Confucianism is a philosophy and a way of life formed in China by Confucius, one of the first Chinese philosophers. It began as a simple concept with ideals of personal virtue, simple filial piety, and fundamental distinctions between gender and social inequality. But over time, with the emergence of Neo-Confucianism, it began to transform into a way of life that was degrading towards women, with some hostility towards rival religions. In its early days, from about 500 BCE to the Common Era, Confucianism changed in that it became the primary belief system and a major part of Chinese tradition. From the transition to the Common Era until the end of the Classical period, Confucianism was modified due to a loss of popularity following the collapse of the Han dynasty and the corruption of the ruling political system. In its final period, the Postclassical era, Confucianism experienced perhaps its greatest adjustments with the emergence of Neo-Confucianism. The ideas and virtues presented in the "revival of Confucian philosophies" of intolerance towards foreign religions and extreme filial piety...