Confucius

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Confucius was a Spring and Autumn period Chinese philosopher and politician who has been regarded as the paragon of Chinese sages. He is known as the Confucianism founder. Confucius' teachings and philosophy, generally considered as among the most influential and important persons in human history, created the foundation of East Asian culture and civilization, and remain relevant across China and East Asia today. This Confucius philosophy paragraph gives us the answer to the question of who is Confucius.

Confucianism, his philosophical teachings, emphasised personal and governmental morality, social connection accuracy, kindness, justice, and sincerity. Confucianism was ingrained in Chinese culture and way of life; for Confucians, ordinary life was a religious arena. During the Hundred Schools of Thought era, his disciples competed effectively with numerous other schools, just to be suppressed in favour of the Legalists throughout the Qin dynasty. Confucius' ideas were officially sanctioned in the new administration following Han's victory over the Chu after Qin's collapse. Confucianism evolved into a system recognized in the West as Neo-Confucianism, and subsequently as New Confucianism, during the Tang and Song dynasties.

Information on Confucius 

• Full Name: Kǒng Qiū

• Born: 551 BCE

• Died: 479 BCE (aged 71–72)

• Region: Chinese philosophy

• School: Confucianism

• Main interests: Ethics, Poetry, Music, Political philosophy, Education, Social philosophy

• Notable ideas: Confucianism, Golden Rule

Early life

Confucius is believed to have been born in Zou on September 28, 551 BCE. The province was nominally under the sovereignty of the Zhou rulers, but it was virtually independent under the Lu lords, who governed from Qufu, a city near. Kong He (or Shuliang He) was his father, an old Lu garrison commandant. His lineage could be traced all the way back to the Shang dynasty that had succeeded the Zhou, via the Song dukes. Kong He's grandpa, according to traditional Confucius biographies, moved the family from Song to Lu.

Kong Zi Confucius' father died when he was three years old, and his mother Yan Zhengzai reared him in poverty. His mother died while he was less than 40 years old. He married Qiguan when he was 19 years old, and their first kid, Kong Li, was born a year later. Later, Qiguan and Confucius had two daughters together, one of whom is supposed to have perished as a youngster.

Confucius had his education in commoner's schools, wherein he studied and learnt the Six Arts.

Confucius took birth into the shi () class, which straddled the nobility and the peasantry. Throughout his early 20s, he is claimed to have served as a bookkeeper and a caregiver of sheep and horses, with the income going toward giving his mother a suitable burial. Confucius (at the age of 23) is reported to have mourned for three years after his mother died, as was customary.

Political Career

The state of Lu was ruled by a governing ducal house during Confucius' time. Three aristocratic families ruled under the duke, their heads bearing the title of viscount and holding hereditary roles in the Lu administration. The Ji family served as "Minister over the Masses," as well as "Prime Minister"; the Meng family served as "Minister of Works," and the Shu family served as "Minister of War." In the winter of 505 BCE, Yang Hu, a Ji family retainer, rose in revolt and took control from the Ji family. By the summer of 501 BCE, though, the three hereditary families successfully expelled Yang Hu from Lu.

Confucius had established a significant reputation via his teachings by this time, and the people had learned the value of appropriate behaviour and righteousness in order to gain devotion to a legitimate government. Confucius was thus elected to the lesser position of governor of a town in that year (501 BCE). He ultimately progressed through the ranks to become Minister of Crime.

By removing the city's fortifications—strongholds belonging to the three families—Confucius hoped to restore the state's sovereignty to the duke. He could create a centralised government this way. Confucius, on the other hand, relied primarily on diplomacy because he lacked military authority.

Confucius Philosophy

Even though the Chinese generally follow Confucianism as a religion, numerous say that its principles are secular, making it less of a religion and more of secular morality. However, supporters say that, despite its secular nature, Confucianism's precepts are built on a religious worldview. Confucianism includes aspects of the afterlife and opinions on Heaven, although it is unconcerned with other spiritual issues that are frequently regarded crucial to religious philosophy, such as the nature of souls.

Confucius Teachings and Beliefs

Competing Chinese nations eroded the Chou Empire's influence in the sixth century B.C. after it had ruled for over 500 years. Traditional Chinese values began to degrade, culminating in a time of moral deterioration in the country. Confucius saw a chance to reaffirm the societal virtues of compassion and tradition, as well as a responsibility to do so.

The Golden Rule- Confucius' social philosophy was essentially focused on the notion of "ren," or "loving others" while practising self-control. He thought that the Golden Rule might be used to put Ren into action: "Do not do to others what you would not like for yourself."

On Education- Confucius', who had been a great Chinese teacher, the educational concept was based on the "Six Arts," which included archery, computation, calligraphy, chariot-driving, music, and ritual. The primary goal of education, according to Confucius, would have been to instruct people on how to live with honesty. He attempted to resuscitate the old Chinese principles of compassion, propriety, and ceremonial through his teachings.

Ethics

The supremacy of personal exemplification above stated norms of behaviour could have been one of Confucius' most profound lessons. Rather than knowledge of norms, his moral teachings emphasised self-cultivation, admiration of moral exemplars, and the development of competent judgement. As a result, Confucian ethics might be classified as a form of virtue ethics. His teachings hardly use reasoned argument, instead of relying on allusion, innuendo, and sometimes even tautology to explain ethical principles and techniques. To comprehend his teachings, you must examine them and put them in perspective.

Music and Poetry

Kong Qiu Confucius advocated for the use of music in ceremonies and the rites of passage. Confucianism, according to scholar Li Zehou, is based on the concept of ceremonies. Rites are the starting point with each individual, and these sacred social functions enable each person's human essence to be in harmony with reality. "Music is the harmony of heaven and earth; the ceremonies are the order of heaven and earth," Confucius stated. As a result, the use of music in rites establishes the order that allows civilization to thrive.

The Shijing and the Classic of Music, which has been thought to be the sixth Confucian classic until that was lost during the Han Dynasty, profoundly influenced Confucian music. The Shijing is a collection of poetry that comprises a diverse array of poems and also folk songs, and it is considered one of the modern Confucian classics. Confucius is credited with compiling these masterpieces inside his school, according to legend.

Books by Confucius

Chinese Philosopher Confucius is recognised for authoring and revising some of China's most enduring classical works.

‘Analects of Confucius’- Confucius' pupils are supposed to have produced Lunyu, which contains Confucius' philosophical and political principles. It is among the "Four Books" of Confucianism written as Sishu in 1190 by Chinese philosopher Zhu Xi, a self-proclaimed Neo-Confucian. Lunyu was subsequently translated into English as The Analects of Confucius had a much further influence.

Confucius also wrote a reorganisation of the Book of Odes and a rewrite of the historical Book of Documents. He also composed the Spring and Autumn Annals, a historical history of the 12 dukes of Lu.

Death

Confucius died in Qufu, China, on November 21, 479 B.C., a year after his son, Tzu-lu, was killed in the war. Confucius believed that his teachings had little influence on Chinese culture at the moment of his death, despite the fact that his teachings could later establish China's official imperial ideology. In his honour, his supporters staged a funeral and declared a time of mourning.