New Text Confucianism is a school of thought in
Confucianism that was based on Confucian classics recompiled in the early
Han dynasty by Confucians who survived the
burning of books and burying of scholars during the
Qin dynasty. The survivors wrote the classics in the contemporary characters of their time, and these texts were later dubbed as "New Text". New Text school attained prominence in the
Western Han dynasty and became the official interpretation for Confucianism, which was adopted as the official
ideology by
Emperor Wu of Han. Represented by Confucians such as
Dong Zhongshu, this school advocated a holistic interpretation of Confucian classics and viewed
Confucius as a charismatic, visionary prophet, a sage who deserved the
Mandate of Heaven but did not attain kingship due to circumstances. The school competed with
Old Text Confucianism in the later Han dynasty and its dominance waned as the latter became the new orthodoxy. The school fell into obscurity during the chaotic period after the
fall of the Han dynasty and remained so until late
Ming dynasty in the 17th century.