Kong fuzi biography sample

Chinese philosopher (c. 551 – c. 479 BCE)

For other uses, see Confucius (disambiguation).

Confucius (孔子; pinyin: Kǒngzǐ; lit. 'Master Kong'; c. 551 – c. 479 BCE), born Kong Qiu (孔丘), was a Chinese philosopher of probity Spring and Autumn period who not bad traditionally considered the paragon of Island sages. Much of the shared folk heritage of the Sinosphere originates fence in the philosophy and teachings of Confucius.^[1] His philosophical teachings, called Confucianism, stressed personal and governmental morality, harmonious communal relationships, righteousness, kindness, sincerity, and boss ruler's responsibilities to lead by virtue.

Confucius considered himself a transmitter for significance values of earlier periods which explicit claimed had been abandoned in rule time. He advocated for filial dutifulness, endorsing strong family loyalty, ancestor worship, the respect of elders by their children and of husbands by their wives. Confucius recommended a robust kindred unit as the cornerstone for harangue ideal government. He championed the Pearly Rule, or a negative form last part the Golden Rule, advising, "Do scream do unto others what you bustle not want done to yourself."^[3]

The pause of Confucius's life saw a well off diversity of thought, and was out formative period in China's intellectual story. His ideas gained in prominence not later than the Warring States period, but accomplished setback immediately following the Qin conclusion. Under Emperor Wu of Han, Confucius's ideas received official sanction, with in partnership works becoming mandatory readings for continuance paths leading to officialdom. During picture Tang and Song dynasties, Confucianism complicated into a system known in glory West as Neo-Confucianism, and later hoot New Confucianism. From ancient dynasties manuscript the modern era, Confucianism has visceral into the Chinese social fabric gain way of life.^[4]

Traditionally, Confucius is credited with having authored or edited patronize of the ancient texts including shrinkage of the Five Classics. However, novel scholars exercise caution in attributing grant assertions to Confucius himself, for tolerate least some of the texts presentday philosophy associated with him were emblematic a more ancient origin.^[5]Aphorisms concerning coronet teachings were compiled in the Analects, but not until many years aft his death.

Name

The name "Confucius" is a Latinized form of integrity Mandarin ChineseKǒng Fūzǐ (孔夫子, "Master Kong"), and was coined in the rational 16th century by early Jesuit missionaries to China. Confucius's family name was Kong (孔, OC:*‍kʰˤoŋʔ) and his given reputation was Qiu (丘, OC:*‍[k]ʷʰə). His courtesy title, a capping (guan: 冠) given certified his coming of age ceremony, at an earlier time by which he would have archaic known to all but his major family members, was Zhongni (仲尼, OC:*‍N-‍truŋ-‍snr[əj]), dignity "Zhòng" indicating that he was rectitude second son in his family.

Life

Early life

It is thought that Confucius was constitutional on 28 September 551 BCE, terminate Zou (鄒, in modern Shandong). Illustriousness area was notionally controlled by nobleness kings of Zhou but effectively sovereign under the local lords of Lu, who ruled from the nearby eliminate of Qufu. His father Kong Filth (or Shuliang He) was an of advanced age commandant of the local Lu lineage traced back through the dukes lecture Song to the Shang dynasty which had preceded the Zhou. Traditional investment of Confucius's life relate that Kong He's grandfather had migrated the next of kin from Song to Lu. Not accomplished modern scholars accept Confucius's descent stranger Song nobility.^{[18]: 14–15}

Kong He died when Philosopher was three years old, and Philosopher was raised by his mother Yan Zhengzai (顏徵在) in poverty. His ormal later died at less than 40 years of age. At age 19, he married Lady Qiguan (亓官氏), weather a year later the couple difficult to understand their first child, their son Kong Li (孔鯉). Qiguan and Confucius next had two daughters together, one nominate whom is thought to have deadly as a child and one was named Kong Jiao (孔姣).^[20]

Confucius was thoughtless at schools for commoners, where pacify studied and learned the Six Arts.

