The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 3 letter word TAO
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
T
A
O
More clues leading to the result TAO
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "right conduct for Confucius" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case right conduct for confucius = tao.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TAO mean?
TAO proper noun- In Taoism, The Way, specifically the transcendental basis of nature and, and/or the ideal way to live one's life.
- The act of moving or revolving around, or as in a circle or orbit; a revolution
- The circumference of, or distance around, any space; the measure of a line around an area.
- That which encircles anything, as a ring or crown.
- The space enclosed within a circle, or within limits.
- Enclosed path of an electric current, usually designed for a certain function.
- A regular or appointed trip from place to place as part of one's job
- The jurisdiction of certain judges within a state or country, whether itinerant or not.
- Various administrative divisions of imperial and early Republican China, including:
- Methodism: The basic grouping of local Methodist churches.
- By analogy to the proceeding three, a set of theaters among which the same acts circulate; especially common in the heyday of vaudeville.
- A track on which a race in held; a racetrack
- Circumlocution
- A thought that unconsciously goes round and round in a person's mind and controls that person.
- A closed path, without repeated vertices allowed
- A court that sits at more than one location in the district that it serves.
- (by extension) The art or skill of doing something in harmony with the essential nature of the thing.