Confucius (Kong Fu-zi,September 28,551 - 479 BCE) was a famous Chinese thinker and social philosopher,whose teachings and philosophy have deeply influenced East Asian life and thought.
His philosophy emphasised personal and governmental morality,correctness of social relationships,justice and sincerity.These values gained prominence in China over other doctrines,such as Legalism or Daoism during the Han Dynasty.Confucius' thoughts have been developed into a system of philosophy known as Confucianism.It was introduced to Europe by the Jesuit Matteo Ricci,who was the first to Latinize the name as Confucius.
His teachings are known primarily through the Analects of Confucius,a short collection of his discussions with his disciples,which was compiled posthumously.
Confucius' Lun Yu
In the Lun yu,we can read shorts analects were the Sage lives and discuss with his disciples.This is maybe the first human scripture giving someone's detailed and realistic portrait.
Short biography:The name Confucius is the latinized form of the Chinese characters,K´ung Foo-tsze,meaning,“The master,K´ung.” The bearer of this name was born of an ancient and distinguished family in the district of Tsow,in the present province of Shen-tung,China,B.C.551.His father was a soldier of reputation and governor of Tsow,but not a man of wealth.Confucius married at nineteen,and in his early manhood held a minor office; but within a few years he became a public teacher,and soon attracted numerous disciples.Rising in reputation,he was invited to the court of Chow,where he investigated the traditional ceremonies and maxims of the ruling dynasty; and in the following year visited another state where he studied the ancient music.When he was nearly fifty,in the year 500 B.C.,he again took office,becoming in turn chief magistrate of the town of Chung-too,Assistant-Superintendent of Works to the Ruler of Loo,and finally Minister of Crime.In spite of almost miraculous efficiency,he lost the support of his ruler in 496 B.C.; and until his death in 478 B.C.,he wandered from state to state,sometimes well-treated,sometimes enduring severe hardships,always saddened by the refusal of the turbulent potentates to be guided by his beneficent counsels.No sooner was he dead,however,than his wisdom was recognized by peasant and emperor alike; admiration rose to veneration,veneration to worship.Sacrifices were offered to him,temples built in his honor,and a cult established which has lasted almost two thousand years.
Confucius did not regard himself as an innovator,but as the conservator of ancient truth and ceremonial propriety.He dealt with neither theology nor metaphysics,but with moral and political conduct.