Abstract:

The achievement of the Confucian ultimate concern with immanent transcendency has received wide attention in its dimension of mind and human nature - morality - ideal personality; however, the source and development of its other dimension, that is, propriety - politics - ideal society, gains little attention. From pre-Qin Confucians forward, Confucius' belief in Heaven was particularized into his dual concern of "humanity" and "propriety" in its humanist development. And Mencius and Xun Zi, respectively, developed their theories in such two areas. It is helpful for our comprehensive recognition of the Confucian highly worldly thought of ultimate concern to examine those historical theoretical changes of ultimate concern.

Key words: Confucianism, ultimate concem, humanity, propriety, immanent transcendency