Confucius

Do you know who Confucius is? Do you know about one of his philosophies or any of his philosophies? In how many years of your existence did you hear anything about Confucius? We all know what is autumn and spring is, but what do you think is the perception of Confucius about this thing called spring and autumn? What is Confucianism? Confucianism has been the chief cultural influence of China for centuries. The teachings of Confucius were never intended to be a religion. It has no revelatory sacred writings, no priesthood, no doctrine of an afterlife, and frowned on asceticism and monasticism. Later Confucius was deified and raised to the rank of Emperor and Co-assessor with the deities in Heaven and Earth. Official animal sacrifices were made at the tomb of Confucius for centuries. In 1982 Confucianism claims 156,070,100 adherents.

Confucius was an influential Chinese philosopher, teacher and political figure known for his popular aphorisms and for his models of social interaction. Confucius, also known as Kong Qui or K’ung Fu-tzu, was born in Shandong province, China, into a poor but a noble warrior family. The most detailed account of Confucius’s life is contained in the Records of the Historian by Ssu-ma Ch’ien, who lived from 145 B.C.E. to 86 B.C.E. Many scholars have dismissed this biography as only legend nevertheless, from his manuscript one can reconstruct a satisfactory outline of the philosopher’s life and influence. His father, Kong He, died when he was only three years old and he was brought up by his mother, Yan Zheng. Confucius married a young girl, Qi Guan, at nineteen. His first child, Kong Li, was born a year later. Confucius’s heritage linked him to a growing intermediate social class called shi, situated between the nobility and common class. This class largely comprised individuals seeking employment based on skill and natural talents. Confucius is believed to have worked as a shepherd, book-keeper, and clerk .At the age of fifty-three, Confucius became a justice minister in Lu. He resigned this position after a series of scandals involving the Duke of Lu. Thereafter he traveled through the small kingdoms that made up northeast and central China. During these travels he visited the courts of these kingdoms and explained his core political beliefs.

According to the Zuo Zhan, Confucius returned from these travels at the age of sixty-eight. The Analects depict his teachings as they were transmitted to seventy-two or seventy-seven disciples, although some scholars call this number into question, believing it to be fewer.

One of the famous works of Confucius is Autumn and Spring. This book is said to have been written by Confucius himself, in his seventy-second year, and to have been designed by him to serve as an epitome of his teachings upon all ethical, social, and religious subjects. At least, Mencius so speaks of it. The book, in a different form and known as "The Annals of Lu," was in existence before Confucius, and his task seems, after all, to have been to edit and amplify it. The work as it has come down to us, however, undoubtedly unchanged since the Han dynasty, is a bare record of events, almost utterly devoid of instruction and even of interest. The Spring and Autumn Annals or Chunqiu is an ancient Chinese chronicle that has been one of the core Chinese classics since ancient times. The Annals is the official chronicle of the State of Lu, and covers a 241-year period from 722 to 481 BC. It is the earliest surviving Chinese historical text to be arranged in annals form. Because it was traditionally regarded as having been compiled by Confucius , it was included as one of the Five Classics of Chinese literature. The Annals records main events that occurred in Lu during each year, such as the accessions, marriages, deaths, and funerals of rulers, battles fought, sacrificial rituals observed, celestial phenomena considered ritually important, and natural disasters. The entries are tersely written, averaging only 10 characters per entry, and contain no elaboration on events or recording of speeches.

In this philosophy of Confucius it says that in Spring and Autumn annals the records of the main events that happened in Lu Han in Tang Dynasty like the sins, the death of the ruler, wars, rituals and natural disasters. Confucius thought that political institutions of his day broke down. He made this statement because he saw the rulers was unworthy of the position they held as well as the lower ranks. When he was asked about the principles of good government he said that good government consists in the ruler being the ruler, the father being the father, and the son being the son wich means everyone should comply to the duties that they have as leaders and members of society.