Confucius | Biography, Teachings, & Facts

Highlights of Confucius:

Occupation	Philosopher and teacher
Born	551 BC in China, the state of Lu
Died	479 BC in China, the state of Lu
known for	Creating the philosophy known as Confucianism

Biography of Confucius:

Being a Child

Little is known about Confucius’s early years. In the year 551 BC, he was born in the state of Lu. Kong He, a soldier who passed away when Confucius was three years old, was his father. Confucius was reared by his mother throughout the remainder of his childhood, during which he lived in squalor.

The Confucius family belonged to the “shi,” or emerging middle class, of China. Despite not belonging to the nobility, they were regarded as superior to the common people. He now had a perspective on life that was distinct from most people’s. According to him, promotions and rewards should be given to people based on their abilities rather than the family they were born into.

Earlier Years

Confucius first held a number of common jobs before becoming a great teacher. They included working as a clerk and a shepherd. Confucius eventually started working for the government. He began his career as the mayor of a tiny town and worked his way up until he was a senior counselor to the government.

His Philosophy

Confucius created his own system of thought, which he passed on to others. Today, Confucianism is the name given to his ideology. Years after his passing, his views gained traction and for more than 2000 years served as the cornerstone of Chinese culture.

Some of the major principles of Confucianism are as follows:

Be kind to others.

Be polite and observe your regular habits.

A man ought to possess strong morals and ethics.

Family was significant, and forebears should be honored.

Integrity, righteousness, altruism, goodness, and loyalty were the characteristics of a true man.

Moderation should be used in everything.

He supported an effective and well-run central government.

Later Life

At the age of 51, Confucius left his position with the government. He was dissatisfied that his teachings were not being heeded by the leaders. After that, he spent many years lecturing about his ideas all around China. Some of his adherents recorded his teachings in a book that became known as The Analects of Confucius.

Death

In 479 BC, Confucius passed away from natural causes. He instructed his followers throughout his latter years in his homeland of Qufu.

Legacy

Throughout the Han Dynasty, Confucius’ teachings were adopted as Chinese national philosophy. The civil service exams were developed based on his teachings. Confucianism was favored by the government because it emphasized the value of a strong central government and taught respect for authority. Up until the 20th century, Confucius’ teachings played a significant role in Chinese culture and governance.

Confucius’s Quotes

Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want done to you.

It is useless to study while not thinking. It’s risky to think without studying.

The cautious are rarely wrong.

Isn’t it enjoyable to study and put what you have learnt into practice?

You lack bravery if you can see what is correct but choose not to do it.

Consider emulating a decent person when you come across one. Consider your own shortcomings whenever you encounter a weak person.

Fascinating information about Confucius

His family name was Kong Qiu, and in China, he is referred to as “Kongzi,” which translates to “Master Kong.”

Confucianism is seen as a philosophy by some and a religion by others.

At the age of 19, he got married and had Kong Li as a child.

More than 2 million descendants of Confucius are known and registered.