Confucius

Biography

Confucius (Kong Qiu, 551-479 BCE) was born in the state of Lu in what is now Shandong Province, China. His father died when he was young, and he grew up in modest circumstances. He held minor government positions, spent years traveling from state to state seeking a ruler who would implement his ethical vision of governance, and was consistently disappointed. He returned to Lu and spent his final years teaching a circle of devoted students. He considered himself a failure. His students compiled his teachings into the Analects, which became the most influential text in East Asian history.

Confucius at a glance