{"id":8115,"date":"2025-10-25T08:06:04","date_gmt":"2025-10-25T12:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fraseologia.com\/en\/other\/the-life-of-confucius-teachings-and-legacy-of-the-chinese-philosopher\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T18:05:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T23:05:59","slug":"the-life-of-confucius-teachings-and-legacy-of-the-chinese-philosopher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fraseologia.com\/en\/eastern-philosophy\/chinese-philosophy\/the-life-of-confucius-teachings-and-legacy-of-the-chinese-philosopher\/","title":{"rendered":"The life of Confucius: teachings and legacy of the Chinese philosopher"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Born Kong Qiu in 551 BCE, <strong>Confucius<\/strong> stands as a towering figure in Chinese intellectual history. This revered sage, whose name is a Latinized form of &#8220;Master Kong,&#8221; profoundly shaped East Asian thought and culture for millennia. Emerging from a period of societal upheaval, <strong>Confucius<\/strong> advocated for a return to ethical governance, personal morality, and harmonious social relationships, principles that would collectively become known as <a href=\"https:\/\/fraseologia.com\/en\/eastern-philosophy\/chinese-philosophy\/\">Chinese philosophy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_79_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">What you will read in this article:<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/fraseologia.com\/en\/eastern-philosophy\/chinese-philosophy\/the-life-of-confucius-teachings-and-legacy-of-the-chinese-philosopher\/#The_formative_years_of_Confucius\" >The formative years of Confucius<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/fraseologia.com\/en\/eastern-philosophy\/chinese-philosophy\/the-life-of-confucius-teachings-and-legacy-of-the-chinese-philosopher\/#Confuciuss_philosophical_journey_and_public_service\" >Confucius&#8217;s philosophical journey and public service<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/fraseologia.com\/en\/eastern-philosophy\/chinese-philosophy\/the-life-of-confucius-teachings-and-legacy-of-the-chinese-philosopher\/#The_core_teachings_of_Confucius_and_Confucianism\" >The core teachings of Confucius and Confucianism<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/fraseologia.com\/en\/eastern-philosophy\/chinese-philosophy\/the-life-of-confucius-teachings-and-legacy-of-the-chinese-philosopher\/#The_enduring_legacy_of_Confucius_and_Confucianism\" >The enduring legacy of Confucius and Confucianism<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/fraseologia.com\/en\/eastern-philosophy\/chinese-philosophy\/the-life-of-confucius-teachings-and-legacy-of-the-chinese-philosopher\/#Summary_table\" >Summary table<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/fraseologia.com\/en\/eastern-philosophy\/chinese-philosophy\/the-life-of-confucius-teachings-and-legacy-of-the-chinese-philosopher\/#References\" >References<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/fraseologia.com\/en\/eastern-philosophy\/chinese-philosophy\/the-life-of-confucius-teachings-and-legacy-of-the-chinese-philosopher\/#Profile\" >Profile<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"theformativeyearsofconfucius\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_formative_years_of_Confucius\"><\/span>The formative years of Confucius<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Confucius<\/strong> was born on September 28, 551 BCE, in Zou, a town within the ancient Chinese state of Lu, corresponding to modern-day Qufu in Shandong province. His given name was Qiu, and his courtesy name was Zhongni, indicating he was the second son in his family. The era of his birth, known as the Spring and Autumn period, was marked by <strong>political instability<\/strong> and declining central authority, a context that would deeply influence his philosophical pursuits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His father, Kong He, also known as Shuliang He, was an elderly commandant in the local Lu garrison, with ancestral ties tracing back to the dukes of Song and the preceding Shang dynasty. Tragically, Kong He passed away when <strong>Confucius<\/strong> was just three years old. This early loss plunged his family into poverty, leaving his mother, Yan Zhengzai, to raise him under challenging circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the economic hardship, Yan Zhengzai instilled in young <strong>Confucius<\/strong> a profound appreciation for <strong>learning and traditional rituals<\/strong>. He received an education typically available to the <em>shi<\/em> class, a stratum between the aristocracy and commoners, encompassing the Six Arts: ritual, music, archery, charioteering, writing, and arithmetic. These foundational studies equipped him with a broad understanding of ancient Chinese culture and governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the age of 19, <strong>Confucius<\/strong> married Lady Qiguan, and a year later, they welcomed their first child, a son named Kong Li. The