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Confucius 
(b. 551 BCE, Qufu, state of Lu [now in Shandong Province, China]—d. 479 BCE, Lu)

Confucius (originally named Kong Qiu) is China’s most

famous teacher, philosopher, and political theorist, and his
ideas have influenced the civilization of East Asia and some
other parts of the surrounding area.
Confucius’s life, in contrast to his tremendous importance, Commented [AB74]: very great in amount, scale, or
intensity 
seems starkly undramatic, or, as a Chinese expression states, it Commented [AB75]: in a way that is severe or harsh in
appearance 
seems “plain and real.” Confucius’s humanity was not
Commented [AB76]: compassionate, sympathetic, or
revealed truth but an expression of self-cultivation and the generous behavior or disposition

ability of human effort to shape its own destiny. The faith in Commented [AB77]: the process of educating oneself

the possibility of ordinary human beings to become awe-

inspiring sages and worthies is deeply rooted in the Confucian Commented [AB78]: arousing awe through being
impressive, breathtaking
heritage, and the insistence that human beings are teachable, Commented [AB79]: profoundly wise man,

improvable, and perfectible through personal and communal Commented [AB80]: a person notable or important in
a particular sphere 
endeavour is typically Confucian. Commented [AB81]: property that is or may be
inherited; an inheritance
Although the facts about Confucius’s life are scanty, they do Commented [AB82]: the fact or quality of insisting
establish a precise time frame and historical context. that something is the case or should be done.
Commented [AB83]: an attempt to achieve a goal
Confucius was born in the 22nd year of the reign of Duke
Commented [AB84]: relating to Confucius or
Xiang of Lu (551 BCE). The traditional claim that he was Confucianism. 

born on the 27th day of the eighth lunar month has been Commented [AB85]: small or insufficient in quantity or
amount. 
questioned by historians, but September 28 is still widely Commented [AB86]: existing in or as part of a tradition;
long-established 
observed in East Asia as Confucius’s birthday.
It is an official holiday in Taiwan, referred to as “Teacher’s
Day.” Confucius was born in Qufu in the small feudal state of Commented [AB87]: A political and economic system 
based on the holding of all land in fief or fee 
Lu in what is now Shandong Province, which was noted for
its preservation of the traditions of ritual and music of the
Zhou civilization. His family name was Kong and his personal
name was Qiu, but he is referred to as either Kongzi or
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Kongfuzi (Master Kong) throughout Chinese history. The

adjective “Confucian,” derived from the Latinized Confucius, Commented [AB88]: give a Latin or Latinate form to (a
word). 
is not a meaningful term in Chinese—nor is the term
Confucianism, which was coined in Europe as recently as the
18th century.
Confucius’s ancestors were probably members of the
aristocracy who had become virtual poverty-stricken Commented [AB89]: the highest class in certain
societies 
commoners by the time of his birth. His father died when Commented [AB90]: extremely poor

Confucius was only three years old. Instructed by his mother

early in life, Confucius then distinguished himself as an Commented [AB91]: successful, authoritative, and
commanding great respect.
indefatigable learner in his teens. He recalled toward the end Commented [AB92]: persisting tirelessly

of his life that at age 15 his heart was set upon learning. A
historical account notes that, even though he was already
known as an informed young scholar, he felt it appropriate to
inquire about everything while visiting the Grand Temple.
Confucius had served in minor government posts, managing
stables and keeping books for granaries before he married a Commented [AB93]: a building set apart and adapted
for keeping horses 
woman of similar background when he was 19. It is not Commented [AB94]: a storehouse for threshed grain.

known who Confucius’s teachers were, but he made a

conscientious effort to find the right masters to teach him, Commented [AB95]: of a person) wishing to do what is
right, especially to do one's work or duty well and
among other things, ritual and music. His mastery of the six thoroughly. 

arts—ritual, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and Commented [AB96]: Archery is the art, sport, practice,
or skill of using a bow to shoot arrows
arithmetic—and his familiarity with the classical traditions, Commented [AB97]: The driving of a chariot( a two-
wheeled vehicle pulled by horses used in ancient
notably poetry and history, allowed him to become a teacher warfare or racing) 

himself in his 30s.

