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Confucius Biography & Facts

Confucius (孔子; pinyin: Kǒngzǐ; lit. 'Master Kong'; c. 551 – c. 479 BCE), born Kong Qiu (孔丘), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Confucius's teachings and philosophy underpin the East Asian culture and society, and remain influential across China and East Asia to this day. His philosophical teachings, called Confucianism, emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice, kindness, sincerity, and a ruler's responsibilities to lead by virtue.Confucius considered himself a transmitter for the values of earlier periods which he claimed had been abandoned in his time. He advocated for filial piety, endorsing strong family loyalty, ancestor veneration, the respect of elders by their children and of husbands by their wives. Confucius recommended a robust family unit as the cornerstone for an ideal government. He championed the Silver Rule, or a negative form of the Golden Rule, advising, "Do not do unto others what you do not want done to yourself."The time of Confucius's life saw a rich diversity of thought, and was a formative period in China's intellectual history. His ideas gained in prominence during the Warring States period, but experienced setback immediately following the Qin conquest. Under Emperor Wu of Han, Confucius's ideas received official sanction, with affiliated works becoming mandatory readings for career paths leading to officialdom. During the Tang and Song dynasties, Confucianism developed into a system known in the West as Neo-Confucianism, and later as New Confucianism. From ancient dynasties to the modern era, Confucianism has integrated into the Chinese social fabric and way of life.Traditionally, Confucius is credited with having authored or edited many of the ancient texts including all of the Five Classics. However, modern scholars exercise caution in attributing specific assertions to Confucius himself, for at least some of the texts and philosophy associated with him were of a more ancient origin. Aphorisms concerning his teachings were compiled in the Analects, but not until many years after his death. Name The name "Confucius" is a Latinized form of the Mandarin Chinese Kǒng Fūzǐ (孔夫子, "Master Kong"), and was coined in the late 16th century by early Jesuit missionaries to China. Confucius's family name was Kong (孔, OC:*‍kʰˤoŋʔ) and his given name was Qiu (丘, OC:*‍[k]ʷʰə). His courtesy name, a capping (guan: 冠) given at his coming of age ceremony, and by which he would have been known to all but his older family members, was Zhongni (仲尼, OC:*‍N-‍truŋ-‍s nr[əj]), the "Zhòng" indicating that he was the second son in his family. Life Early life It is thought that Confucius was born on 28 September 551 BCE, in Zou (鄒, in modern Shandong). The area was notionally controlled by the kings of Zhou but effectively independent under the local lords of Lu, who ruled from the nearby city of Qufu. His father Kong He (or Shuliang He) was an elderly commandant of the local Lu garrison. His ancestry traced back through the dukes of Song to the Shang dynasty which had preceded the Zhou. Traditional accounts of Confucius's life relate that Kong He's grandfather had migrated the family from Song to Lu. Not all modern scholars accept Confucius's descent from Song nobility.: 14–15 Kong He died when Confucius was three years old, and Confucius was raised by his mother Yan Zhengzai (顏徵在) in poverty. His mother later died at less than 40 years of age. At age 19, he married Lady Qiguan (亓官氏), and a year later the couple had their first child, their son Kong Li (孔鯉). Qiguan and Confucius later had two daughters together, one of whom is thought to have died as a child and one was named Kong Jiao (孔姣).Confucius was educated at schools for commoners, where he studied and learned the Six Arts.Confucius was born into the class of shi (士), between the aristocracy and the common people. He is said to have worked in various government jobs during his early 20s, and as a bookkeeper and a caretaker of sheep and horses, using the proceeds to give his mother a proper burial. When his mother died, Confucius (aged 23) is said to have mourned for three years, as was the tradition. Political career In Confucius's time, the state of Lu was headed by a ruling ducal house. Under the duke were three aristocratic families, whose heads bore the title of viscount and held hereditary positions in the Lu bureaucracy. The Ji family held the position "Minister over the Masses", who was also the "Prime Minister"; the Meng family held the position "Minister of Works"; and the Shu family held the position "Minister of War". In the winter of 505 BCE, Yang Hu—a retainer of the Ji family—rose up in rebellion and seized power from the Ji family. However, by the summer of 501 BCE, the three hereditary families had succeeded in expelling Yang Hu from Lu. By then, Confucius had built up a considerable reputation through his teachings, while the families came to see the value of proper conduct and righteousness, so they could achieve loyalty to a legitimate government. Thus, that year (501 BCE), Confucius came to be appointed to the minor position of governor of a town. Eventually, he rose to the position of Minister of Crime. It was said in Xunzi that once assuming the post, Confucius ordered the execution of Shaozheng Mao, another Lu state official and scholar whose lectures attracted the three thousand disciples several times except Yan Hui. Shaozheng Mao was accused of 'five crimes', each worth execution, including 'concealed evilness, stubborn abnormality, eloquent duplicity, erudition in bizarre facts and generosity to evildoers'.Confucius desired to return the authority of the state to the duke by dismantling the fortifications of the city—strongholds belonging to the three families. This way, he could establish a centralized government. However, Confucius relied solely on diplomacy as he had no military authority himself. In 500 BCE, Hou Fan—the governor of Hou—revolted against his lord of the Shu family. Although the Meng and Shu families unsuccessfully besieged Hou, a loyalist official rose up with the people of Hou and forced Hou Fan to flee to the Qi state. The situation may have been in favor for Confucius as this likely made it possible for Confucius and his disciples to convince the aristocratic families to dismantle the fortifications of their cities. Eventually, after a year and a half, Confucius and his disciples succeeded in convincing the Shu family to raze the walls of Hou, the Ji family in razing the walls of Bi, and the Meng family in razing the walls of Cheng. First, the Shu family led an army towards their city Hou and tore down its walls in 498 BCE. Soon thereafter, Gongshan Furao (also known as Gongshan Buniu), a retainer of the Ji family, revolted and took control of the forces at Bi. He immediately launched an attack and entered the capital Lu..... Discover the Confucius popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Confucius books.

