Confucianism is an ethical philosophy based on the teachings of
K'ung Fu-tzu(551-479BCE). The man whose name would be latinized as Confucius was a social and ethical
teacher who lived in a turbulent period of China's history. At the time of his birth, the ChouDynasty
was in decline and many of the social, ethical and spiritual values were being subjected to re-examination. The
authority of the Chousovereign--technically the supreme authority over state and religious affairs--was
challenged on all sides. Feudal lords asserted their own supremacy, ministers with different clan affiliations
acted in accordance with whatever advantages they could garner in their own interests. The three most powerful
clans, the Chi, Meng, and Shu,for instance, were the true rulers of Confucius' own state
of what is modern Shantung Province.
Confucius the Man
Confucius was born into a class of the minor aristocracy (shih) who had for generations
served as administrative bureaucrats. His father, who married a considerably younger wife, died when
Confucius was a child. He was raised and supported by his mother and his youth for the most part was
not one that could be described by any means as being well-to-do.
Through out his life, Confucius travelled extensively teaching his message of social and ethical reform.
Despite the impact his philosphy would have not only on Chinese life, Confucius never achieved
either the true recognition or rewards in his own life time. It would not be till the
HanDynasty (206-221 CE) that his teachings would be codified into China's political and social system.
The texts which would be adopted into official guidelines are known as the Five Classics
and the Four Books of the Confucian Canon.
It is unclear as to how many disciples Confucius gathered about him during his life time. Twenty-two are named in
the Analects but some traditions claim that he had seventy-two.
At any rate, the best-known of Confucius followers was Yen Hui man who by all accounts exemplified completely
the virtues of Confucianism.
Meng-Tzu and Hsu-Tzu
After the death of Confucius, various schools of philosophy vied for place among the different rulers
who sought to assert their own supremacy. This period of China's history was known as the period the warring
states. The two philosoper-teachers who would be the most instrumental in sustaining the Confucian legacy
were Meng-Tzu whose name would eventually be latinized as Menciusand Hsun-Tzu.
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