Confucius
   Confucius (551-479 BCE), according to Chinese tradition, was a
   thought, compares Confucius' influence in Chinese history with that of
     * [25]1. Confucius' Life
     * [26]2. Confucius' Social Philosophy
     * [27]3. Confucius' Political Philosophy
     * [28]4. Confucius and Education
1. Confucius' Life
   The sources for Confucius' life are later and do not carefully
   known of him as legendary. Many of the legends surrounding Confucius
   of tales opens by identifying Confucius' ancestors as members of the
   family became impoverished. Confucius is described, by Sima Qian and
   includes the tale of how Confucius was born in answer to his parents'
   prayers at a sacred hill (qiu) called Ni. Confucius' surname Kong
   birth. This casts doubt, then, on Confucius' royal genealogy as found
   in Sima Qian. Similarly, Confucius' recorded age at death,
   early Chinese literature. We do not know how Confucius himself was
   Xiang. In his middle age Confucius is supposed to have gathered about
   himself to political matters in Lu. The number of Confucius' disciples
   conversant with the Six Disciplines [taught by Confucius], numbered
   maximum, though both of these numbers are suspicious given Confucius'
   Confucius' talents were recognized and he was appointed Minister of
   Public Works and then Minister of Crime. But Confucius apparently
   power (or was it the duke himself that Confucius had rubbed the wrong
   the company of his disciples, Confucius left Lu and traveled in the
   Chinese Book of Songs, Confucius' life is thus rendered a re-enactment
   In any case, by most traditional accounts, Confucius returned to Lu in
   of Lu. Sima Qian's account also provides background on Confucius'
   moreover, that, "In his later years, Confucius delighted in the
   this point. Confucius' traditional association with these works led
   made Confucius himself the spiritual ancestor of later teachers,
   Our best source for understanding Confucius and his thought is the
   having been compiled in variant versions long after Confucius's death
   Confucius. Benjamin Schwartz cautions us against such radical
   Confucius comported himself as a thinker, teacher, and official. Some
   relabeled as descriptions of Confucius. Traditionally, Book X has been
   regarded as providing an intimate portrait of Confucius and has been
     Confucius, at home in his native village, was simple and unassuming
   Analects passages such as these made Confucius the model of
   By the 4^th century BCE, Confucius was recognized as a unique figure,
   king. At the end of the 4^th century, Mencius says of Confucius: "Ever
   Confucius." And in two passages Mencius implies that Confucius was one
   five hundred years. Confucius also figures prominently as the subject
   third century BCE follower of Confucius' teachings. Indeed chapters
   Confucius and his followers also inspired considerable criticism from
   parodying Confucius and the teachings conventionally associated with
   him. But Confucius' reputation was so great that even the Zhuangzi
2. Confucius' Social Philosophy
   Confucius' teachings and his conversations and exchanges with his
   century BCE. While Confucius believes that people live their lives
   Confucius represented his teachings as lessons transmitted from
   (Lunyu 7.1) Confucius pointed especially to the precedents established
   already been conventional in Confucius' day. Certainly his claim that
   old ideas. Much of what Confucius taught appears to have been original
   Confucius also claimed that he enjoyed a special and privileged
   2.4). Confucius was also careful to instruct his followers that they
   scholars have seen a contradiction between Confucius' reverence for
   Confucius's attitudes toward spiritual forces (Lunyu 3.12, 6.20, and
   Confucius revered and respected the spirits, thought that they should
   Confucius' social philosophy largely revolves around the concept of
   slow of speech." (Lunyu 13.27). For Confucius, such concern for others
   the needs of one's family and community. Confucius and many of his
   Lunyu 2.4.). Nor does Confucius' emphasis on ritual mean that he was a
   social exchange had to be practiced correctly at all costs. Confucius
   signified nothing. (Lunyu 3.3). Equally important was Confucius'
   Confucius] sacrificed to the dead as if they were present. He
   one's interactions with all people. Confucius warns those in power
   Confucius regards loving others as a calling and a mission for which
3. Confucius' Political Philosophy
   Confucius' political philosophy is also rooted in his belief that a
   ruling elite. Thus Confucius' warning about the ill consequences of
   Most troubling to Confucius was his perception that the political
   of good government, Confucius is reported to have replied: "Good
   title that I claim for myself. Confucius' analysis of the lack of
   such circumstances is usually referred to as Confucius' theory of
   zhengming. Elsewhere in the Analects, Confucius says to his disciple
   terms that were suitable to the age. For Confucius, zhengming does not
   themselves. Confucius believed that this sort of rectification had to
   in Lu), Confucius advised: "If your desire is for good, the people
   For Confucius, what characterized superior rulership was the
   deputies. Confucius claimed that, "He who governs by means of his
4. Confucius and Education
   A hallmark of Confucius' thought is his emphasis on education and
   comes from long and careful study. Study, for Confucius, means finding
   against excessive reflection and meditation, Confucius' position
   thinks but does not learn is in great danger." (Lunyu 2.15) Confucius,
   mastered the arts he cherished. Confucius is willing to teach anyone,
   Confucius' pedagogical methods are striking. He never discourses at
   Confucius' goal is to create gentlemen who carry themselves with
   Lunyu passages. Confucius finds himself in an age in which values are
   important to Confucius because it is the means by which one can
   because many of its poems are both beautiful and good. Thus Confucius
   important source for Confucius' understanding of the role poetry and
   Confucius's reverence for the Book of Songs and its importance in
   moral education. These manuscripts show that Confucius had found in
     * Ames, R. & Hall, D., 1987, Thinking Through Confucius, Albany,
     * Creel, H., 1949, Confucius, Harper.
     * Lau, D. C., 1979, Confucius: The Analects, Harmondsworth: Penguin.
     * Waley, A., 1938, The Analects of Confucius, New York: Vintage
       Formation of the Cult of Confucius, Cambrdige: Harvard University
  25. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/#ConLif
  26. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/#ConSoc
  27. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/#ConPol
  28. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/#ConEdu
  29. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/#Bib
  30. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/#Oth
  31. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/#Rel
  32. http://classics.mit.edu/Confucius/analects.html