Confucius was a great thinker, politician and educator, and was the founder of Confucianism during the later years of the Spring and Autumn Period.
Background
Confucius (Kong Qiu or Kong fuzi) was born in 551 or 552 BC. His ancestors descended from the ruling house of the Dukedom of Song, a state established by the offspring of the royal kings of the Shang, but they took refuge in the state of Lu, which had been founded by the son of the Duke of Zhou. He was the only son of his mother but the second son of his father, who had some renown as a brave warrior but achieved little else. After the death of his father when Confucius was very young, his mother brought him back to her home town.
Education
Confucius was educated at schools for commoners, where he studied and learned the Six Arts. He was largely self-educated.
Career
In his early years, he worked as a bookkeeper, cowherd and a clerk.
He was the first teacher in China whose aim was to make education available for all. In his 30s (around 519 B.C), he adopted teaching as a career in order to fulfill his aspiration of making teaching a vocation. His mastery of the six arts - ritual, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and arithmetic - and his familiarity with the classical traditions, notably poetry and history, enabled him to start a brilliant teaching career in his 30s.
It was in 501 B.C or when he was in his late 40s that he stepped into politics and was appointed the governor of a town in Lu state. At that time this was considered to be a minor position. He then served as minister of public works. However, he eventually became the “Minister of Crime” in Lu state.
The Lu state was headed by a ruling ducal house and there were three aristocratic families under the duke, whose heads held hereditary positions in the Lu bureaucracy. Confucius wanted to return the authority of the state to the duke and establish a centralized government. This was not possible without dismantling the fortifications of the city-strongholds belonging to the three aristocratic families.
He achieved considerable success in his plan but could not achieve the reforms that were aimed at restoration of the legitimate rule of the duke. In the process, he had made powerful enemies within the state.
He is believed to have departed his homeland in 497 BC after his support for the failed attempt of dismantling the fortified city walls of the powerful Ji, Meng, and Shu families. He left the state of Lu without resigning, and did not return as long as Viscount Ji Huan was alive.
According to another source (shiji), Confucius’ involvement in the government of the Lu state became a reason of distress for the neighboring state of Qi. Qi state was worried that Lu might become powerful so it tried to lure the Duke of Lu by sending him 100 horses and 80 beautiful dancing girls. The Duke was lured and indulged himself in pleasure and did not attend to official duties for three days. This left Confucius highly disappointed. Around 498 B.C he resigned and began travelling to north-east and central China where he propounded his political beliefs.
He died at the age of 71 or 72 from natural causes and was buried in Kong Lin Cemetery (Cemetery of Confucius).
Throughout history, Confucius is widely considered as one of the most important and influential individuals in affecting the lives of humanity. His teaching and philosophy greatly impacted people around the world and still linger in today's society.
It is often considered and followed in a very religious manner by Chinese but there is a debate about its religious character – many don’t consider it religious and find its character quite secular. Though it talks about elements of the afterlife and has views concerning Heaven but it is somewhat indifferent to some spiritual matters which are generally considered crucial to religious thought.
Politics
Confucius' political thought emerged out of his ethical thought. According to him, the best government is one that governs through "rites" and people's natural morality (ethics) and not by using bribery and coercion. He urged people with political power to model themselves on earlier examples. He is believed to have used past institutions and rites for revival of a unified royal state.
He did not believe in the concept of "democracy" as he believed that the common masses lacked the intellect to make decisions for themselves, and that (in his view), since not everyone is created equal, not everyone has a right of self-government. He supported the idea of government ruling by a virtuous king, who should follow the ideals of truth and honesty. He emphasized that if a ruler ruled correctly then others will follow the proper actions of their ruler.
He stressed the need to give due respect to superiors but he also said that the subordinates must give advice to their superiors if they believed the superiors were taking the wrong course of action. He believed that rulers should rule by example and if they do so, there was no need for orders by force or punishment.
Views
Confucianism concerns itself with the practical aspects of life, such as good manners, treating others kindly and enhancing family relations. Instead of being poetic about God or metaphysics, Confucius directed his teachings on moral and ethical grounds.
Bothered about earthly matters, he rested his theory on two main ideas - being a true gentleman and having proper conduct. He stressed that a true gentleman is one who has five characteristics - integrity, righteousness, loyalty, altruism and goodness. As for proper conduct, the second most important foundation of Confucianism, a person should practice social decorum and rituals, as it is the quickest path to ethical growth.
Confucius was of the opinion that moderation was the only way to stay between life's extremes. He believed that each person should maintain the decorum of their position - for instance, a father should behave like a responsible person and not move away from his duties.
For him, family was very important and he believed that relationship between master and servant, father and son, husband and wife, elder and younger siblings and two friends must be honored. He also urged people to honor the aged people.
Quotations:
"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."
"They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom."
"What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others."
"In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of."
"It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop."
"When anger rises, think of the consequences."
"When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals; adjust the action steps."
"Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage."
"To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness."
"To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle."
"Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue."
Connections
Confucius tied the knot with Qiguan when he was 19 years old and a year later they were blessed with a child whom they named, Kong Li. Later he was blessed with two more children - daughters.