couple subsequently had two daughters. To support his growing family and ensure a proper burial for his mother, he took on various minor government positions, including roles as a bookkeeper and a caretaker of livestock, demonstrating his practical approach to responsibility even in his early adult life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"confuciussphilosophicaljourneyandpublicservice\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Confuciuss_philosophical_journey_and_public_service\"><\/span>Confucius&#8217;s philosophical journey and public service<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As he entered his early thirties, <strong>Confucius<\/strong> began to attract a substantial following, drawing students from both the elite and common classes in Lu. His teachings focused on reviving the <strong>moral integrity<\/strong> and social harmony of earlier periods, which he believed had been abandoned in his turbulent era. This was a critical turning point, marking his transition from minor official to influential educator and philosopher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Confucius<\/strong> briefly held several public offices, including that of a minister in the state of Lu, where he sought to implement his ideals of ethical governance. He believed that a ruler should lead by virtue, stressing that a moral government depended on the moral conduct of its leaders. He championed the concept of the &#8220;rectification of names,&#8221; arguing that social roles and their associated responsibilities must align for society to function correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, his efforts to reform the ruling class often met with resistance, as he grew increasingly dissatisfied with the moral decline and corruption he observed. Consequently, <strong>Confucius<\/strong> embarked on a journey across neighboring states, spending over a decade as an itinerant philosopher and advisor. During this period, he sought to persuade various rulers to adopt his philosophy, promoting <strong>benevolence<\/strong> (<em>ren<\/em>) and ritual propriety (<em>li<\/em>) as cornerstones of effective leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His travels were instrumental in refining his philosophical concepts and expanding his influence, even if he did not achieve widespread political success during his lifetime. This period of wandering allowed <strong>Confucius<\/strong> to disseminate his teachings to a wider audience, laying the groundwork for the enduring impact of <a href=\"https:\/\/fraseologia.com\/en\/philosophy-wisdom\/ancient-philosophy\/\">ancient philosophy<\/a>. He observed different societies and political structures, reinforcing his conviction that moral cultivation was the key to societal order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"thecoreteachingsofconfuciusandconfucianism\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_core_teachings_of_Confucius_and_Confucianism\"><\/span>The core teachings of Confucius and Confucianism<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The philosophical teachings of <strong>Confucius<\/strong>, collectively known as Confucianism, are primarily concerned with personal and governmental morality, the cultivation of harmonious social relationships, and the importance of righteousness, kindness, and sincerity. He viewed himself not as an innovator, but as a &#8220;transmitter&#8221; of ancient values and wisdom, advocating for a return to the principles he believed had guided China&#8217;s golden age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A central tenet of Confucianism is <strong>filial piety<\/strong>, or <em>xiao<\/em>, which emphasizes strong family loyalty, ancestor veneration, and the profound respect of children for their parents and elders. <strong>Confucius<\/strong> considered a robust family unit to be the foundational cornerstone for an ideal government and a harmonious society. This principle extended to the respect of wives for their husbands, creating a structured yet interdependent social order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Confucius<\/strong> also championed the <strong>Silver Rule<\/strong>, a negative formulation of the Golden Rule: &#8220;Do not do unto others what you do not want done to yourself.&#8221; This ethical maxim underscored his belief in reciprocal obligations and empathetic human interaction. His teachings aimed to foster a sense of mutual respect and responsibility, crucial for maintaining social cohesion in a fractured world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The aphorisms and teachings of <strong>Confucius<\/strong> were compiled by his disciples many years after his death into a collection known as <strong>The Analects<\/strong>. This seminal text captures his dialogues with students, his moral admonitions, and his reflections on governance, ethics, and the ideal human being, the <em>junzi<\/em> or &#8220;gentleman.