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Confucius (551-479 B. C.) was a great thinker, politician and educationist during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-475 B.C.). His ancestors were of the royal clan of the State of Song and later moved to the State of Lu. He was poor in his childhood. When he was young, he was at one time an official in charge of accounting and animal husbandry. At the age of fifty, he was appointed attorney general of the State of Lu. Afterwards, he travelled to many states, including Song, Wei, Chen, Cai, Qi, Chu, etc., never attaining a high office in these states. He was once engaged in teaching in his early years. In his late years, beside sorting out Shi (The Book of Songs) and Shu (The Book of History) and compiling Chun Qiu (The Spring and Autumn Annals), he mainly devoted himself to teaching. It is generally known that he had a total of some three thousand disciples, and seventy-two out of them mastered liu yi (six skills, namely rites, music, shooting, driving, books and mathematics.) 1155815.cn
Benevolence is the main idea of Confucianism. In The Analects of Confucius, there are different interpretations on the meaning of benevolence. Confucius once stated that there was always a basic idea running through his thought, which, according to Zeng Can, one of his disciples, was zhong (loyalty) and shu (forgiveness). As for zhong, some people interpreted that when you want to stand your ground, let others do the same; when you want to go far in every business, allow others to do the same. As for forgiveness, the interpretation was: do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you. The combination of loyalty and forgiveness is the main idea of benevolence. Confucius once explained that benevolence meant that one should constrain himself and conform his speech and conduct to rites. In a talk with Zizhang, one of his disciples, Confucius said that those who were serious, generous, honest, diligent and kind could be considered Benevolence. Asked by FanChi, another of his disciples, about what benevolence meant, he answered: "To love." Summing up all the above ideas, we can get to know the main meanings of benevolence. In the opinion of Confucius, not many people could be considered as benevolence. Among his disciples, Yan Hui was the only one who had been thought to be benevolent by Confucius. Guan Zhong was a politician in the Spring and Autumn Period who helped the head of the State of Qi, Huangong, to maintain a long-time stability in the state. Confucius thought that he could be considered as benevolence. Confucius’s thought that if one could do things to benefit the people in many ways and let them lead a good life, he would be considered a saint, which is even higher than benevolence. However, even those ancient sagacious emperors such as Yao and Shun had not reached the degree of being saints. 中华民俗节庆网
Apart from the above ideas, Confucius maintained that people should follow the ancient rites which should be inherited while some changes should also be made. He advocated studying extensively and asking questions with an inquiring mind. He said that even when only three persons were together, there was always one among them who could be learned from. One should learn his strong points and learn a lesson from his weak points. Though Confucius believed in fate, he did not make improper comments on ghosts and deities. He maintained that people should be loyal and honest.
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As for education, Confucius broke the traditional practice that only children from noble families were entitled to education. He maintained that education should be no respecter of social status. He thought highly of those who were poor but studied hard, such as Yan Hui. He also advocated the integration of thinking with reading. He said that one would be misled if he just read without thinking; and one would have no confidence if he just fancied without reading. Confucius also said that in terms of benevolence and de (morality), one should never give them up, even to one's teacher. 民俗节庆门户网站
Confucianism has strongly and deeply influenced the Chinese people’s minds for the past two thousand years. It also served as a tool to protect the feudal order. Even up to now, it is still worthwhile to study the various aspects of Confucianism. wish.1155815.com
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