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==Biography==

==Biography==

Originally from [[Qufu]] in the [[state of Lu]] in what is today [[Shandong province]], Confucius likely came from a well-to-do family, since he is known to have been educated in writing, music, and rites. His father died when Confucius was quite young. He is said to have pursued a career as a statesman, ultimately resigning when he found the task conflicted with his personal beliefs. He then traveled widely, accumulating followers and disciples, who after his death assembled his teachings into the Analects.

Originally from Chāngpíng village in [[Qufu]] in the [[state of Lu]] in what is today [[Shandong province]],<ref>Plaques on-site at Yushima Seidô, Tokyo.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/16743886182/sizes/k/]</ref> Confucius likely came from a well-to-do family, since he is known to have been educated in writing, music, and rites. His father died when Confucius was quite young. He is said to have pursued a career as a statesman, ultimately resigning when he found the task conflicted with his personal beliefs. He then traveled widely, accumulating followers and disciples, who after his death assembled his teachings into the Analects.

==Teachings==

==Teachings==

His teachings are wide-ranging, but can generally be said to be of a humanistic, or human-focused, nature. Confucius does not speak much about death, the spirit world, or the cosmos, but focuses on philosophies of upright behavior in everyday life and in actual society, through the theoretical example of the ''jūnzi'' (君子, J: ''kunshi''), the proper gentleman. Among his teachings, he emphasized correct behavior in accordance to one's relationships, writing that fathers & sons, rulers & subjects, husbands & wives, brothers, and friends should each treat one another accordingly.<ref>Albert Craig, ''The Heritage of Chinese Civilization'', Third Edition, Prentice Hall (2011), 15-18.</ref>  

His teachings are wide-ranging, but can generally be said to be of a humanistic, or human-focused, nature. Confucius does not speak much about death, the spirit world, or the cosmos, but focuses on philosophies of upright behavior in everyday life and in actual society, through the theoretical example of the ''jūnzi'' (君子, J: ''kunshi''), the proper gentleman. Among his teachings, he emphasized correct behavior in accordance to one's relationships, writing that fathers & sons, rulers & subjects, husbands & wives, brothers, and friends should each treat one another accordingly.<ref>Albert Craig, ''The Heritage of Chinese Civilization'', Third Edition, Prentice Hall (2011), 15-18.</ref>  

He also emphasized the use of moral force, or virtue (徳, C: ''dé'', J: ''toku''), and the power of setting an example, as a means for achieving order, over the use of violence or various methods of coercion. Three of the chief elements of moral uprightness, according to Confucius, were filial devotion, i.e. obedience to one's parents and ancestors (), humanity or humaneness (仁, ''ren'')

He also emphasized the use of moral force, or virtue (徳, C: ''dé'', J: ''toku''), and the power of setting an example, as a means for achieving order, over the use of violence or various methods of coercion. Three of the chief elements of moral uprightness, according to Confucius, were filial devotion, i.e. obedience to one's parents and ancestors (孝, C: ''[[filial piety|xiào]]'', J: ''kô'' or ''kyô''), humanity or humaneness (仁, C: ''[[ren|rén]]'', J: ''jin'' or ''nin''), and decorum or etiquette (礼, C: ''[[li (rites)|lǐ]]'', J: ''rei'').

==Legacy==

==Legacy==

::''Main article: [[Confucianism]]''

::''Main article: [[Confucianism]]''

Confucianism was violently suppressed under the [[Qin Shihuangdi|First Emperor of Qin]] (c. 210s BCE), but was revived and made the official state philosophy of the [[Han Dynasty]] in 139 BCE. In the centuries which followed, a number of Confucian temples were built. [[Emperor Taizong of Tang]] (r. [[626]]-[[649]]) later ordered that temples to Confucius be constructed in every major city in the empire.

Confucianism was violently suppressed under the [[Qin Shihuangdi|First Emperor of Qin]] (c. 210s BCE), but was revived and made the official state philosophy of the [[Han Dynasty]] in 139 BCE. In the centuries which followed, a number of Confucian temples were built. [[Emperor Taizong of Tang]] (r. [[626]]-[[649]]) later ordered that temples to Confucius be constructed in every major city in the empire.

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