Best Seller Confucius Books of 2024

  • The Analects of Confucius synopsis, comments

    The Analects of Confucius

    Confucius & James Legge

    The Analects of Confucius gathers the teachings or aphorisms of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551479 BC). He discusses the morality of government and the individual, social re...

  • Tao Te Ching synopsis, comments

    Tao Te Ching

    Lao Tzu, Jane English, Gia-Fu Feng, Toinette Lippe & Jacob Needleman

    For nearly two generations, this translation of the Tao Te Ching has been the standard for those seeking access to the wisdom of Taoist thought. Now Jane English and her longtime e...

  • A Loyal Character Dancer synopsis, comments

    A Loyal Character Dancer

    Qiu Xiaolong

    The second book in the Inspector Chen investigationsInspector Chen’s mentor in the Shanghai Police Bureau has assigned him to escort US Marshal Catherine Rohn. Her mission is to br...

  • China synopsis, comments

    China

    John Keay

    An authoritative account of five thousand years of Chinese history Many nations define themselves in terms of territory or people; China defines itself in terms of history. Taking ...

  • Trying Not to Try synopsis, comments

    Trying Not to Try

    Edward Slingerland

    A deeply original exploration of the power of spontaneityan ancient Chinese ideal that cognitive scientists are only now beginning to understandand why it is so essential to our we...

  • The Wisdom of Confucius, with Critical and Biographical Sketches synopsis, comments

    The Wisdom of Confucius, with Critical and Biographical Sketches

    Confucius

    According to Wikipedia: "Confucius (traditionally 28 September 551 BC – 479 BC) was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period. The philosophy of Conf...

  • Your Voice Confucius synopsis, comments

    Your Voice Confucius

    Confucius

    A hand picked selection of timeless quotes from Confucius.

  • Confucius synopsis, comments

    Confucius

    Marc Semenoff

    Cet ouvrage est une réédition numérique d’un livre paru au XXe siècle, désormais indisponible dans son format d’origine.

  • What Would Confucius Say If He Were Around Today synopsis, comments

    What Would Confucius Say If He Were Around Today

    Robert David Bach

    Confucius makes a present day journey aboard a train, explains his taking on life, and leaves the reader of this book with a rather tricky invention.  What could it be?  ...

