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Confucius - His Life And Philosophy

LIFE OF CONFUCIUS

    Confucius was believed to have been born in 551 BC., in the state
of Lu, known today as the Shandong province.   His parents, who died
while he was a child, named him Kong Qui. Confucius was derived from
the Latin word Kongfuzi which means Great Master Kong.   Confucius was
the most influential and respected philosopher in Chinese history.  
His ideas were the single strongest influence on Chinese society from
around 100 BC. to the AD. 1900's.   The Chinese government made his
ideas the official state philosophy and many nearby countries honored
his beliefs.  
    Confucius wanted to gain the position as an adviser to a wise
ruler, but he failed.   He hoped to do this in order to be able to
employ his ideas for reforming society.   If it wasn't for the
disciples of Confucius his teachings would have never been spread
around China, and he would have never been made known.   His teachings
were never written down by him, but his conversations and sayings were
written down by his disciples in the analects.

CONFUCIANISM

    Confucianism was the single most important thing in Chinese life.
It affected everything in China; education, government, and
attitudes toward behavior in public and private life.   Confucianism is
not a religion, but it is more a philosophy and a guide to morality
and good government. At the time Confucius was born, China was in a
constant state of war, and rapid political change altered the
structure of Chinese society so much that people no longer respected
the established behavioral guidelines. Confucius stated that the ideal
person was one of good moral character.   The ideal person was also
truly reverent in worship and sincerely respected his father and his
ruler. He was expected to think for himself, guided by definite rules
of conduct.   As Confucius said, he was expected to take "as much
trouble to discover what was right as lesser men take to discover what
will pay"....