&#8221; <strong>The Analects<\/strong> serve as the primary source for understanding his philosophical contributions and continue to influence <a href=\"https:\/\/fraseologia.com\/en\/philosophy-wisdom\/knowledge-learning\/\">knowledge and learning<\/a> approaches worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"theenduringlegacyofconfuciusandconfucianism\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_enduring_legacy_of_Confucius_and_Confucianism\"><\/span>The enduring legacy of Confucius and Confucianism<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite not achieving significant political influence in his lifetime, the teachings of <strong>Confucius<\/strong> profoundly shaped Chinese philosophy, education, and politics for over two millennia. His ideas, initially gaining prominence during the tumultuous Warring States period, faced a temporary setback after the Qin conquest, which favored Legalism. However, their resurgence was inevitable due to their deep resonance with Chinese cultural values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under Emperor Wu of Han, around the 2nd century BCE, <strong>Confucius<\/strong>&#8216;s ideas received official imperial sanction. Confucianism became the dominant state ideology, with associated works, particularly <strong>The Analects<\/strong>, becoming mandatory readings for career paths leading to officialdom. This institutionalization solidified his philosophical system as the bedrock of Chinese imperial governance and education, influencing generations of bureaucrats and scholars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the Tang and Song dynasties, Confucianism evolved into a more complex and metaphysical system known in the West as Neo-Confucianism. This development integrated elements of <a href=\"https:\/\/fraseologia.com\/en\/religious-leaders\/buddhism\/\">Buddhism<\/a> and Daoism while retaining its core ethical and social principles. Neo-Confucianism further entrenched the philosopher&#8217;s legacy, providing a comprehensive framework for moral, social, and political thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the 20th century, a movement known as New Confucianism emerged in Republican China, seeking to apply Confucian ideology in a modern context, demonstrating its enduring relevance in addressing contemporary challenges. From ancient dynasties to the present day, Confucianism has integrated deeply into the Chinese social fabric and way of life, continuing to inform ethical and social values across East Asia. The principles laid down by <strong>Confucius<\/strong> remain a cornerstone of cultural identity and moral reflection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"summarytable\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary_table\"><\/span>Summary table<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Aspect<\/th><th>Details<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Birth<\/td><td>c. 551 BCE, in Zou (modern Qufu, Shandong, China)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Family<\/td><td>Father (Kong He) died at age three; raised in poverty by mother (Yan Zhengzai); married Lady Qiguan at 19; had a son (Kong Li) and two daughters.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Education<\/td><td>Educated in the Six Arts (ritual, music, archery, charioteering, writing, arithmetic); belonged to the <em>shi<\/em> class.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Early Career<\/td><td>Minor government positions (bookkeeper, caretaker of livestock).<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Philosophical Focus<\/td><td>Personal and governmental morality, harmonious social relationships, righteousness, kindness, sincerity, ruler&#8217;s responsibility to lead by virtue. Advocated filial piety and the Silver Rule.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Key Concepts<\/td><td><em>Ren<\/em> (benevolence), <em>Li<\/em> (ritual propriety), Rectification of Names, <em>Xiao<\/em> (filial piety), <em>Junzi<\/em> (gentleman).<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Major Work<\/td><td><strong>The Analects<\/strong> (compiled by his disciples).<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Political Life<\/td><td>Served as a minister in Lu; traveled across states as an advisor; never achieved significant lasting political influence during his lifetime.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Legacy<\/td><td>Founder of Confucianism; ideas sanctioned as imperial ideology during the Han dynasty; influenced East Asian culture, education, and politics; evolved into Neo-Confucianism and New Confucianism.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Death<\/td><td>c. 479 BCE, in Lu (modern Qufu, Shandong, China).