CONFUCIUS: BIOGRAPHY, PHILOSOPHY, CONTRIBUTIONS AND TEXTS - ARTE - 2025

Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC) was a Chinese philosopher, teacher, and politician. His approaches had a great influence on education, as well as on moral and social norms and the way of leading the government. It transcended for having been the forerunner of Confucianism.

In his doctrine he strengthened the values ​​of Chinese society that have traditionally characterized it. Family and ancestors are very important in her thinking, in addition to being seen as elements that represent the foundations of a good governmental structure.

Representation of Confucius. National Palace Museum, via Wikimedia Commons

Confucian thought was especially prominent in the Han, Tang, and Song dynasties. Confucius' moral proposals have played a fundamental role, not only for Asian societies, but in the rest of the world.

Confucianism is not a religion in itself, but it has spiritual aspects and shows a code of conduct in which respect and discipline are key. In the popular "golden rule" created by Confucius, it is stipulated that no one should do to another what he would not want them to do to himself.

Relevant facts about Confucius

Confucius was born into a noble family that had fallen into financial disgrace after the death of his father when he was just a child. Despite this, he was provided with a good education, which allowed him to rise to high positions such as Minister of Justice.

After reaching the age of 30, Confucius had already taken his place in society as an important teacher, having mastered the six major arts in Chinese education. He considered that aristocrats should not maintain a monopoly on education, since everyone could benefit from learning.

Political career

His most relevant political career emerged when he was approximately 50 years old. However, as time went by, the rest of the Chinese nobles became disinterested in his vision, because he attached great importance to moral rectitude and that threatened their opulent ways of life.

Sensing that he was spending his time in vain at the court of the King of Lu, he decided to abandon his position and devoted himself to teaching. In his exile, the disciples he had accompanied him for more than a decade.

Seeing that no other state in the area would allow him to implement the reforms that he envisioned, Confucius returned to the kingdom of Lu, where he dedicated his life to the study and analysis of classical Chinese texts.

Confucius' position on the government was that it should create a strong morality in citizens, so that they would not refrain from committing improper acts solely for the purpose of avoiding punishment, but out of the shame of doing something that violated their values.

He considered that a king should guide the state with virtue in order to be worthy to remain in charge of his subjects and that, consequently, he should be emulated by all who lived under his rule in their own houses.

Legacy

At the time of having returned to Qufu, his city of birth, Confucius passed away in 479 BC. His followers organized a proper funeral for him, but he passed away thinking that his theories could not achieve the social impact he hoped for.

The pupils that he had instructed throughout his life numbered 3,000 individuals at the time, of which more than seventy students mastered the six classical Chinese arts, just as Confucius had done.

Later, these students continued to carry their teacher's legacy forward through Confucianism. They organized the teachings of the philosopher in a work which they titled The Anacletas of Confucius.

His family was also exalted by the dynasties of China, who considered the teachings of Confucius appropriate. He was awarded titles of nobility and his descendants held political power for more than 30 generations.

Biography

Early years

Kong Qiu, better known as Confucius, was born on September 28, 551 BC. C., in Qufu. Then the city belonged to the State of Lu (present province of Shandong), during the reign of Duke Xian.

His name in Mandarin Chinese is Kǒngzǐ, or Kǒng Fūzǐ, which was the Latinized form, but it is usually written as Kong Fu Tse and means "Master Kong".

It is believed that his family descended, through the Dukes of Song, from the Shang dynasty, one of the first in Chinese history, which had ruled the area a few hundred years before the birth of Confucius.

Confucius was the son and heir of Kong He, a military man who served as the commander of the Lu area. His mother was Yan Zhengzai, who was responsible for raising the boy, since Kong He died when Confucius was three years old.

Confucius' father had had an older male child named Pi. However, that child was born from Kong He's union with a concubine and apparently had physical deformities, so he could not be an heir. Also, Confucius' father had other daughters in his first marriage.

Yan Zhengzai died before reaching the age of 40, but prior to his death he set about the task of ensuring that his son received a proper education.

Youth

Confucius belonged to the Shi class. It included the military and academics. They represented the middle class, since they were neither noble nor common people. Over time the Shi gained renown more for the intellectuals who belonged to this class than for their military.

He was educated in the Six Arts, namely: rituals, music, archery, driving a war chariot, calligraphy, and mathematics. If someone could master these subjects, he was considered a perfect man.

At age 19 Confucius married Quiguan. The following year their first child was born, a boy named Kong Li. They then had two girls, although some sources claim that one of them died as an infant.

It is believed that he tried a variety of professions in his younger years, usually tied to public administration, such as local cattle ranching and grain stores. However, his vocation inclined him to teaching.

