Philosopher and social theorist, b. 28 September (?) 551 BC (state of Lu, China), d. 479 BC (Lu).
Confucius' original name was K'ung Ch'iu. He is known as either K'ung-tzu or K'ung-fu-tzu (Master K'ung). Outside Asia he is more commonly known under his Latinized name Confucius. His parents were probably from the impoverished aristocracy. Confucius was three years old when his father died and was instructed by his mother.
From his early age Confucius distinguished himself through his insatiable thirst for learning. He strived to master all six arts - ritual, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy and arithmetic - and was well versed in the classical traditions of history and poetry. He is considered the first to have made teaching his life occupation and was instrumental in establishing the profession of teacher as an accepted and honoured way to earn one's living. In Taiwan his birthday is known as "Teachers' Day, "an official holiday.
Confucius always considered learning and teaching as the instruments to train future political leaders or, in his words, "noblemen", because for him political leadership was the heavenly destination of the feudal class. At the time of his life the importance of the Chou dynasty, who had given the country peace and prosperity for five centuries, had shrunk, and various feudal states competed for power. The disintegration of the kingdom was accompanied by moral decline.
Confucius' solution was the restoration of the king's authority through moral leadership. Education for him was a means to that end. His ideal of a sovereign was Chou Kung, who died 500 years before him (in 1094 BC). As a consequence Confucius' proposals for improvements of the political system were of a conservative nature. He believed in the values of tradition and rituals and tried to reach new heights by invigorating the old.
Confucius occupied a number of minor official positions during his life, but at the age of 56 he realized that the rulers of his time were not interested in moral improvement and went into an exile that lasted for 11 years. At the age of 67 he returned to his birthplace in the feudal state of Lu (in today's Shandong province, China) and dedicated himself to writing and editing. It is reported that he had 3,000 followers when he died at the age of 73.
Confucius' teachings formed the basis of Chinese education for 2,000 years. Two of the most important philosphers of "Confucianism" (a term not known in China) were Mencius and Hsün-tzu.
Illustration: scroll painting "Confucius asking Lao-tzu about etiquette" by Zhang Cuiying; public domain