<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"references\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"References\"><\/span>References<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/<br>https:\/\/www.academicblock.com\/<br>https:\/\/thegreatthinkers.org\/<br>https:\/\/www.worldhistory.org\/<br>https:\/\/www.biography.com\/<br>https:\/\/studylatam.com\/<br>https:\/\/iep.utm.edu\/<br>https:\/\/www.columbia.edu\/<br>https:\/\/www.articlespringer.com\/<br>https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/<br>https:\/\/ondertexts.com\/\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Profile\"><\/span>Profile<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-person\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ProfilePage\" itemscope>\n    <div itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" itemscope>\n        <meta itemprop=\"identifier\" content=\"Confucius_ChinesePhilosopher\">\n        <meta itemprop=\"birthDate\" content=\"-0551\">\n        <meta itemprop=\"deathDate\" content=\"-0479\">\n        <meta itemprop=\"nationality\" content=\"Chinese\">\n        <meta itemprop=\"gender\" content=\"Male\">\n        \n        <header class=\"person-header\">\n            <h3 class=\"person-name\" itemprop=\"name\">Confucius<\/h3>\n            <div class=\"alternate-name\" itemprop=\"alternateName\">Kong Fuzi<\/div>\n            <div class=\"alternate-name\" itemprop=\"alternateName\">K&#8217;ung Fu-tzu<\/div>\n            <div class=\"alternate-name\" itemprop=\"alternateName\">Master Kong<\/div>\n            <div class=\"alternate-name\" itemprop=\"alternateName\">Kong Qiu<\/div>\n            <div class=\"alternate-name\" itemprop=\"alternateName\">Zhongni<\/div>\n        <\/header>\n\n        <div class=\"dates\">\n            <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n            <span itemprop=\"birthDate\">c. 551 BCE<\/span> &#8211; \n            <span itemprop=\"birthPlace\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Place\" itemscope>\n                <span itemprop=\"name\">Zou, State of Lu (present-day Qufu, Shandong province, China)<\/span>\n            <\/span>\n            <br>\n            <strong>Died:<\/strong> \n            <span itemprop=\"deathDate\">c. 479 BCE<\/span> &#8211; \n            <span itemprop=\"deathPlace\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Place\" itemscope>\n                <span itemprop=\"name\">Qufu, State of Lu (present-day Shandong province, China)<\/span>\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"description\" itemprop=\"description\">\n            Confucius (551\u2013479 BCE) was an influential Chinese philosopher, teacher, and political theorist, whose ideas profoundly influenced East Asian civilization for over two millennia. His philosophy, known as Confucianism, emphasized morality, correctness of social relationships, justice, kindness, and sincerity. He advocated for a hierarchical but harmonious society built on principles of benevolence (ren), righteousness (yi), propriety (li), wisdom (zhi), and trustworthiness (xin), believing that these virtues were essential for individual well-being and a stable, ethical government. His teachings are primarily preserved in &#8220;The Analects of Confucius.&#8221;\n        <\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"details-section\">\n            <div class=\"detail-group\">\n                <h3>Occupations and Roles<\/h3>\n                <div itemprop=\"jobTitle\">Philosopher<\/div>\n                <div itemprop=\"jobTitle\">Teacher<\/div>\n                <div itemprop=\"jobTitle\">Political Theorist<\/div>\n                <div itemprop=\"jobTitle\">Civil Servant (e.g., Minister of Crime in Lu)<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            \n            <div class=\"detail-group\">\n                <h3>Key Concepts and Legacy<\/h3>\n                <div><strong>Founded:<\/strong> \n                    <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Confucianism<\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div><strong>Key Teachings:<\/strong> \n                    <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Ren (Benevolence)<\/span>, \n                    <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Yi (Righteousness)<\/span>, \n                    <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Li (Propriety\/Ritual)<\/span>, \n                    <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Zhi (Wisdom)<\/span>, \n                    <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Xin (Trustworthiness)<\/span>, \n                    <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Xiao (Filial Piety)<\/span>, \n                    <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Junzi (Superior Person)<\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div><strong>Influenced:<\/strong> \n                    <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Chinese culture and philosophy<\/span>, \n                    <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Korean culture and philosophy<\/span>, \n                    <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Japanese culture and philosophy<\/span>, \n                    <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Vietnamese culture and philosophy<\/span>, \n                    <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">East Asian educational systems<\/span>, \n                    <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Government administration<\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div><strong>Principal