When was Confucius born and where was he born?
Confucius was born Kong Qiu on the 28th of September 551 BCE in the state of Lu. He was born into a family of humble origins and his father Kong He died when Confucius was only three years old.
Common questions about Confucius
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What happened to Confucius political career in 497 BCE?
Confucius left the state of Lu in 497 BCE and was unable to return as long as Viscount Ji Huan was alive. He spent the rest of his life in self-exile traveling to various states and expounding his political beliefs without seeing them implemented.
How many students did Confucius teach and what was the tuition fee?
Confucius taught more than 3,000 students in his life and about 70 of them were considered outstanding. He did not charge any tuition and only requested a symbolic gift of a bundle of dried meat from any prospective student.
What is the Analects and who compiled it?
The Analects is a collection of Confucius sayings and ideas compiled by his disciples many years after his death. The text covers ethics politics and education and has been the subject of countless commentaries and interpretations over the centuries.
How many descendants does Confucius have today and what is the status of his family tree?
Confucius has two million known and registered descendants and there are an estimated three million in all. The father-to-son family tree is now in its 83rd generation and has been recorded since the death of Confucius.