Confucian ideal (3)
I believe the answer is:
tao
'confucian ideal' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for tao that I've seen before include "Element of Chinese philosophy" , "Chinese philosophical principle" , "Philosophical principle, the way" , "Confucian way to be followed" , "religious way" .)