I. The Earliest Awareness of Confucius

Confucius first appeared in the United States in 1735 in the New York Weekly Journal, which published a lengthy reader’s letter citing several sayings of Confucius and introducing the reverence Chinese people held for him.

In 1743, the New York Weekly Journal again devoted its entire front page to an article titled “The Morals of Confucius,” describing how the Chinese revered Confucius and quoted him in all discourse. At that time, the United States had not yet gained independence and was still in the era of British colonial rule.

II. Identifying Confucius with Jesus

In 1869, the religious group The Religion of Organization stated: “Confucius and Christ, with equal clarity of expression, expounded the true moral doctrine centered on benevolence. The shared principle of benevolence and equality is embodied in the ‘Golden Rule,’ a famous moral precept of Christianity. Yet the Golden Rule was proposed by Confucius five centuries before Christ.”

In 1862, Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882), the renowned American thinker and writer known as “the Confucius of America” and regarded as a father of American civilization, said: “Confucius articulated the Golden Rule five hundred years earlier than Jesus. Confucius proposed the most perfect and authoritative moral code; he is the only genius among Asians in the realm of moral revelation.” He also said in 1873: “Christianity is a replica of Confucius.”

In 1872, Zion’s Herald published a religious commentary stating: “Confucius was good by nature and founded a beneficial doctrine. Some of the finest and purest Christian teachings originate from his writings.”

In 1877, The New York Times wrote: “Confucius was the founder of the Golden Rule, and much of the wisdom propagated by Jesus derives from him.”

In 1879, the Chicago Tribune stated: “As a moral teacher, Jesus does not surpass Confucius.”

In 1881, The New York Times published: “China produced Confucius because it received God’s grace; God sent Confucius to China in order to manifest His revelation and immortality.”

In 1881, The Washington Post wrote: “The most classic saying of Jesus is ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ Yet centuries earlier, Confucius had already expressed the same truth concisely in the words, ‘Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.’”

Young John Allen (1836–1907), an American missionary who worked in China for more than forty years, said: “Confucius and Jesus are like one and the same person; Confucianism and Christianity share identical doctrines. Confucius taught the Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues, emphasizing the five relationships—ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, elder and younger brothers, and friends. Christianity likewise emphasizes these relationships. Confucius spoke of ren (benevolence); Jesus spoke of love—love is benevolence. Confucius spoke of righteousness; Jesus praised righteousness. Confucius spoke of ritual propriety; the Bible instructs people to treat one another with courtesy. Confucius spoke of wisdom; the Bible says wisdom is more precious than pearls. Confucius spoke of trustworthiness; the Bible teaches faith. All regard these as the highest virtues.”

III. Confucius Enters American Life

Peter Drucker (1909–2005), known as the father of modern American management, urged people to study the Analects and learn Confucian management. He said: “Confucius was a pragmatist who began with practical administration.”

In 1862, the American Ward’s Ever-Victorious Army assisted the Qing dynasty in resisting the Taiping forces led by Hong Xiuquan during attacks near Shanghai. Ward died in the conflict, and the Qing government accorded him high honors by burying him in a Confucian temple, alongside the gods.

In 1921, The New York Times reported that the British playwright George Bernard Shaw had created an ideal state of “harmonious coexistence” in which Confucius served as secretary of state.

In 1924, The New York Times reported that an American-founded Christian college in Guangzhou incorporated Confucius’ principle of shu—reciprocity and mutuality—into its teaching.

In 1926, during the 150th anniversary of American independence in Philadelphia, the China Institute in America organized a large Chinese education exhibition titled “The Influence of Confucius.”

In the 1930s, American columnist Walter Winchell ran a column titled “Confucius Says,” which became extremely popular.

The new building of the U.S. Supreme Court, completed in 1935, features three stone figures carved into the pediment above its east entrance: Moses, Confucius, and Solon. Moses is the prophet who founded monotheism, Solon was a Greek statesman, and Confucius is listed by the Supreme Court as one of the “greatest lawgivers” in human history.

In 1940, Life magazine documented the popularity of “Confucius says.” People liked to joke: “Do you know what Confucius says?”

In 1941, the U.S. Embassy in Chongqing held a celebration of George Washington’s birthday. During the event, a special envoy of the U.S. president spoke before a mural depicting Confucius standing together with Washington to defend world peace.

In 1943, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) called for blood donations and cited Confucius’ saying “Within the four seas, all men are brothers,” declaring that all blood plasma is identical—science proving Confucius right.

In 1943, during Soong Mei-ling’s visit to the United States, she repeatedly quoted Washington, Lincoln, Jesus, and Confucius to call on China and the United States to fight Japan side by side and defend shared ideals. The Christian Century quoted American girls as saying that the best way to welcome Madame Chiang was to shout “Confucius” to her.

In 1945, The New York Times published an article titled “Confucius Helps GIs Judge Hirohito,” stating that General Stilwell had learned to apply Confucian sayings when swearing or praising others, and that he frankly told American soldiers their purpose in the war was to uphold Confucius’ Doctrine of the Mean and prevent Japan from going to extremes.

IV. Newspapers Use Confucius to Criticize Political Leaders

American media often like to quote Confucius when criticizing U.S. presidents.

In 1973, when the Watergate scandal broke, The Christian Century cited Confucius’ saying, “From ancient times there has been death, but without trust the people cannot stand,” to criticize President Nixon.

In 1986, when President Reagan was mired in the Iran-Contra scandal, The Boston Globe reminded him of Confucius’ teaching that among “sufficient food, sufficient arms, and the trust of the people,” the trust of the people is most important. In the American imagination, Confucius is seen as intelligent, learned, detached, and adept at grasping the essence of things.

In 1999, when President Clinton was embroiled in a sex scandal, The Washington Post quoted Confucius’ words, “I have never seen one who loves virtue as much as he loves beauty,” to criticize the president.

In 2001, when President George W. Bush used ambiguous language and inappropriate wording, The New York Times cited Confucius: “If names are not correct, speech will not be in order; if speech is not in order, affairs will not succeed. If affairs do not succeed, rites and music will not flourish; if rites and music do not flourish, punishments will not be just; if punishments are not just, the people will not know how to move hand or foot.” The paper remarked that Bush’s situation was precisely what Confucius criticized and suggested he hire a tutor deeply versed in Confucian wisdom.

V. Evaluations of Confucius

American thinker Emerson said: “Confucius is the Washington of philosophy”; “Confucius is the center of Chinese culture; Confucius is the pride of all nations of the world”; “One Analects is enough to overthrow the Seven Sages of Greece.”

American scholar Gan Lin said: “Confucius is not merely the sage of one nation, but truly the sage of all nations.”

In an American selection of the world’s ten greatest thinkers, Confucius ranked first.

In 1987, U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz (1920–2021) visited China and made a special trip to Qufu, Shandong, to pay homage to Confucius. At the welcoming ceremony, Shultz said: “The teachings of Confucius will forever be a source of wisdom for humanity.”

(Mostly excerpted from Zhang Tao, Confucius in America, 2011, Beijing, 600 pages)