Bridging Confucianism and Islam: A Systematic Literature Review of Ethical Synthesis in the Han Kitab Tradition

Abstract

The historical interaction between Islam and Confucianism in China represents a significant example of intercultural intellectual dialogue. This relationship developed prominently through the Han Kitab tradition, a Chinese-language Islamic intellectual movement that interpreted Islamic teachings using Confucian philosophical vocabulary. This study aims to systematically examine the relationship between Confucian and Islamic ethics by identifying major themes, ethical convergences, philosophical differences, and contemporary implications. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach based on the PRISMA framework was employed. Literature was collected from the Scopus database without publication year restrictions. From 134 identified documents, 29 publications consisting of journal articles, book chapters, and academic books were selected for qualitative synthesis. The findings indicate that Han Kitab functions as a central intellectual bridge where Islamic concepts such as akhlak and maqashid syariah interact with Confucian concepts of ren, li, and yi. Both traditions share similar orientations toward virtue cultivation, moral education, social harmony, and human responsibility. However, fundamental differences remain regarding moral authority, ontology, and the relationship between ethics and law. This study contributes by providing a systematic mapping of Confucian–Islamic ethical studies and highlighting the relevance of intercultural ethical dialogue for contemporary issues in education, governance, technology, and environmental responsibility.