Abstract: Confucianism has long been regarded to be impracticable. The study of Confucian ethics and wealth depends on understanding of the relationship between Dao and Practice, on which academic studies could be summarized in three paradigms: inapplicability, direct application and indirect application, among which only the indirect paradigm serves as right interpretation. In the Pre-Qin Dynasty, Confucians deemed themselves as scholars, and seldom practiced business. Confucius attached importance to wealth and justified the pursuit of it. However, most of the theories about economics and finance were from the perspective of national government in original Confucianism. The relationship between Dao and Practice is not positively logical, but as a detoured, dynamic, experiential, and temporary link. The business transactions recorded in the “Biography of Businesspeople” of Shiji turned out to be indirect application of Confucian wisdom. The indirect paradigm retains the immeasurably fruitful meaning in the interaction of Confucian theory and Practice, it is a more holistic view and authentically applicable in advanced commercial decision-makings.

Key words: Confucian Entrepreneurship, indirect paradigm, original Confucianism, relationship between Dao and Practice