| Confucianism, the ancient Chinese art of etiquette, originated in Qufu, the birth place of its founder, the "sacred master of literature", Confucius (kongzi). This was the place where Confucius gave his lectures and disseminated his thought, where he taught his students, who were later to spread his initially little respected ideas, and the place where he was to die. It is also the place were Confucius' most well known disciple, Mencius (mengzi), was born. |
It was in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), that the Lu kingdom, with its capital at Qufu, flourished. The city was considered to be the city of etiquette, and was rich in culture. It was in such a unique environment that Confucius was born. He was considered by his teachers both diligent in learning and earnest. As a young man, he was to travel to the neighboring 14 kingdoms and later attended office as a lowly official of the Lu court in Qufu, a post that he resented (he had ambitions of being more influential). It was around this time that he became a teacher and indulged in his own private studies. He taught more than 3000 pupils and began his thorough study of the traditional documents of Ancient China. Among his pupils, 72 were famed for their mastering of the "six skills" (known as manner, music, archery, horsemanship, reading, and arithmetic). |
| Confucianism, a philosophy rather than a religion, was a series of codes for China's population to abide by. It was hoped that by following such a conduct of benevolence the population would harmoniously live together under the traditional Chinese system, a feudal system of altruistic despotism. The populace were expected to obey their seniors (hierarchical paternalism), to be selfless and strive for the common good. Temperance was placed as a primary virtue. The emperor and those in positions of power were also expected to follow the Confucian Principles of Government, thereby lessening the Emperor's claim to his divine right. Confucius suggested that the governors should "rule the people with love and train people to learn good manners". Confucious dreamed that by so doing, the country would be as strong as his ideal, the Western Zhou Dynasty when "all orders were issued by the emperor". |
| Confucius was also highly critical, following the accepted thought of his time, of the people that he considered lowest on the hierarchical ladder, the merchant class. It is fairly ironic that today Qufu is swarmed by thousands of vendors. |
| The main speeches and thought of Confucius were edited by his disciples after his death into the book "The Analects" (lun yu), which was to become the chief Confucian "Bible". |
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