It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.
Confucius (551–479 BCE), born Kǒng Qiū and later titled Kǒng Fūzǐ (“Master Kong”), was a Chinese philosopher, educator, and political theorist whose teachings formed the bedrock of Confucianism—a system of ethics, governance, and social harmony that dominated East Asian thought for over two millennia. Rejecting mysticism, he emphasized ren (benevolence), li (ritual propriety), xiao (filial piety), and the cultivation of the junzi (exemplary person). His ideas, preserved in the Analects, shaped imperial bureaucracy, family structure, education, and moral philosophy across China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
Confucius was born in Qufu, in the state of Lu (modern Shandong Province), during the chaotic Spring and Autumn Period of the Zhou Dynasty. His father, Shūliáng Hé, a low-ranking military officer, died when Confucius was three. Raised in modest circumstances by his mother, Yán Zhèngzài, he worked as a shepherd, cowherd, clerk, and bookkeeper to support the family.
Despite poverty, Confucius pursued self-education, mastering the Six Arts: ritual, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. He married at 19 and had at least one son (Kǒng Lǐ) and two daughters. Early on, he displayed an obsession with ancient rites and a belief that moral revival could restore societal order.
Confucius held minor government posts in Lu:
His brief tenure as Minister of Crime reportedly reduced crime through moral example rather than punishment. However, political intrigue—rival states bribed Lu’s duke with dancing girls—forced his resignation at age 51.
For 13 years (497–484 BCE), Confucius wandered with disciples through the states of Wei, Song, Chen, and Cai, seeking a ruler to implement his reforms. He faced hardship: nearly starved in Chen, attacked by a hermit, and mocked as a “homeless dog.” Undeterred, he refined his teachings, attracting up to 3,000 students, 72 of whom mastered the Six Arts.
Returning to Lu at 68, he spent his final years editing classical texts (Book of Odes, Book of Documents, Spring and Autumn Annals) and teaching.
| Concept | Summary |
|---|---|
| Ren (仁) | Humaneness, benevolence; the highest virtue, expressed through empathy and reciprocity: “Do not impose on others what you do not desire.” |
| Li (禮) | Ritual propriety; correct behavior in roles and ceremonies to harmonize society |
| Xiao (孝) | Filial piety; respect for parents as the root of all virtue |
| Junzi (君子) | The exemplary person; morally cultivated, not merely noble by birth |
| Zhengming (正名) | Rectification of names; ensuring titles match reality (e.g., a ruler must act as a ruler) |
| Middle Way (中庸) | Balanced conduct avoiding extremes |
Confucius taught through dialogue, parables, and aphorisms recorded by disciples in the Analects (Lúnyǔ). He claimed no divine revelation:
“I transmit but do not innovate; I trust and love the ancients.”
Confucius was widowed young and lived simply, wearing plain robes and eating coarse food. He loved music—especially the ancient shao tunes—and played the qin (zither). A tall man (reportedly over 6 feet), he was known for dignified bearing and a dry sense of humor.
He rejected supernatural claims, focusing on human ethics:
“While you do not know life, how can you know about death?”
“Respect ghosts and spirits, but keep them at a distance.”
In 484 BCE, Confucius returned to Lu after the duke recalled him. He spent his last years teaching and editing classics. At 73, he fell ill and died in 479 BCE, reportedly saying:
“No intelligent ruler arises; no one recognizes me. It is time to go.”
His disciples mourned for three years; Zǐgòng built a hut by the grave and stayed six years. The grave in Qufu became a major pilgrimage site.
Today, over 6 million people identify as Confucian; revival movements flourish in mainland China. The Analects remain a global bestseller, studied in leadership, ethics, and philosophy courses.
Confucius’s vision of a moral society built on cultivated individuals endures as a timeless blueprint for human flourishing.