Final answer:
The teachings of Confucius are seen as a philosophy rather than a religion because they concentrate on moral conduct and social order without involving worship or divine elements, and serve as a guide for personal behavior and governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The teachings of Confucius are considered a philosophy and not a religion because they focus on sharing wisdom about moral practices without the involvement of specific worship or formalized divine objects. Instead, Confucianism represents a social system concerned with maintaining social order and propriety through a set of ethical teachings. Confucius developed these teachings to address social anarchy and the breakdown of social cohesion, proposing a model of moral conduct to guide society rather than a religious doctrine requiring worship or ritual. Although Confucianism incorporates elements of traditional Chinese ancestor-worship and moral precepts, it primarily serves as a guide for personal behavior and governance. The influence of Confucianism in East Asian culture, particularly in China, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan, has embedded it deeply in the political and social structures of these societies, emphasizing respect for authority, family, and social harmony. Confucianism, including its later iteration known as Neo-Confucianism, engages with other philosophical traditions like Buddhism and Daoism, but remains distinct in its focus on secular, moral, and social philosophy rather than religious belief or spiritual practices.