-
 Chinese
philosopher
- Legend
has it that at the birth of Confucius dragons and unicorns ppeared
in his village. Little is known of the life of China's greatest philosopher,
but his teachings and reputation have survived to the present day.
Confucius spent his early years in poverty, but he was educated and
intelligent, and quickly became a minor civil servant. However, his
career stagnated and it was not until he reached middle age that he
was offered high political office, only to be forced into exile shortly
afterward.
Confucius lived during the Chou dynasty, a turbulent period when China
was breaking up into small states, many with corrupt rulers.
He devoted his life to alleviating poverty and was the first to teach
that education should be available to all, regardless of social or
economic background. After his death some of his followers compiled
a book of his sayings, the "Analects." Within 300 years,
his teaching had become the official state philosophy of China and
it remained so for the next two thousand years. His grave remains
a center of pilgrimage for millions.
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