Confucius (551 – 479 BCE), was a thinker, political figure, educator and founder of the Ru School of Chinese thought. Confucius was born at Shang-ping, in the country of Lu. His given name was Kong, but his disciples called him Kong-fu-tse, (i.e. Kong the Master, or Teacher.) His father passed away when he was only three years old. Confucius mother Yan-she raised him. During his younger years Confucius showed a love of learning, and an expression of awe for the ancient laws of his country.
Confucius was only nineteen years old when he married, but he divorced his wife after only four years of marriage so that he could have more time for his study and the performance of his public duties. His mother passed away when he was twenty-three, which was the reasoning behind the first solemn and important act of Confucius as a moral reformer. The solemnity and splendor of the burial ceremony that Confucius honored her remains struck his fellow citizens with astonishment. Confucius shut himself up in his home for three years of mourning for his mother, using the whole time dedicated to philosophical study. He reflected deeply on the eternal laws of morality, tracing them to their source, saturated his mind with a sense of the duties they impose instinctively on all men, and determined to make them the unalterable rule of all his actions. From that day forward his career was only an illustration of his ethical system. He began to instruct his countrymen in the principle of morality, exhibiting in his own person all the virtues he instilled in others. His disciples gradually increased, as the practical character of his philosophy became more apparent. Generally, Confucius disciples were not young and enthusiastic. He preferred middle age men who were sober, grave, respectable, and occupied public situations. This fact cast light on both the character and design of his philosophy. It was moral, not religious, and aimed
Bibliography: on Confucian Philosophy Da Xue (The Great Learning) Confucius Tao Te Ching / Lao Tzu The Art of War / Sun Tzu http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/ - The life and work of the Chinese philosopher and educatory; by Jeffrey Riegel. http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/CHPHIL/CONF.HTM - Discussion of Chinese Philosophy and the life and thought of Confucius along its principle lines http://www.heptune.com/confuciu.html - What Confucius Thought by Megaera Lorenz. A brief summary of the basic concepts behind one of the world 's oldest philosophies, Chinese Confucianism. Read more: http://www.ukessays.com/essays/philosophy/the-life-and-work-of-confucius-philosophy-essay.php#ixzz2NCSwfqGL