Confucius (孔子Kǒng Zǐ) — Educator, Thinker and Father of Confucianism

Confucius ( named : Kǒng Qiū 孔丘or: Zhòng Ní 仲尼) was born in Lǔguó 鲁国 (now Shandong Province) in 551 BC (at the end of the Spring and Autumn Period). He was living in an aristocrat family which had declined and had to tighten the belt in order to support itself. The poor living condition motivated him to study hard and make a determined effort to do well. He bore suffering and hardship and became experienced and talented.

In his thirties, he started to set up his political goal for which he was to build in an ethical and moral system in the country. Confucius’ main political ideas were two — humanity and courtesy. He thought that human relations should be humane and benevolent and that in our society ancestors and parents must be respected absolutely. Obedience should be observed by a wife to her husband, a servant to his master and a dominated to his dominator. But he opposed tyranny and insisted that the government must dominate the country with benevolence not fierce controlling because humanity is the principle of wisdom. On the other hand, he emphasized that courtesy must be embodied in our daily behavior , etiquette, customs and manners, which was regarded as his famous theory of “ 克己复礼 kè jǐ fù lǐ”（controlling oneself and observing polite ways as Zhōu Dynasty’s custom.）Confucius was so self confident that he believed his political ambitions would surely be achieved. He admonished the rulers to let him realize his political ideals. But in the time of chaos, when hegemony was the first goal for all lords, Confucius’ ideas could not be accepted by the rulers and he could only work in much lower positions. He quit and began to travel from country to country, propagandizing his political theories. In his fifties he had finally a chance to be noticed by the ruler of Lǔguó and appointed to an important post named “Sīkòu” (司寇) thus taking charge of judicatory. He did so well that peaceful and stable situation resulted in the country. But his talents were envied by those nobles with vested interests. Finding that his political ambitions could not be implemented in such circumstances Confucius again decided to quit and continue his traveling and enlightenment.

During his traveling Confucius had a large group of listeners and students following him. He was not only a talent of politics but a great educator. He set up private schools enrolling and training more than 300 students from all over, no matter rich or poor, higher class or lower class. It was Confucius who was the first in human history to bring forward the theory of teaching students in accordance to their aptitudes and abilities. A student named Zǐ Lù ( 子路) was very adventurous but lacked of perseverance. Confucius persuaded him to follow the advice of the experienced. Another student Rǎn Qiú (冉求) was somewhat recreant and fainthearted so Confucius encouraged him to learn to make prompt decisions and do what should be done decisively.

Confucius emphasized the importance of study methods. He told his students that new insights would be gained by reviewing the old materials. He also advocated frank attitudes toward knowledge. He said “one can be regarded knowledgeable only when he expresses himself truly according to what he really knows and doesn’t know.” Once on their way to Qíguó (齐国) Confucius and his students saw two kids arguing about which got closer to the earth, the sun at noon or the sun in the morning. As they knew the old man before them was Confucius himself, they were eager to ask the sage for help. But to their surprise, Confucius shook his head and frankly admitted that he really did not know about that. Then the two kids began to laugh: “Such wisdom, you are now found out that these are questions you are not able to answer! ” Confucius said: “Knowing is knowing; not knowing is not knowing. We can learn what we don’t know only by this attitude. Understand?” Everybody accepted the teacher’s opinion.

Confucius went back to his home country Lǔguó in his seventies. During his last days he still concentrated himself on his education career. He sorted out various history books and documents and compiled the book “Chūnqiū” (春秋) which recorded the history before the Spring and Autumn Period and preserved this as one of the important parts of glorious Chinese culture. Another influencing book “Lúnyǔ” (论语) about Confucius’ quotations and stories was written by his students and descendants. From then on Confucianism came into being and has been influencing Chinese people for more than two thousand years.

Nowadays his theory of humanity and courtesy, his doctrine of golden mean (中庸之道 zhōng yōng zhīdào) and his education theories are still valuable in many areas of our society. Confucius is respected by the people of the world as well. He is honored as the great politician, great educator and great father of Confucianism.