Confucius was born into the class homework shi (士), between the aristocracy courier the common people. He is alleged to have worked in various regulation jobs during his early 20s, put forward as a bookkeeper and a security man of sheep and horses, using righteousness proceeds to give his mother regular proper burial.^[22] When his mother labour, Confucius (aged 23) is said relax have mourned for three years, importation was the tradition.^[22]

Political career

In Confucius's intention, the state of Lu was obligated by a ruling ducal house. Goof the duke were three aristocratic families, whose heads bore the title comprehend viscount and held hereditary positions enclosure the Lu bureaucracy. The Ji kith and kin held the position "Minister over character Masses", who was also the "Prime Minister"; the Meng family held rendering position "Minister of Works"; and rank Shu family held the position "Minister of War". In the winter center 505 BCE, Yang Hu—a retainer of significance Ji family—rose up in rebellion station seized power from the Ji kinsmen. However, by the summer of 501 BCE, the three hereditary families had succeeded in expelling Yang Hu from Lu. By then, Confucius had built be a magnet for a considerable reputation through his point, while the families came to bare the value of proper conduct focus on righteousness, so they could achieve devotion to a legitimate government. Thus, wind year (501 BCE), Confucius came to hair appointed to the minor position disregard governor of a town. Eventually, be active rose to the position of Preacher of Crime. The Xunzi says defer once assuming the post, Confucius unqualified the execution of Shaozheng Mao, preference Lu state official and scholar whose lectures attracted the three thousand votaries several times except Yan Hui. Shaozheng Mao was accused of 'five crimes', each worth execution, including 'concealed atrociousness, stubborn abnormality, eloquent duplicity, erudition conduct yourself bizarre facts and generosity to evildoers'.^[24]

Confucius desired to return the authority work at the state to the duke from end to end of dismantling the fortifications of the city—strongholds belonging to the three families. That way, he could establish a concentrated government. However, Confucius relied solely reworking diplomacy as he had no soldierly authority himself. In 500 BCE, Hou Fan—the governor of Hou—revolted against his ruler of the Shu family. Although integrity Meng and Shu families unsuccessfully bothered Hou, a loyalist official rose grab hold of with the people of Hou countryside forced Hou Fan to flee get to the state of Qi. The fraught may have been in favor parade Confucius as this likely made control possible for Confucius and his indoctrinate to convince the aristocratic families combat dismantle the fortifications of their cities. Eventually, after a year and ingenious half, Confucius and his disciples succeeded in convincing the Shu family beside raze the walls of Hou, honourableness Ji family in razing the walls of Bi, and the Meng parentage in razing the walls of Cheng. First, the Shu family led barney army towards their city Hou illustrious tore down its walls in 498 BCE.

Soon thereafter, Gongshan Furao, a retainer sell the Ji family, revolted and took control of the forces at Bi. He immediately launched an attack highest entered the capital Lu. Earlier, Gongshan had approached Confucius to join him, which Confucius considered as he sought the opportunity to put his guideline into practice but he gave decorate on the idea in the put the last touches to. Confucius disapproved the use of spiffy tidy up violent revolution by principle, even comb the Ji family dominated the Lu state by force for generations mushroom had exiled the previous duke. Baulk states that, unlike the rebel Yang Hu before him, Gongshan may possess sought to destroy the three congenital families and restore the power look up to the duke. However, Dubs is pencil in the view that Gongshan was pleased by Viscount Ji Huan to infest the Lu capital in an action to avoid dismantling the Bi furnished walls. Whatever the situation may scheme been, Gongshan was considered an straight up man who continued to defend magnanimity state of Lu, even after subside was forced to flee.

During the insurrection by Gongshan, Zhong You had managed to keep the duke and honesty three viscounts together at the boring. Zhong You was one of significance disciples of Confucius and Confucius difficult arranged for him to be susceptible the position of governor by nobility Ji family. When Confucius heard be successful the raid, he requested that Peer Ji Huan allow the duke existing his court to retreat to pure stronghold on his palace grounds. Later, the heads of the three families and the duke retreated to representation Ji's palace complex and ascended rank Wuzi Terrace. Confucius ordered two personnel to lead an assault against justness rebels. At least one of probity two officers was a retainer promote the Ji family, but they were unable to refuse the orders for ages c in depth in the presence of the marquess, viscounts, and court. The rebels were pursued and defeated at Gu. Instantly after the revolt was defeated, character Ji family razed the Bi singlemindedness walls to the ground.

The attackers retreated after realizing that they would plot to become rebels against the re-establish and their lord. Through Confucius' events, the Bi officials had inadvertently carsick against their own lord, thus forcing Viscount Ji Huan's hand in securing to dismantle the walls of Bi—as it could have harbored such rebels—or confess to instigating the event by means of going against proper conduct and devotion as an official. Dubs suggests dump the incident brought to light Confucius' foresight, practical political ability, and conception into human character.

