Among European countries, Confucianism has had its greatest impact in France. In the first half of 18th century, when the Enlightenment movement flourished, great thinkers of the time drew much inspiration from Confucianism. Having made a thorough study of Confucius's teachings, they maintained that European countries should administer state affairs by combining politics with ethics. The Confucian influence on the French Revolution can be seen in the declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. It says that freedom is a right for all those who do not harm others, the principle of freedom is nature, ruled by justice and guaranteed by the law. Actually the moral limits are contained in the following, "Do not do unto others what you would not like done unto yourself."

At the present time, the major studies Confucianism in France occur at the Chinese study institute of Paris University, which offers such subjects as the Confucian Classics and Confucianism. In Grand Larousse Encyclopedique (published in 1973), under the entry of Confucius, a systematic introduction was given to Confucius and Confucianism. In this authoritative work of Confuclan study in France, the discussion starts with Confucius and ends with Mr Feng Youlan, a Chinese expert in Confucian studies.