When he was about to turn 30, he went to the Great Temple to expand his knowledge. A few years later Confucius was already considered a teacher, since he mastered the Six Arts. From the age of 30 Confucius began to acquire a reputation and get students.

Political life

In Lu there were three noble families who had hereditary rights to the most important offices of the kingdom. The first were the Ji, who controlled the Ministry of the Masses, an equivalent to the current prime minister. Meanwhile, the Shu occupied the Ministry of War and the Meng the Ministry of Public Works.

CONFUCIUS (c551-479 BC). Chinese philosopher. Gouache on paper, c1770. The Granger Collection., Via Wikimedia Commons

In 505 a. C. a coup made the Ji lose political power. That movement was led by Yang Hu. When the philosopher was approximately 50 years old, the families managed to regain effective power. At that time, the name of Confucius was highly respected in Lu.

At that time the prominent teacher was assigned a position as governor of a small town. Thus began his escalation into politics. According to various sources, he was assisted by the Minister of Public Works and eventually became Minister of Justice.

However, others believe that it is unlikely that he ever served in that ministry, since his theories always favored example rather than punishment, a clear antithesis of what was expected of a head of the Ministry of Justice at the time.

Exit from court

It is thought that, despite being very loyal to the king, Confucius was not a pleasant presence for other members of the Government. The steadfast morality that constituted Confucian reforms threatened the life that courtiers used to lead, and such an upright figure posed a threat.

Among the policies that Confucius proposed to the rulers of Lu was to embody the example that their subjects should follow instead of intimidating them with cruel laws, since this was the best way to avoid wrongdoing.

One of the ways to achieve his long-awaited reforms was to collapse the walls of each of the cities dominated by the three families, to prevent the lieutenants from deciding to rise up against their lords and use them to the detriment of their leaders.

But to achieve this, each of the nobles had to rule in an exemplary manner. Furthermore, it was implicit in the ideas of Confucius that if a ruler did not rule with mind and action in the constant pursuit of the benefit of his people, in the way a father would with his family, then he could be deposed.

After realizing that his ideas would not be accepted in Lu, Confucius decided to go to other kingdoms to try to find a ruler who wanted to reform his state.

Exile

It is believed that in the year 498 Confucius left his native Lu. It was then that he decided to leave his post, although he did not submit a formal resignation, and then remained in self-imposed exile while Ju Huan lived. He was accompanied by some of his pupils, who deeply admired his reformist ideas.

He toured the most important states in northern and central China, such as Wei, Song, Chen, Cai and Chu. However, in most of the places he went, he found no support from local leaders. They also seemed to be uncomfortable with his presence and treated him badly.

Confucius and His Disciples Yanzi and Huizi at the «Apricot Altar», by Kano Tan'yû (1602–1674), via Wikimedia Commons

In Song, they even tried to assassinate Confucius. There, in his flight, he lost contact with Yan Hui, one of his most faithful disciples, but later their paths crossed again. Later, while in Chen, those accompanying the master became ill and were denied any help.

Some argued that it was unfair that men like them, dedicated to cultivating their intellectuality, were forced to live in poverty. But Confucius affirmed that great men, faced with a situation like that, must remain calm, because that is how they demonstrate their ethical superiority.

Return

In the year 484 a. C., after almost 12 years of voyages, Confucius returned to his native land. It is believed that he had contact with Duke Ai, who ruled the State of Lu, as well as with the Ji family. Upon returning, the teacher had shed his will to participate in the political management of the State.

Confucius decided that education and intellectual activity were the path he would travel for the rest of his days. He studied and commented on great classics of Chinese literature such as The Book of Songs and The Book of Documents.

He also wrote a chronicle of Lu, which was titled Annals of Spring and Autumn. Other interests in the final period of Confucius' life were music and traditional rituals, which had always been to his liking.

It has been said that in his final years the philosopher also worked on one of his most influential works, since it served as the basis of Confucianism: The Anacletas of Confucius.

Despite this, the authorship of this text is not only the Chinese master, but it was also edited by his disciples and followers later, so many think that his teachings were corrupted.

Death

Confucius died in 479 BC. C., in Qufu, when he was 71 or 72 years old. At the time of his death, both his favorite students and his only son had already left the world. His death occurred from natural causes.

His followers organized a funeral for Confucius. Likewise, they established a period of mourning for the loss of the teacher, whose teachings would later become an emblem of Chinese society. He was buried in the Kong Lin Cemetery, in his hometown.

Both the house where Confucius lived while his mausoleum became a World Heritage Site by Unesco decree in 1994. The site was honored by many emperors of China. Some even built temples for him in other cities.

