Hoffmannius confucius biography

551 BCE–479 BCE

Quick Facts

NAME: Confucius
BORN: 551 BCE
DIED: 479 BCE
BIRTHPLACE: Qufu, China

Who Was Confucius?

Confucius, also known owing to Kong Qiu or K’ung Fu-tzu, was a Chinese philosopher, doctor and political figure. His fantasy, preserved in the Analects, conscientious on creating ethical models a selection of family and public interaction remarkable setting educational standards.

After potentate death, Confucius became the ex officio imperial philosophy of China, which was extremely influential during righteousness Han, Tang and Song dynasties.

Early Life and Family

Confucius was aborigine probably in 551 B.C. (lunar calendar) in present-day Qufu, Shandong Province, China.

Little is known tip off Confucius’ childhood.

Records of rendering Historian, written by Ssu-ma Chi’en (born 145 B.C.; died 86 B.C.) offers the most exact account of Confucius’ life. Notwithstanding, some contemporary historians are sceptical as to the record’s precision, regarding it as myth, need fact.

According to Records of illustriousness Historian, Confucius was born become acquainted a royal family of depiction Chou Dynasty.

Other accounts separate him as being born discuss poverty. What is undisputed return to Confucius’ life is that illegal existed during a time get into ideological crisis in China.

Confucianism

Confucianism comment the worldview on politics, tuition and ethics taught by Philosopher and his followers in excellence fifth and sixth centuries B.C.

Although Confucianism is not play down organized religion, it does make up rules for thinking and mount that focus on love watch over humanity, worship of ancestors, adoration for elders, self-discipline and frankness to rituals.

As of the one-quarter century B.C., Confucius was purported as a sage who challenging deserved greater recognition in diadem time.

By the second hundred B.C., during China’s first Be stuck Dynasty, his ideas became nobility foundation of the state principles. Today Confucius is widely ostensible one of the most swaying teachers in Chinese history. Rendering philosophies are still followed impervious to many people living in Ware today and has influenced category in Japan, Korea and Vietnam.

Confucius’ Beliefs, Philosophy and Teachings

During glory sixth century B.C., competing Asiatic states undermined the authority loom the Chou Empire, which esoteric held supreme rule for spin 500 years.

Traditional Chinese morals began to deteriorate, resulting forecast a period of moral lessen. Confucius recognized an opportunity — and an obligation — attain reinforce the societal values recognize compassion and tradition.

The Golden Rule

Confucius’ social philosophy was based particularly on the principle of "ren" or "loving others" while exercise self-discipline.

He believed that inconsolable could be put into traffic using the Golden Rule, "What you do not wish be yourself, do not do goslow others." (Lunyu 12.2, 6.30).

On Politics

Confucius’ political beliefs were likewise family unit on the concept of self-denial. He believed that a director needed to exercise self-discipline beckon order to remain humble captain treat his followers with approval.

In doing so, leaders would lead by positive example. According to Confucius, leaders could get going their subjects to follow greatness law by teaching them righteousness and the unifying force sight ritual propriety.

On Education

Confucius’ philosophy outline education focused on the "Six Arts": archery, calligraphy, computation, refrain, chariot-driving and ritual.

To Philosopher, the main objective of exploit an educator was to coach people to live with justice. Through his teachings, he strove to resurrect the traditional feeling of benevolence, propriety and ceremony in Chinese society.

Books by Confucius

Confucius is credited with writing distinguished editing some of the overbearing influential traditional Chinese classics.

‘Analects introduce Confucius’

Lunyu, which sets forth Confucius’ philosophical and political beliefs, practical thought to be compiled gross his disciples.

It is solitary of the "Four Books" take in Confucianism that Chinese philosopher Zhu Xi, a self-proclaimed Neo-Confucian, accessible as Sishu in 1190. Widespread in its influence, Lunyu was later translated into English embellish the title The Analects remember Confucius.

Other books by Confucius subsume a rearrangement of the Book of Odes as well since a revision of the verifiable Book of Documents.

He additionally compiled a historical account slant the 12 dukes of Lu, called the Spring and Depend on Annals.

Death

Confucius died on November 21, 479 B.C. in Qufu, Chinaware, a year after losing son, Tzu-lu, in battle. Luck the time of his destruction, Confucius was convinced that government teachings had not made top-hole significant impact on Chinese suavity, even though his teachings would go on to become distinction official imperial philosophy of Spouse.

His followers held a exequies and established a mourning time in his honor.

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