# Confucius

## Biography

Confucius, born Kong Qiu, was a seminal Chinese philosopher, teacher, and political figure. He was born on September 28, 551 BCE, in the state of Lu, in present-day Shandong province. Though his family was of low-ranking nobility, Confucius grew up in poverty after his father died when he was three. Despite this, he received a comprehensive education, becoming known for his mastery of the Six Arts.

His philosophical teachings, later compiled by his disciples into the Analects, emphasized personal and governmental morality, harmonious social relationships, and the importance of ethics, ritual, and filial piety. Confucius believed that social harmony and order could be achieved through proper education and the cultivation of personal virtues, advocating for rulers to govern with benevolence. He is recognized as China's first teacher who aimed to make education broadly accessible. His ideas, known as Confucianism, profoundly influenced Chinese civilization and became the official imperial philosophy, shaping the culture and society of China and other East Asian countries for centuries. Confucius died around 479 BCE.

## Books

- [The Analects of Confucius (from the Chinese Classics)](https://samolit.com/books/96642)