Who was Confucius?
Confucius was born about 2,500 years ago. He was
born to a poor family and did not grow up with many
resources. In those times, the only people who could get
an education were the nobles and the government
officials. Public school did not yet exist in ancient
China. There was no public library. There was no
internet of course. So, how could a young man learn?
Confucius decided the only way was to go to work for a
nobleman. Every time the noble traveled, Confucius
went with him, including trips to the imperial court
and the capital city. He studied and learned until he
probably was the most highly educated man of his time.
With the nobleman's help, Confucius became a teacher. Confucius was willing to teach anyone who
wanted to learn. He was the first private teacher in China.
He had very strict ideas of how people should behave to develop moral character. These ideas are
called Confucianism. Confucianism is not a religion; it's a way of behaving, so you'll do the right things.
There were five virtues that Confucius established. These were things that should be mastered by any
government official so that they could have a strong government. These were:
1.
Li - Etiquette or manners
2.
Ren - Kindness to the fellow man
3.
Xin - Truthfulness, faithfulness, and sincerity
4.
Yi - Righteousness, generosity of soul
5.
Xiao - Strong family values
Everything in life had to be done a certain way. One of his rules was that gentlemen could only display
their skill as archers on three hunts a year, in the spring, autumn, and winter. This was not a popular
rule with some of the nobles. But Confucius continued to teach his strict rules of behavior. Many
people, including many nobles, followed the rules of Confucius. Still today, Confucianism is one of the
building blocks of Chinese culture.
Words of Wisdom from
Confucius
 The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
 Respect yourself and others will respect you.
 To be wealthy and honored in an unjust society is a disgrace.
 Never give a sword to a man who can’t dance.
 True wisdom is knowing what you don’t know.
 When the wind blows, the grass bends.
 Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself.
 Choose a job you love and you will never work a day in your life.
 I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
 Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
 When a wise man points at the moon, the imbecile examines the finger.
 A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
 Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.
 He who learns but does not think is lost. He who thinks but does not learn
is in great danger.
 It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you don’t stop.
 It is better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
 Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.