  • The Four Books of Confucianism synopsis, comments

    The Four Books of Confucianism

    Mencius & Anonymous

    The Four Books are Chinese classic texts illustrating the core value and belief systems in Confucianism. They were selected by Zhu Xi in the Song dynasty to serve as general introd...

  • The Wisdom of Confucius synopsis, comments

    The Wisdom of Confucius

    Confucius

    The strangest figure that meets us in the annals of Oriental thought is that of Confucius. To the popular mind he is the founder of a religion, and yet he has nothing in common wit...

  • Confucius synopsis, comments

    Confucius

    Anna Carew-Miller

    Confucius was a teacher and philosopher living in fifthcentury China. His ideas about the ways people should behave and treat each other are still part of Chinese culture and educa...

  • 14 Works of Change the World synopsis, comments

    14 Works of Change the World

    Karl Marx, Plato, Confucius, Friedrich Engels, Thomas More, Abraham Lincoln, Theodor Herzl, Voltaire, Thomas Jefferson, Georg Jellinek, Dr. Phil. Et Jur, Adolf Hitler, Muhammad, Shakya Muni & Moses

    Plato The Republic Confucius The Sayings Of Confucius Karl Marx &Amp; Friedrich Engels Manifesto Of The Communist Party   Thomas More Utopia Abraham Lincoln The Emancipati...

  • Confucius Lives Next Door synopsis, comments

    Confucius Lives Next Door

    T.R. Reid

    Those who've heard T. R. Reid's weekly commentary on National Public Radio or read his farflung reporting in National Geographic or  The Washington Post know him to be ...

  • The Written World synopsis, comments

    The Written World

    Martin Puchner

    The story of literature in sixteen actsfrom Homer to Harry Potter, including The Tale of Genji, Don Quixote, The Communist Manifesto, and how they shaped world history In this grou...

  • The Sayings of Confucius synopsis, comments

    The Sayings of Confucius

    Confucius

    The teachings of Chinese philosopher Confucius may be more than 2,000 years old, but his vision of how to live still resonates today.

  • The Four Chinese Classics synopsis, comments

    The Four Chinese Classics

    David Hinton

    Discover four seminal masterworks of Chinese thoughtLao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, the Analects of Confucius, the Chuang Tzu, and the Menciuspresented in one volume for the first time in ...

  • Tao Te Ching synopsis, comments

    Tao Te Ching

    Lao Tzu, R. B. Blakney & Richard John Lynn

    "No one has done better in conveying Lao Tsu's simple and laconic style of writing, so as to produce an English version almost as suggestive of the many meanings intended.  Th...

  • Confucius, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi synopsis, comments

    Confucius, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi

    Michael Puett & Christine Gross-Loh

    An ebook companion to The Path by Michael Puett and Christine GrossLoh that puts together a broad selection of translated excerpts from the ancient works of Chinese philosophy disc...

  • The Art of Quiet Influence synopsis, comments

    The Art of Quiet Influence

    Jocelyn Davis

    Anyone can be a quiet influencer. But not everyone knows how."A tremendous and relevant read!" Stephen M. R. Covey, New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of ...

  • Chinese Literature synopsis, comments

    Chinese Literature

    ca. 337-422 Faxian, 551 BC-479 BC Confucius & Mencius

    The strangest figure that meets us in the annals of Oriental thought is that of Confucius. To the popular mind he is the founder of a religion, and yet he has nothing in common wit...

  • Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, Lieh Tzu and Confucius synopsis, comments

    Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, Lieh Tzu and Confucius

    Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, Lieh Tzu & Confucius

    A new edition of the landmark translations by Lionel Giles of the classical texts by Lao Tzu [Laozi], Chuang Tzu [Zhuangzi], Lieh Tzu [Liezi] and Confucius. This collection contain...

  • The Socrates Express synopsis, comments

    The Socrates Express

    Eric Weiner

    The New York Times bestselling author of The Geography of Bliss embarks on a rollicking intellectual journey, following in the footsteps of history’s greatest thinkers and showing ...

  • Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, Lieh Tzu and Confucius synopsis, comments

    Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, Lieh Tzu and Confucius

    Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, Lieh Tzu & Confucius

    A new edition of the landmark translations by Lionel Giles of the classical texts by Lao Tzu [Laozi], Chuang Tzu [Zhuangzi], Lieh Tzu [Liezi] and Confucius. This collection contai...

  • Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life synopsis, comments

    Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life

    Karen Armstrong

    One of the most original thinkers on the role of religion in the modern worldand the bestselling author of such acclaimed books as A History of God, Islam, and Buddhanow gives us a...

  • The Complete Confucius synopsis, comments

    The Complete Confucius

    Confucius & Bluefire Books

    Embark on a journey of wisdom and harmony with "The Complete Confucius" – a comprehensive eBook collection encompassing the profound teachings and insights of Confucius, th...

  • Confucius synopsis, comments

    Confucius

    Atem

    “When Tsze sat himself down upon a big rock, he said to the Earth:‘Why is it that you are always so hard to manage?’And the Earth said to Tsze:‘Because the Great One created me so ...

  • The Analects of Confucius synopsis, comments

    The Analects of Confucius

    Confucius, James Legge (Translator)

    The Analects, also known as the Analects of Confucius, are a record of the words and acts of the central Chinese thinker and philosopher Confucius and his disciples, as well as t...

  • Confucius synopsis, comments

    Confucius

    Charlene Tan

    Charlene Tan's text offers a coherent account of Confucius' educational thought and its implications for the modern world. Arguing that Confucius is more than an ancient ma...

  • The Wisdom of Confucius synopsis, comments

    The Wisdom of Confucius

    Epiphanius Wilson

    Confucius takes such a positive, simple, and humanistic approach on life which really affects you deeply. It's amazing that Confucius lived more than 2500 years ago; many of teachi...

  • The Lost Art of Scripture synopsis, comments

    The Lost Art of Scripture

    Karen Armstrong

    A book that shines fresh light on the world's major religions to help us build bridges between faiths and rediscover a creative and spiritual engagement with holy textsfrom the New...

  • Confucius -Readings from The Analects synopsis, comments

    Confucius -Readings from The Analects

    Lawrence Reiff

    Collection of readings

  • The Sayings Of Confucius synopsis, comments

    The Sayings Of Confucius

    Confucius

    Promoting virtues such as filial devotion, compassion, loyalty, and propriety, these dialogues between the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius and his disciples comprise the crux...

  • The Analects of Confucius synopsis, comments

    The Analects of Confucius

    Confucius

    The classic book of quotations and discussions by Chinese philosopher Confucius is presented here anew in a superbly formatted English edition. Originally, these sayings and conver...

  • The Analects of Confucius synopsis, comments

    The Analects of Confucius

    Roger T. Ames & Henry Rosemont Jr.

    "To quietly persevere in storing up what is learned, to continue studying without respite, to instruct others without growing wearyis this not me?"ConfuciusConfucius is recognized ...

  • The Sayings of Confucius synopsis, comments

    The Sayings of Confucius

    William Messer

    Confucius (551–479 BC) was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history. The philosophy of Confucius, also known as Co...

  • Quotes of Confucius and Their Interpretations, a Words of Wisdom Collection Book synopsis, comments

    Quotes of Confucius and Their Interpretations, a Words of Wisdom Collection Book

    D Brewer

    This fascinating collection of 120 Confucius quotes and their interpretations relating to the modern world gives valuable insight into the wisdom of the man himself, as well as pro...

  • The Wisdom of Confucius synopsis, comments

    The Wisdom of Confucius

    Philosophical Library

    Hundreds of sage observations from China’s most revered scholar Teacher, politician, philosopher, and student, Confucius offered wisdom and aphorisms on a variety of topics th...

  • Confucius synopsis, comments

    Confucius

    Peimin Ni

    Through a systematic introduction of Confucius as a historical figure, a spiritual leader, a philosopher, a political reformer, an educator, and a person, this book offers a compre...

  • Confucius synopsis, comments

    Confucius

    Edward Harper Parker & Warren G. Benton

    All you have to know about Confucius life, doctrines and ethics.

  • Three Pennies synopsis, comments

    Three Pennies

    Melanie Crowder

    A girl in foster care tries to find her birth mother before she loses her forever in this “tender tale” (School Library Journal, starred review) about last chances and new opportun...