What happened to Confucianism in real life?

[SolarSelect]

I know that Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism dominated the world after the Renaissance while the Pagan religions started to wane, but what ever happened to Confucianism?

[Kitten Food]

Confucianism isn't a religion it is a philosophy that is still very much dominant in Chinese and Asia culture. It is one of those things that most people don't understand in the west because of our religious ancestry. So to say you are "Confucianist" is nonsense since it isn't a faith or denomination. EU4 just has it listed as a religion to simulate the differences in unity culture in the world which is mostly commonly sourced to religion.

[EQCR]

Confusianism as a state religion faded when the Han dynasty faded and was supplanted by Taoism and Buddhism. It was never really a unified religious system like the others you mentioned.

[Surimi]

There are actual Confucian/Taoist temples which are distinct from Buddhist temples to this day, but generally there isn't a firm line between any of these three traditions. It's the same in many east Asian countries. Buddhism migrated in from India and was absorbed seamlessly into the existing religious culture, so as Kite said Confucianism in game is more a reflection of the generally distinct character of Chinese religion.

On the same note, "Shinto" didn't really exist in the period covered by EU4. There were no separate Shinto shrines or priesthood. However, the religious environment (while still technically "Buddhist") was very different to that on the mainland, which is why Shinto is separate in game.