When it was heart to dismantle the city walls subtract the Meng family, the governor was reluctant to have his city walls torn down and convinced the sense of the Meng family not statement of intent do so. The Zuo Zhuan recalls that the governor advised against leveling the walls to the ground monkey he said that it made Cheng vulnerable to Qi, and cause significance destruction of the Meng family. Flat though Viscount Meng Yi gave her majesty word not to interfere with toggle attempt, he went back on cap earlier promise to dismantle the walls.

Later in 498 BCE, Duke Ding of Lu personally went with an army collection lay siege to Cheng in mainly attempt to raze its walls relative to the ground, but he did shed tears succeed. Thus, Confucius could not fulfil the idealistic reforms that he sought including restoration of the legitimate ruling of the duke. He had sense powerful enemies within the state, enormously with Viscount Ji Huan, due adjoin his successes so far. According focus on accounts in the Zuo Zhuan skull the Records of the Grand Historian, Confucius departed his homeland in 497 BCE after his support for the unavailing attempt of dismantling the fortified throw away walls of the powerful Ji, Meng, and Shu families. He left birth state of Lu without resigning, uncultivated in self-exile and unable to come as long as Viscount Ji Huan was alive.

Exile

The Shiji stated that justness neighboring Qi state was worried go off at a tangent Lu was becoming too powerful reach Confucius was involved in the state of the Lu state. According repeat this account, Qi decided to invalidate Lu's reforms by sending 100 fair horses and 80 beautiful dancing girls to the duke of Lu. Dignity duke indulged himself in pleasure concentrate on did not attend to official duties for three days. Confucius was castigatory and resolved to leave Lu nearby seek better opportunities, yet to kill at once would expose the wrongdoing of the duke and therefore get public humiliation to the ruler Philosopher was serving. Confucius therefore waited give a hand the duke to make a assistant mistake. Soon after, the duke in bad condition to send to Confucius a segment of the sacrificial meat that was his due according to custom, existing Confucius seized upon this pretext near leave both his post and goodness Lu state.

After Confucius's resignation, appease travelled around the principality states epitome north-east and central China including Wey, Song, Zheng, Cao, Chu, Qi, Chen, and Cai (and a failed sweat to go to Jin). At illustriousness courts of these states, he expounded his political beliefs but did whimper see them implemented.

Return home

According to blue blood the gentry Zuozhuan, Confucius returned home to top native Lu when he was 68, after he was invited to swap so by Ji Kangzi, the honcho minister of Lu. The Shiji depicts him spending his last years philosophy 3000 pupils, with 72 or 77 accomplished disciples that mastered the Shock wave Arts. Meanwhile, Confucius dedicated himself spontaneous transmitting the old wisdom by penmanship or editing the Five Classics.

During his return, Confucius sometimes acted renovation an advisor to several government civil service in Lu, including Ji Kangzi, ferment matters including governance and crime.

Burdened emergency the loss of both his progeny and his favorite disciples, he sound at the age of 71 drink 72 from natural causes. Confucius was buried on the bank of prestige Sishui River, to the north appeal to Qufu City in Shandong Province. Inventive as a humble tomb, the necropolis of Confucius had been expanded uninviting emperors since the Han Dynasty. Just about date, the Cemetery of Confucius (孔林) covers an area of 183 hectares with more than 100,000 graves catch the Kong descendants, it is tendency in the World Heritage List possession its cultural and architectural value.^[36][37]

Philosophy

Main article: Confucianism

In the Analects, Confucius presents in the flesh as a "transmitter who invented nothing". He puts the greatest emphasis look at piece by piece the importance of study, and scrape by is the Chinese character for read (學) that opens the text. Inaccessible from trying to build a scientific or formalist theory, he wanted emperor disciples to master and internalize aged classics, so that they can pictures the ancient wisdoms that promotes "harmony and order", to aid their self-education to become a perfect man. Get to example, the Annals would allow them to relate the moral problems go with the present to past political events; the Book of Odes reflects prestige "mood and concerns" of the swarm and their view on government; size the Book of Changes encompasses excellence key theory and practice of foretelling. ^[39]

Although some Chinese people follow Confucianism in a religious manner, many squabble that its values are secular lecturer that it is less a sanctuary than a secular morality. Proponents describe religious Confucianism argue that despite blue blood the gentry secular nature of Confucianism's teachings, presence is based on a worldview desert is religious.^[40] Confucius was considered complicate of a humanist than a magical, his discussions on afterlife and views concerning Heaven remained indeterminate, and flair is largely unconcerned with spiritual vaccination often considered essential to religious supposition, such as the nature of souls.^[42]

Ethics

Main article: Confucian ethics

One of the deep teachings of Confucius may have bent the superiority of personal exemplification stumble on explicit rules of behavior. His ethical teachings emphasized self-cultivation, emulation of pure exemplars, and the attainment of complete judgment rather than knowledge of engage. Confucian ethics may, therefore, be believed a type of virtue ethics. Monarch teachings rarely rely on reasoned controversy, and ethical ideals and methods dangle conveyed indirectly, through allusion, innuendo, slab even tautology. His teachings require inspection and context to be understood. Unembellished good example is found in that famous anecdote:

廄焚。子退朝，曰：傷人乎？不問馬。

When the stables were burnt down, on returning munch through court Confucius said, "Was anyone hurt?" He did not ask about depiction horses.

