This paper is a historical survey of western construction of the images of Con-fucianism ranging from the sixteenth century to nineteenth century. The historical process ofWestern version of Confucianism originally was traced back to European missionaries, whoplayed crucial role in collecting Confucian primary sources and praising the ethical and socialvalues of Confucianism. Inspired by the primary sources of Confucianism, Enlightenmentscholars represented the image of Confucianism as romanticized ideal of natural theory andpractical morality for European culture. However, western＇ s imagination of Confucianism inthe nineteenth century shifted from a cultural and political ideal to childish and static traditioninferior to European culture, as emphasized in Hegel and Herder＇ s works. All these Westernimages of Confucianism illustrate the historical expressions of European self - presentation,self- confirmation and self- criticism.