Historical plan of the Temple of Confucius at Qufu, 1912. via Wikimedia Commons

At the time of his death, Confucius was convinced that everything he fought for during his life would never be realized. In this he was wrong, for Confucianism eventually became the standard used by China's rulers to run the Empire and public education.

His Five Classics were the starting point for his disciples to continue spreading the knowledge that he was in charge of compiling. At the time of his death, more than 3,000 people had been directly instructed by him.

Offspring

Since Gaozu came to power from the Han Dynasty, members of Confucius' family were honored with different positions and titles within the Empire. Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty gave Kong Suizhi, a descendant of the ancient master, the title of Duke of Wenxuan.

They were linked to various political issues in the Empire for a long time. The family was divided into two great branches: one that remained in Qufu, with the title of Dukes of Yansheng, and those that left for the south, who settled in Quzhou.

The descendants of Confucius have been very great. In Quzhou alone there are more than 30,000 people who can trace their origins back to the teacher.

Around 1351 a branch of the family passed to Korea through Kong Shao, who married a natural woman from his new country of residence and changed his name to "Gong" (Koreanized) in the days of the Goryeo Dynasty.

Among the most famous descendants of Confucius today are Gong Yoo (Gong Ji-cheol), Gong Hyo-jin, and Gongchan (Gong Chan-sik).

Approximately 2 million descendants of Confucius are registered, although it is estimated that the total must be close to 3 million.

Philosophy

Although the thoughts of Confucius with the passing of time have acquired a religious character, they were originally conceived as a moral code, since they deal with the mode of behavior that someone exemplary should follow according to Chinese traditions.

He himself did not consider himself the creator of the ideas he professed, but a student of traditions and compiler of ancestral wisdom, through the classics, which had lost their validity during the Chou Empire.

For Confucius, education had to be universalized, since he reasoned that anyone could benefit from wisdom. From his point of view, knowledge allowed each individual to conduct himself in an appropriate manner and achieve satisfaction in adhering to morality.

In his teachings, he did not neglect the religious aspect, expressed in the rites, to which he was attached from a very young age. Thus he exalted the importance of the ancestors, which are one of the pillars of Chinese society.

In Confucian philosophy, heaven is a harmonious entity. From this follows the divine right with which, for example, a ruler is invested with authority. Despite that, men must constantly become worthy by cultivating themselves and getting in touch with the divinity within.

Portrait of Confucius, 18th century, via Wikimedia Commons

Ethical thinking

As stated by Confucius, each one is responsible for their works and their way of treating others. The duration of life was not changeable, but their actions and their way of life could be modified in their passage through the world.

The foundations of what Confucius presented were compassion and love of neighbor. This is expressed in one of the principles of Confucian philosophy known as the Golden Rule, or according to other “silver” sources:

"Don't do to others what you don't want for yourself."

Normally, the teachings of Confucius were not given directly, but the disciple had to find the knowledge for himself by submitting to an analysis what his teacher transmitted to him in the conversations they engaged in.

A virtuous person should be sincere first of all and, also, should always be cultivating intellectually, since knowledge was not considered the ultimate goal of study, but a constant path towards contact with the divinity of each being.

According to the Confucian precepts, each person would conduct himself better in life if he did so according to his own moral values, than if he simply acted to avoid a punishment imposed by the laws. If the last path was followed, the decisions did not come from the taste to act correctly.

Political thought

For Confucius, ethical, moral and religious aspects could not be separated from politics. This is because a ruler had to prepare in the same way, although with more discipline, than the rest of the men. In this way, a king could lead his people by example and be respected by all.

A leader was similar to a householder from the Confucian point of view, since he had to treat his people with love, while showing concern for their needs and sufferings.

Confucius believed that many of the rulers of his day had strayed so far from proper ethics that they no longer possessed the dignity necessary to lead the states under their charge. He thought that if a virtuous leader emerged, the Chinese fiefdoms would return to their former glory.

If a politician resorted to low practices such as bribery or intimidation of his people, then he was not worthy. Education, in addition to rituals and their teaching, could be enough to make people want to follow their ruler.

This philosophical approach indicated that a “sense of shame” could be created in the population, which would generate disgust towards any inappropriate behavior that would oppose what was expected of them.

Religious thought

According to Chinese traditions, order in the world emanated directly from heaven; that is to say, that was the main entity to which one should worship. Confucius was genuinely attached to the rites from a very young age, practiced them throughout his life and recommended that the cult be maintained.

Despite this, his doctrine never had a strictly religious character, since it did not reason about the origin of the gods, but rather focused on the forms of life that men should practice.

He never spoke explicitly about ancestor worship, although that was one of the most important parts of culture in China. What Confucius did express is that a son owes respect to his father and his way of proceeding while he was alive, but also after the death of the parent.