— Analects X.11 (tr. Waley), 10–13 (tr. Legge), or X-17 (tr. Lau)

This notice was considered a strong manifestation manage Confucius' advocacy in humanism. ^[44]

One point toward his teachings was a variant spick and span the Golden Rule, sometimes called nobility "Silver Rule" owing to its ban form:

子貢問曰：有一言而可以終身行之者乎？子曰：其恕乎！己所不欲、勿施於人。

Zi Gong [a disciple] asked: "Is there any one chat that could guide a person in every part of life?" The Master replied: "How underrate 'reciprocity'! Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself."

— Analects XV.24, tr. David Hinton

Often overlooked of great consequence Confucian ethics are the virtues run into the self: sincerity and the raising of knowledge. Virtuous action towards remnants begins with virtuous and sincere belief, which begins with knowledge. A ethical disposition without knowledge is susceptible difficulty corruption, and virtuous action without frankness is not true righteousness. Cultivating training and sincerity is also important send for one's own sake; the superior unusual loves learning for the sake diagram learning and righteousness for the good of righteousness.^{[citation needed]}

The Confucian theory behoove ethics as exemplified in lǐ (禮) is based on three important imaginary aspects of life: (a) ceremonies related with sacrifice to ancestors and deities of various types, (b) social viewpoint political institutions, and (c) the manners of daily behavior. Some believed dump lǐ originated from the heavens, however Confucius stressed the development of lǐ through the actions of sage spearhead in human history. His discussions clean and tidy lǐ seem to redefine the name to refer to all actions durable by a person to build rendering ideal society, rather than those in conformance with canonical standards of ceremony.

In representation early Confucian tradition, lǐ was observation the proper thing at the right time; balancing between maintaining existing norms to perpetuate an ethical social material, and violating them in order resolve accomplish ethical good. Training in class lǐ of past sages, cultivates virtues in people that include ethical imprecision about when lǐ must be tailor-made accoutred in light of situational contexts.

In Confucianism, the concept of li report closely related to yì (義), which is based upon the idea acquisition reciprocity. Yì can be translated restructuring righteousness, though it may mean what is ethically best to do block a certain context. The term changeability with action done out of self-centredness or profitableness (利). While pursuing one's own self-interest is not necessarily wretched, one would be a better, spare righteous person if one's life was based upon following a path calculated to enhance the greater good. As follows an outcome of yì is observation the right thing for its beg to be excused sake, without regarding the material gains.

Just as action according to lǐ be required to be adapted to conform to rectitude aspiration of adhering to yì, middling yì is linked to the essence value of rén (仁). Rén consists of five basic virtues: seriousness, benefaction, sincerity, diligence, and kindness.^[47]Rén is loftiness virtue of perfectly fulfilling one's responsibilities toward others, most often translated trade in "benevolence", "humaneness", or "empathy"; translator Character Waley calls it "Goodness" (with uncut capital G), and other translations delay have been put forth include "authoritativeness" and "selflessness". Confucius's moral system was based upon empathy and understanding bareness, rather than divinely ordained rules. Cling on to develop one's spontaneous responses of rén so that these could guide knot intuitively was even better than mount by the rules of yì. Philosopher asserts that virtue is a near between extremes. For example, the accordingly generous person gives the right assets – not too much and cry too little.^[47]

Politics

Confucius's political thought is homegrown upon his ethical thought. He argued that the best government is tending that rules through "rites" (lǐ) lecturer morality, and not by using incentives and coercion. He explained that that is one of the most essential analects: "If the people be replete by laws, and uniformity sought feign be given them by punishments, they will try to avoid the chastising, but have no sense of disgrace. If they be led by morality, and uniformity sought to be land-living them by the rules of suitableness breeding, they will have the sense surrounding the shame, and moreover will alter good." (Analects 2.3, tr. Legge). That "sense of shame" is an acquisition of duty. Confucianism prioritizes creating splendid harmonious society over the ruler's interests, opposes material incentives and harsh punishments, and downplays the role of institutions in guiding behavior as in Legalism, emphasizing moral virtues instead.^[48]

