On Confucius

Indranil Sarkar

Confucius (551-479 BCE)

Confucius was a Chinese teacher, politician, philosopher and writer. Myth has it
that Confucius was born as a blessing to his parents prayer at a sacred hill
named Ni. The term Confucius literally means Master Kong. He lived in
between 551 and 479 BCE. This is known today as the Spring and Autumn period
in Chinese History. Confucius ancestors had migrated from the Song State to
the Lu State three generations before his birth. Confucius was a descendant of
the Shang dynasty Kings.
Confucius was the founder of the Ru School of Chinese thought. His teachings
had become the system of philosophy called Confucianism. Confucius's wisdom
still lives on and truly speaking, most relevant for a happy and dignified
individual and social life. Confucius highlighted the doctrine of "Do not do to
others what you do not want done to yourself". This was an early version of the
Golden Rule.
Fung Yu-lan, one of the great 20thcentury authorities on the history of Chinese
thought, compares Confucius' influence in Chinese history with that of Socrates
in the West. He was one of the greatest teachers that had ever breathed in this
universe. Confucius's principles had a basis in common Chinese tradition and
belief. He championed strong family loyalty, ancestor worship, respect of elders
by their children and of husbands by their wives. He also recommended family
as a basis for ideal government.
As a writer, he was mainly credited with his editorial works. He edited all the
five Chinese Classics. He was out and out a wit. He was a master of aphorism.

His time-tested aphoristic sentences remind us of the dispersed meditations of

Francis Bacon. Confucius' teachings and his conversations and exchanges with
his disciples were recorded in the Lunyu or Analects most probably in 2nd
century.
The philosophy of Confucius emphasized personal and governmental morality,
correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity. Confucius represented
his teachings as lessons transmitted from antiquity. He claimed that he was a
transmitter and not a maker.
A hallmark of Confucius' thought was his emphasis on education and study. He
disparaged those who professed faith in natural understanding or intuition and
argued that the only real understanding of a subject comes from long and
careful study. Study, for Confucius, meant finding a good teacher and imitating
his words and deeds. A good teacher was characterized as someone older and
possessing ancient wisdom.
He hated and disliked sycophants and snobs.
Confucius has been lauded with various names. In 1AD, he was given the name
"Laudably Declarable Lord Ni". In 1530, he was declared as the "Extremely
Sage Departed Teacher". He was also acclaimed separately as the "Great
Sage", "First Teacher", and "Model Teacher for Ten Thousand Ages". [Wikipedia]

Links & References:i. www.wikipedia.org

ii. Online Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.