For Confucius it was essential that individuals find harmony with heaven. That was only possible through the cultivation of intellectuality and self-knowledge, through which Li is achieved, which are the good qualities.

He thought that a good ruler should adhere to the rites, so that they take root in his people.

Contributions

The most far-reaching contribution Confucius made was his philosophy, known as Confucianism, which, although it did not sink in during his lifetime, had a great influence in Asia after his death. In China it achieved a very important boom, after becoming one of the foundations of the governments of the area.

As time went by, Confucianism underwent changes that degenerated into a kind of religion, although it was never conceived by Confucius as such. What he tried to do was return to the order that the people of China had established in ancient times.

His vision of education was revolutionary, since he was one of the first to consider that education should be universalized and not reserved for nobles or those who could afford the teachings of a sage.

Also among his legacy to the world is the proposition that a ruler, although imposed by the grace of the Cosmos, must make himself worthy of his position, because if he does not, the people are obliged to find a leader who offers them a good example, as well as justice and benevolence.

Most of his philosophical contributions were reflected in texts such as The Anacletes of Confucius, which were compiled by his disciples, the Four Books or the Five Classics, which are attributed, on occasions, directly to him.

Texts

The

These five texts deal with different topics. They were written before the Qin dynasty came to power, but they became popular after the rule of the Han began, who were strongly attracted to Confucian policies and included them in the educational curriculum.

Confucius Statue at the Yushima Seido (This is the world's largest statue of Confucius.), By Abasaa, via Wikimedia Commons

The first is called Classical Poetry and contained 305 poems, divided into several sections for different occasions. Then there was the Book of Documents, in which were speeches and documents written in prose, supposedly made around the 6th century BC. C.

The Book of Rites was the third. There the customs, both social, religious and ceremonial, of Chinese society are addressed. This is one of the books that is presumed to have been directly edited by Confucius during his lifetime.

There is also the I Ching, or book of changes, which contained a system of divination. The fifth book was the Annals of Spring and Autumn, written by Confucius, a chronology about the State of Lu, in which the philosopher was born.

The

These books were adopted by the Song dynasty to facilitate the understanding of Confucian thought, serving as an introduction to its philosophy. They were one of the curricular bases of the educational system until the Quing dynasty.

Great Learning

A fragment of the Book of Rites was taken that was thought to have been written directly by Confucius, but commented on by Zengzi, one of his most prominent students. There the political and philosophical thought of Imperial China is condensed.

The importance of that book remains valid today. In it the precepts that Confucius preached are placed at the forefront and joined in affirming that government, education and research should be related.

Doctrine of Medianía

Also what appears in this text was originally a chapter from the Book of Rites. However, this was attributed to Confucius' grandson, Zisi. In this the Dao, or Tao, which means the "way", is shown.

By following this path all men can find harmony. In this way, anyone could imitate the sanctity of their ruler, in that case the emperor, since divine instructions were based on the same principles.

Anacletas

This is a compilation of Confucius' speeches, especially the conversations that he constantly engaged in with his disciples, through which they found knowledge.

Morality is one of the elements that is given a leading role, and it has been one of the pillars of Chinese society. An individual must always be sincere, must not commit acts that lead to deception, even in their bodily expressions.

In the imperial-era examinations, students were urged to use Confucius' ideas and words in their examinations to check that they had understood and assimilated the doctrine of Confucianism.

Mencius

Here are some dialogues between Mencius, a Chinese intellectual, and kings of the time. As with the Confucius texts, some think that it was written by his disciples and not directly by Mencius.

It was expressed in prose and the texts were much longer than those of Confucius, who used to use short ideas in his dialogues.

Confucianism

Although Confucius never tried to create a religion, his ideas are commonly followed as one, especially in China. Confucianism is believed to be practiced by approximately 110 million people.

It was originally conceived as a moral code, but aspects such as the worship of the ancestors or the god of the sky, known as Shangdi, were added to it. Loyalty is also extremely important in Confucianism, as is filiality, that is, the relationship between relatives.

In Confucianism another aspect that stands out is goodness, which Confucius explained with the Golden Rule. Thanks to her, it was understood that everyone should treat others as they would like to be treated themselves.

Confucianism and its ideas also fed another religion, which is the Taoist, in which there is talk of the "path" that must be followed to maintain balance. Despite this, it is not solely focused on Confucianism, nor are they considered to be the same religion.

References

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4. Richey, J. (2019). Confucius - Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Iep.utm.edu. Available at: iep.utm.edu.
5. Riegel, J. (2013). Confucius. Plato.stanford.edu. Available at: plato.stanford.edu.