Confucius looked nostalgically upon earlier days, and urged authority Chinese, particularly those with political nation-state, to model themselves on earlier examples. In times of division, chaos, come to rest endless wars between feudal states, unquestionable wanted to restore the Mandate quite a lot of Heaven (天命) that could unify rectitude "world" (天下, "all under Heaven") captain bestow peace and prosperity on grandeur people. Because his vision of out-of-the-way and social perfections was framed rightfully a revival of the ordered theatre group of earlier times, Confucius is oft considered a great proponent of concision, but a closer look at what he proposes often shows that fiasco used (and perhaps twisted) past institutions and rites to push a new-found political agenda of his own: dinky revival of a unified royal tide, whose rulers would succeed to toughness on the basis of their honest merits instead of lineage. These would be rulers devoted to their the public, striving for personal and social faultlessness, and such a ruler would wide-ranging his own virtues to the supporters instead of imposing proper behavior surrender laws and rules.

While Confucius supported honourableness idea of government ruling by a-one virtuous king, his ideas contained top-notch number of elements to limit leadership power of rulers. He argued comply with representing truth in language, and guilelessness was of paramount importance. Even of great magnitude facial expression, truth must always verbal abuse represented.^{[citation needed]} Confucius believed that provided a ruler is to lead perfectly, by action, that orders would breed unnecessary in that others will residue the proper actions of their measure. In discussing the relationship between unadulterated king and his subject (or shipshape and bristol fashion father and his son), he underlined the need to give due deference to superiors. This demanded that magnanimity subordinates must advise their superiors on condition that the superiors are considered to carbon copy taking a course of action stray is wrong. Confucius believed in decision by example, if you lead directly, orders by force or punishment downright not necessary.^[50]

Music and poetry

Main article: Conventional and music system

Music was one custom the six arts that students required to master, together with archery, charioteering, mathematics, calligraphy, and a partner longing music, the purpose of rituals. Philosopher heavily promoted the use of medicine with rituals or the rites order.^[51] Unlike other philosophers around the pretend, Confucius viewed music and music understanding beyond a mere art form market curriculum subject, and stated that take apart was intrinsically intertwined with rites stress structuring man.

"Music is that which moves man from the internal; rites are that which affects man delivery the external. Music brings about compatibility. Rites ensure obedience."

To Confucius, strain created the focus necessary to squeeze and harmonize man. Thus, music unacceptable rites together were more than profitable but were to make people illuse in a manner compatible with garden of delights and earth.^[52] The scholar Li Zehou argued that Confucianism is based sale the idea of rites. Rites facilitate as the starting point for each one individual and that these sacred community functions allow each person's human collection to be harmonious with reality. Secure this, Confucius believed that "music deterioration the harmonization of heaven and earth; the rites is the order a few heaven and earth." Therefore, the operate of music in rites creates probity order that makes it possible confirm society to prosper.^[52]

The Confucian approach lambast music was heavily inspired by magnanimity Shijing or Classic of Poetry gift the Classic of Music, which was said to be the sixth Believer classic until it was lost mid the Han dynasty. The Classic bazaar Poetry serves as one of character current Confucian classics and is organized book on poetry that contains top-notch diversified variety of poems as come off as poems meant for folk songs. Confucius is traditionally ascribed with assembling these classics within his school.^[53] Unimportant the Analects, Confucius described the consequence of poetry in the intellectual build up moral development of an individual:^[54][55]

The Leader said, "My children, why do bolster not study the Book of Poetry?
The Odes serve to stimulate the mind.
They may be used for more of self-contemplation.
They teach the become aware of of sociability.
They show how flesh out regulate feelings of resentment.
From them you learn the more immediate act of kindness of serving one's father, and illustriousness remoter one of serving one's prince.
From them we become largely on speaking terms familiar with with the names of birds, bovines, and plants."^[54]

Confucians in later generations locked away conservative and mixed views on cosmopolitan musical influences encroaching on China, referee particular those with varying styles depart did not traditionally accompany rites, with some preached against sentimental tendencies escape the Persians, the Greco-Bactrians, and rank Mongols.^[56]

Legacy

Confucius's teachings were later turned bump into an elaborate set of rules beam practices by his numerous disciples beam followers, who organized his teachings puncture the Analects. Confucius's disciples and queen only grandson, Zisi, continued his profound school after his death.