Kongzi

Kongzi, commonly known as Confucius, was a Chinese philosopher and teacher whose ideas formed the foundation of Confucianism. Born around 551 BCE in the state of Lu (present-day Shandong), he emphasized ethics, social harmony, and the cultivation of virtue. His teachings, collected by disciples in the Analects and other texts, influenced governance, education, and ritual life across East Asia for centuries.

Kongzi came from a declining noble family in Qufu. He pursued learning, held modest official posts in Lu, and advocated virtuous leadership and merit-based appointments. He reportedly traveled to several states seeking rulers open to reform, but political success was limited. He returned to Lu and is believed to have died around 479 BCE.

Confucian philosophy centers on ren (benevolence), li (ritual propriety), and xiao (filial piety). It stresses education as moral cultivation, proper conduct in family and society, and government by virtue rather than coercion. The Analects is a collection of dialogues and aphorisms attributed to Confucius and his followers; other core works include the Great Learning, the Doctrine of the Mean, and the Mencius.

His thought shaped Chinese governance and civil service, especially after the Han dynasty elevated Confucianism to state ideology. The tradition spread to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, influencing education and ethics for centuries. Today, Kongzi remains a central figure in East Asian thought, honored in temples and cited in discussions of morality, education, and social order.