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Evidence of the lasting influence of the Chinese philosopher Confucius can still been seen around the world.In September 2009 a life-size bronze statue of the scholar was erected at Hermann Park in downtown Houston, Texas, commemorating the 2,560th anniversary of the birth of the ancient sage. At its inaugural ceremony former US Secretary of State James Baker called the artwork “a reminder to Houstonians and Texans of the teachings of Confucius, whose ideals, and particularly his thoughts about man’s role in society, remain as true today as they were 2,500 years ago.”
Confucianism endures as a defining factor for the Chinese ethos and culture and continues to be an acknowledged source of wisdom and guidance for all mankind.
The most important and reliable source for studying Confucius’ thoughts and deeds is The Analects, a record of dialogues between Confucius and his followers. It is believed to have been compiled by his disciples and their students based on his teachings, and finished sometime in the early years of the Warring States Period ( 475-221 B.C.). The Analects was first translated into English in 1809 by British missionary Marshman Joshua (1768-1837), an accomplished scholar, linguist and theologian. Today the book is still published regularly in a wide range of foreign languages, including Norwegian, Italian, Romanian, Danish and Urdu.
The great thinker and educator was born in 551 B.C. to the third wife of a warrior in the State of Lu. His father died when he was three, leaving little resources to his widow and orphan. From an early age young Confucius was forced to take difficult work in order to survive, from tending the herds to keeping the stables. But as a teen he showed an extraordinary zest for study, which left him determined to become a teacher at the age of 15.
It was almost 15 years later that his dream could become a reality, when he began to hold classes for young commoners. These students had been barred from the state-run schools, the only form of education available at the time due to their status in society. It is said that Confucius had over 3,000 disciples in his life, and 72 of them went on to further accomplishment in their own rights, including Zengzi, one of the editors of The Analects. During his career the “Master,” the honorific title for Confucius, developed many educational theories that are still revered today, such as “teaching without distinction,” “man is similar by nature, but becomes different by nurture,” and “teaching according to students’ aptitude.”
Confucius was also active in politics, preaching benevolence in rule, stating that a life of ritual and morality alone is strong enough to maintain a state of order and prosperity in society. At the age of 55 he and a selection of his disciples embarked on a 14-year journey across China, pontificating his political and philosophical views. The kings nodded in revere at his lectures and ideas, but few put them into practice. In 484 B.C. the frustrated philosopher, then 68, returned to his homeland Lu, there devoting himself to the collection of ancient writings and teachings for his remaining years. In 479, after his death he was laid to rest by the Sishui River, which today runs through Qufu, Shandong Province.
The Analects consists of 20 sections, each containing a collection of the ancient sage’s wisest philosophical thoughts. They focus mainly on morality, the rule of the nation, and learning. From the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.- A.D. 24), the emperors began to elevate the Confucian teachings above all other schools of thought. The Analects became required reading for all intellectuals of the time, shaping mainstream values and attitude towards life and the world during China’s feudal age. It is not an overstatement to say that every Chinese person has been influenced by The Analects, directly or indirectly, and is a disciple of Confucius, voluntarily or involuntarily.
Together with the other three volumes of the Four Books of Confucist Thought (The Great Learning, The Doctrine of the Mean, The Analects, Mencius), The Analects teaches basic Confucian values which include propriety, righteousness, loyalty, and filial piety, all centered around the central Confucian theories of humanity.
Today people all over the world continue to seek inspiration and guidance from this Chinese classic. Its verses, pregnant with wisdom, can be found sprinkled throughout the speeches of many current world leaders. During his recent visit to China, U.S. President Barack Obama quoted “Consider the past, when trying to know the future” in his lecture to a group of Shanghai college students. “Isn’t it a pleasure to study and practice what you have learned?” was borrowed for Russian President Medvedev’s speech given at Peking University in Beijing in 2008. When addressing the same institute in 2007, Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo enlisted the famous Confucius quotation, “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance” when illustrating the idea that China and Japan could advance their mutual understanding while admitting their differences.
Confucianism endures as a defining factor for the Chinese ethos and culture and continues to be an acknowledged source of wisdom and guidance for all mankind.
The most important and reliable source for studying Confucius’ thoughts and deeds is The Analects, a record of dialogues between Confucius and his followers. It is believed to have been compiled by his disciples and their students based on his teachings, and finished sometime in the early years of the Warring States Period ( 475-221 B.C.). The Analects was first translated into English in 1809 by British missionary Marshman Joshua (1768-1837), an accomplished scholar, linguist and theologian. Today the book is still published regularly in a wide range of foreign languages, including Norwegian, Italian, Romanian, Danish and Urdu.
The great thinker and educator was born in 551 B.C. to the third wife of a warrior in the State of Lu. His father died when he was three, leaving little resources to his widow and orphan. From an early age young Confucius was forced to take difficult work in order to survive, from tending the herds to keeping the stables. But as a teen he showed an extraordinary zest for study, which left him determined to become a teacher at the age of 15.
It was almost 15 years later that his dream could become a reality, when he began to hold classes for young commoners. These students had been barred from the state-run schools, the only form of education available at the time due to their status in society. It is said that Confucius had over 3,000 disciples in his life, and 72 of them went on to further accomplishment in their own rights, including Zengzi, one of the editors of The Analects. During his career the “Master,” the honorific title for Confucius, developed many educational theories that are still revered today, such as “teaching without distinction,” “man is similar by nature, but becomes different by nurture,” and “teaching according to students’ aptitude.”
Confucius was also active in politics, preaching benevolence in rule, stating that a life of ritual and morality alone is strong enough to maintain a state of order and prosperity in society. At the age of 55 he and a selection of his disciples embarked on a 14-year journey across China, pontificating his political and philosophical views. The kings nodded in revere at his lectures and ideas, but few put them into practice. In 484 B.C. the frustrated philosopher, then 68, returned to his homeland Lu, there devoting himself to the collection of ancient writings and teachings for his remaining years. In 479, after his death he was laid to rest by the Sishui River, which today runs through Qufu, Shandong Province.
The Analects consists of 20 sections, each containing a collection of the ancient sage’s wisest philosophical thoughts. They focus mainly on morality, the rule of the nation, and learning. From the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.- A.D. 24), the emperors began to elevate the Confucian teachings above all other schools of thought. The Analects became required reading for all intellectuals of the time, shaping mainstream values and attitude towards life and the world during China’s feudal age. It is not an overstatement to say that every Chinese person has been influenced by The Analects, directly or indirectly, and is a disciple of Confucius, voluntarily or involuntarily.
Together with the other three volumes of the Four Books of Confucist Thought (The Great Learning, The Doctrine of the Mean, The Analects, Mencius), The Analects teaches basic Confucian values which include propriety, righteousness, loyalty, and filial piety, all centered around the central Confucian theories of humanity.
Today people all over the world continue to seek inspiration and guidance from this Chinese classic. Its verses, pregnant with wisdom, can be found sprinkled throughout the speeches of many current world leaders. During his recent visit to China, U.S. President Barack Obama quoted “Consider the past, when trying to know the future” in his lecture to a group of Shanghai college students. “Isn’t it a pleasure to study and practice what you have learned?” was borrowed for Russian President Medvedev’s speech given at Peking University in Beijing in 2008. When addressing the same institute in 2007, Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo enlisted the famous Confucius quotation, “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance” when illustrating the idea that China and Japan could advance their mutual understanding while admitting their differences.