Confucius: Biography and Philosophy

A person who is known in Europe as Confucius, in China has always been called Kun Qiu. However, the peculiarities of Chinese pronunciation lead to several variants of transcription: Kun Fu-Tzu, Kun Zi or Tzu simple. The latter, by the way, translates as "teacher". Confucius, whose biography is now one of the most authoritative spiritual sources for the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire, was the greatest ancient Chinese thinker, sage and founder of the philosophical system that received his name. In the main provisions of this teaching lay the ethical ideas of the ancient Chinese and the natural need of man for happiness and prosperity.

Confucius: brief biography

This man was born approximately in 551 BC. E. In the modern province of Shandong (then Qufu). Confucius, whose biography has been studied as carefully as this historic sources allow it, was a descendant of an impoverished aristocratic family. His father was an elderly official. Since childhood, the boy has learned hard work and need. However, curiosity, natural diligence and the desire to break out into people pushed him to constant self-education and self-improvement.

Confucius, whose biography is full of adversities and hard trials, in his youth worked as a caretaker of state lands and warehouses. However, at the age of 22, he began to work on what later became his vocation - private education. We must not forget that education in China has always been highly valued. Promotion of the career ladder was unthinkable without the passing of special exams. Soon the young man became famous throughout the Celestial Empire. The private school he founded was open to all, regardless of material wealth or nobility of origin. Confucius, whose biography is full of many parables and stories about the relationship of the teacher and students, did not engage in any other business until very respectable age. Only in 50 years he falls into the civil service. However, soon intrigues compel him to leave this business, after which he travels for thirteen years in China, accompanied by his students. During his travels, he made constant visits to the rulers of various regions, bringing to them his own ethical-moral and political doctrine. However, the ideas of Confucius in those years were not as popular as they were to become later. In 484 BC. E. He settles in the city of Lu. Since that time the great thinker has been engaged only in teaching.

The legend about him says that the philosophy of Confucius is becoming more and more popular in China. The number of his students is close to three thousand. About seventy of them were approximate. The twelve always followed their mentor without fail. Even twenty-six students of the great thinker are known by name. In parallel with this affair Confucius was busy distributing books. In 479 BC. E. The great philosopher overtook death. According to legend, this happened on the shore of a quiet river, in the shade of branches and foliage of a sweeping tree.