ConfuciusandHisPhilosophyofLife
ConfuciuswasanancientChinesephilosopherwhoseteachingshadaprofoundimpactonChina'spolitical,social,andeducationalsystems.Hewasbornin551BCinthestateofLu,inwhatisnowknownasQufu,ShandongProvince.Confuciuswasagreatthinker,teacher,andpoliticalfigure,andhisideascontinuetoinfluencemodernChinesesocietytoday.
TheLifeofConfucius
Confuciuswasraisedinpoverty,buthewasdeterminedtobecomeascholar.Hespenthisearlyyearsstudyingmusic,literature,andhistory.Attheageof22,hestartedworkingasaclerkinthestateofLu'sgovernment,wherehequicklyrosethroughtheranks.Heeventuallybecameachiefmagistrate,butheresignedfromhispostinprotestafterhissuperiorsfailedtolistentohisadvice.Afterthis,ConfuciusspenttherestofhislifetravelingthroughoutChina,teachingandspreadinghisideas.
TheTeachingsofConfucius
TheteachingsofConfucius,whicharecollectivelyknownasConfucianism,centeraroundtheimportanceofmoralconduct,respectforauthority,andthepursuitofknowledge.Confuciusbelievedthatthekeytoawell-orderedandprosperoussocietywasforeachindividualtoactwithproprietyinallhisactions.Hecalledforpeopletocultivatefivevirtues:benevolence,righteousness,propriety,wisdom,andfaithfulness.Confuciusalsoemphasizedtheimportanceofeducation,statingthat\"Educationbreedsconfidence.Confidencebreedshope.Hopebreedspeace.\"
TheLegacyofConfucius
Confuciusdiedin479BC,buthisteachingscontinuedtoinfluenceChinesesocietyforcenturiestocome.Hisideaswereadoptedbytherulingclass,whousedConfucianismasawaytojustifytheirrule.ConfucianismalsobecamethebasisforChina'scivilserviceexams,whichwereusedtoselectgovernmentofficialsforoverathousandyears.Today,ConfucianismcontinuestobeanimportantpartofChineseculture.In2010,theChinesegovernmentofficiallyrecognizedConfuciusasa\"greatthinker,educator,andstatesman,\"andhisteachingscontinuetobetaughtinChineseschoolsanduniversities.
Inconclusion,ConfuciuswasoneofthemostimportantfiguresinChinesehistory.HisteachingscontinuetoinfluenceChinesesocietytoday,andhisemphasisonmorality,education,andrespectforauthorityhashelpedshapeChinesecultureforovertwothousandyears.Confuciusbelievedthatthekeytoagoodsocietywasforeachindividualtoactwithpropriety,andhisteachingsprovideavaluableguideforhowwecanallliveavirtuousandfulfillinglife.
