魏晉南北朝時期，在玄學風行、佛道倡興條件下，儒學仍然保持著社會思想的宗主地位，玄學未取代儒學成為社會的統治思想；釋道的倡興只是打破了儒學的壟斷，而沒有動搖儒學的宗主地位；此一時期儒學的經解和研習雖有起伏但仍能綿延不斷且做出了貢獻。該時期儒學對保持中國文化的連續性和統一性發展起過重要作用。

　　　　　So popular were Metaphysics, Buddhism, and Taoism popular, Confucianism was still the preeminent trend of social thought in the Wei-Jin Dynasty. Although the popularity of Buddhism put an end to the monopoly of Confucianism, the latter's intellectual status was still firm. During this age, the interpretations and studies of Confucianism may have some changes, but they continued to make significant contributions that were very important to the continual unification of Chinese culture.