Confucius is known as the first teacher in China who wanted
to make education broadly available and who was
instrumental in establishing the art of teaching as a vocation Commented [AB98]: a strong feeling of suitability for
a particular career or occupation.
and as a way of life. Before Confucius, aristocratic families Commented [AB99]: noble, titled, upper-class

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had hired tutors to educate their sons in specific arts, and

government officials had instructed their subordinates in the Commented [AB100]: person under the authority or
control of another within an organization.
skills needed to perform their jobs. But Confucius was the
first person to devote his whole life to learning and teaching Commented [AB101]: give all or a large part of one's
time or resources to (a person, activity, or cause).
for the purpose of transforming and improving society. He
believed that all human beings could benefit from self-
cultivation. He inaugurated humanities program for potential Commented [AB102]: begin or introduce (a system,
policy, or period). 
leaders, opened the doors of education to all, and defined Commented [AB103]: learning or literature

learning not merely as the acquisition of knowledge but also Commented [AB104]: just; only

as character building. For Confucius the primary function of Commented [AB105]: an asset or object bought or
obtained, 
education was to provide the proper way of training
exemplary persons (junzi), a process that involved constant Commented [AB106]: serving as a desirable model;
representing the best of its kind.
self-improvement and continuous social interaction. Although
he emphatically noted that learning was “for the sake of the
self,” he found public service integral to true education. Commented [AB107]: necessary to make a whole
complete; essential or fundamental

Confucius confronted those who challenged his desire to serve Commented [AB108]: meet (someone) face to face
with hostile or argumentative intent.
the world. He resisted the temptation to live apart from the Commented [AB109]: the desire to do something,

human community, opting instead to try to transform the Commented [AB110]: make a choice from a range of
possibilities. 
world from within. For decades Confucius tried to be actively
involved in politics, wishing to put his humanist ideas into Commented [AB111]: an advocate or follower of the
principles of humanism.
practice through government channels.
In his late 40s and early 50s, Confucius served first as a
magistrate, then as an assistant minister of public works, and
eventually as minister of justice in the state of Lu. He likely Commented [AB112]: go somewhere with (someone)
as a companion or escort.
accompanied King Lu as his chief minister on one of the Commented [AB113]: experiencing feelings of
diplomatic missions. Confucius’s political career was, isolation 
Commented [AB114]: morally correct behavior or
however, short-lived. His loyalty to the king alienated him thinking; righteousness
from the power holders of the time—the large Ji families— Commented [AB115]: give intense pleasure or joy to

and his moral rectitude did not sit well with the king’s inner Commented [AB116]: relating to or affecting the
senses rather than the intellect
circle, who enraptured the king with sensuous delight. Commented [AB117]: please (someone) greatly

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At 56, when he realized that his superiors were uninterested in

his policies, Confucius left the country in an attempt to find
another feudal state to which he could render his service. Commented [AB118]: provide or give (a service, help,
etc.). 
Despite his political frustration, he was accompanied by an Commented [AB119]: the feeling of being upset or
annoyed 
expanding circle of students during this twelve-year exile. His
reputation as a man of vision and mission spread.
A guardian of a border post once described him as the
“wooden tongue for a bell” of the age, sounding heaven’s
prophetic note to awaken the people (Analects, 3:24). Indeed,
Confucius was perceived as the heroic conscience who knew Commented [AB120]: become aware or conscious of
(something); come to realize or understand.
realistically that he might not succeed but, fired by a righteous Commented [AB121]: an inner feeling or voice viewed
as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of
passion, continuously did the best he could. one's behavior 
Commented [AB122]: supply
At the age of 67, he returned home to teach and to preserve
Commented [AB123]: maintain (something) in its
his cherished classical traditions by writing and editing. He original or existing state

died in 479 BCE, at the age of 73. According to the Records Commented [AB124]: protect and care for (someone)
lovingly. 
of the Historian, 72 of his students mastered the “six arts,”
and those who claimed to be his followers numbered 3,000.

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