「原儒」是20世紀中國學界重要的思想議題，反映了傳統與現代的思想轉型，也體現了古今中西文化之爭。相對於「即道原儒」和語文學的方法，馮友蘭以思想史的方法來探尋儒家的起源。一是從歷史維度強調作為思想流派的儒家是孔子所創始，顯示了一種「截斷眾流」的意思。二是從現實維度論證儒家的現代價值，致力於闡發儒家和中國哲學的特質。三是從未來維度重建以儒家哲學為主體的新道統，建構其新理學體系，藉此挺立中國哲學的主體性。馮友蘭把儒家、道家、名家、玄學、禪宗和宋明理學等納入其道統譜系，從而展現了中國哲學史上經學與子學的互動關係，也體現了他的道統觀具有一定的開放性。

Exploring the origin of Confucianism was an important intellectual issue in twentieth century China, which reflected a major intellectual transformation from traditional to modern ages, as well as debates between ancient and modern cultures, both in China and in the West. Among others, Feng Youlan 馮友蘭 (1895-1990) explored the origin of Confucianism with the method of the intellectual history. First, historically, he emphasized that Confucianism as a school of thought was founded by Confucius, thereby “cutting off the masses”. Second, from the practical dimension, he argued for modern values of Confucianism and devoted himself to elucidating characteristics of Confucianism and of Chinese philosophy. Third, for the future, he rebuilt the new “lineage of the Way” (daotong 道統) with Confucianism as the main body, and developed his “new philosophy of principle” (xin lixue 新理學) so as to erect the subjectivity of Chinese philosophy. At the same time, Feng Youlan took in his “lineage of the Way” Confucianism, Taoism, the School of Names (mingjia 名家), Neo-Taoism (xuanxue 玄學), Chan Buddhism, and Neo Confucianism, which reveals interactions between Confucian classics and non-Confucian scholarship in Chinese intellectual history, and reflects the openness in his view of lineage of the Way.