Text:<\/strong> \n                    <span itemprop=\"mainEntityOfPage\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" itemscope>\n                        <span itemprop=\"name\">The Analects of Confucius<\/span>\n                        <meta itemprop=\"url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gutenberg.org\/files\/3330\/3330-h\/3330-h.htm\">\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"awards\" itemprop=\"award\">\n            <h3>Honors and Titles<\/h3>\n            <div itemprop=\"award\">Greatest Sage and Foremost Teacher (\u81f3\u8056\u5148\u5e2b)<\/div>\n            <div itemprop=\"award\">Duke Wenxuan (\u6587\u5ba3\u516c) &#8211; posthumous title<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"links-section\">\n            <h3>Sources and Further Reading<\/h3>\n            <div class=\"link-category\">\n                <h4>Encyclopedias and Academic Resources<\/h4>\n                <div class=\"links\">\n                    <a itemprop=\"sameAs\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Confucius\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Wikipedia (EN)<\/a>\n                    <a itemprop=\"sameAs\" href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Confucius\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Encyclop\u00e6dia Britannica<\/a>\n                    <a itemprop=\"sameAs\" href=\"https:\/\/plato.stanford.edu\/entries\/confucius\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy<\/a>\n                    <a itemprop=\"sameAs\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iep.utm.edu\/confuciu\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy<\/a>\n                    <a itemprop=\"sameAs\" href=\"https:\/\/www.worldhistory.org\/Confucius\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">World History Encyclopedia<\/a>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            \n            <div class=\"link-category\">\n                <h4>Key Texts and Translations<\/h4>\n                <div class=\"links\">\n                    The Analects of Confucius (Project Gutenberg)\n                    <a itemprop=\"sameAs\" href=\"https:\/\/ctext.org\/confucianism\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Chinese Text Project &#8211; Confucianism<\/a>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            \n            <div class=\"link-category\">\n                <h4>Academic Databases and Authority Files<\/h4>\n                <div class=\"links\">\n                    <a itemprop=\"sameAs\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q4604\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Wikidata<\/a>\n                    <a itemprop=\"sameAs\" href=\"https:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/34539824\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">VIAF<\/a>\n                    <a itemprop=\"sameAs\" href=\"https:\/\/id.loc.gov\/authorities\/names\/n79058421.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Library of Congress<\/a>\n                    IdRef (France)\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        \n        <div>\n            <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Chinese Philosophy<\/span>\n            <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Ethics<\/span>\n            <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Morality<\/span>\n            <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Social Harmony<\/span>\n            <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Education<\/span>\n            <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Government Ethics<\/span>\n            <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Classical Chinese Texts<\/span>\n            <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Warring States Period<\/span>\n            <span itemprop=\"knowsAbout\">Spring and Autumn period<\/span>\n            <span itemprop=\"hasOccupation\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Role\" itemscope>\n                <span itemprop=\"roleName\">Philosopher<\/span>\n                <span itemprop=\"startDate\">c. 521 BCE<\/span>\n                <span itemprop=\"endDate\">c. 479 BCE<\/span>\n            <\/span>\n            <span itemprop=\"hasOccupation\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Role\" itemscope>\n                <span itemprop=\"roleName\">Teacher<\/span>\n                <span itemprop=\"startDate\">c. 521 BCE<\/span>\n                <span itemprop=\"endDate\">c. 479 BCE<\/span>\n            <\/span>\n            <span itemprop=\"hasOccupation\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Role\" itemscope>\n                <span itemprop=\"roleName\">Minister of Crime, Lu<\/span>\n                <span itemprop=\"startDate\">c. 501 BCE<\/span>\n                <span itemprop=\"endDate\">c. 498 BCE<\/span>\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Delve into the life of Confucius, from his humble beginnings to his lasting legacy as one of history&#8217;s most influential 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