religion, which is unique in the world.
，Mencius and Master Xun inherited the two aspects of Confucianism. Dong Zhongshu in the Han Dynasty tried to turn Confucianism into a thorough religion, but he failed to realize his ambitious intention because of the conflicts between his intention and the thorough traditional patriarchal religion.