Who was Confucius?

 Confucius(551-479BCE) was an ancient Chinese Philosopher and teacher whose ideas shaped Chinese culture for over 2,000 years! Born in the Spirng and Autumn Period, he lived in a time of chaos and wanted to bring order and harmony to society. He worked as a teacher, a government official, and later became a legendary thinker.

His big idea: The way of life(Confucianism)

Confucius believed that good society starts with good people. His teachings were not about gods or the afterlife, but about how humans should behave here and now. His main ideas include:

1.Filial Piety-Respect your parents and ancestors. Family is the foundation of society!

2.Righteousness-Do the right thing, even when it's hard.

3.Ritual and Tradition-Follow proper manners, customs, and respect others.

4.Knowledge and Learning-Keep learning and improving yourself.

5.The role of a good leader-A ruler should be wise and virtuous, leadiing by example, not by force.

His famous sayings(Analects)

Confucius didn't write books himself, but his students collected his words into a book called the Analects. Some of his famous quootes include:

"Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself."

(Similar to the Golden Rule!)

"When I walk with two others, one of them will be my teacher."

(You can always learn from others.)

Why is he important today?

Confucius's teachings still influence China and many other East Asian cultures. His ideas about respect, learning, and leadership are still studied in schools, and his wisdom is used in everyday life!