Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s9.t2.3

Language: English

v1.c7.s9.t2.3.1

His ancestors had been members of the ducal house of the State of Song, which was descended from the royal house of Shang, the dynasty that had preceded the Chou, and migrated to the State of Lu because of political and social turmoil. His father, named Shu Liangho, was governor of Zou in State of Lu. His mother’s family name was Yan. Confucius was born in Zou Yi, Changpingxiang of State of Lu (Qufu, Shandong present-day) on lunar August 27, the 22nd year of Duke Lu Xiang (551 BCE). When he was a kid, he loved to hold make-believe temple rituals as a game, and when he grew up, he once served the State of Lu, on several occasions, as petty official of the same category like master of ceremony, granary keeper and livestock tender. Later, he was on study tour to other ducal states, learning rituals from Lao-zi, music from Changhong, and lyre from Shixiang. In the 25th year of Duke Lu Zhao (517 BCE) when the State of Lu was in great turmoil and Duke Zhao took refuge in the State of Qi, Confucius fled with him to the State of Qi and became a retainer of Gao Zhaozi who was prime minister to Duke Jing of the State of Qi, and thereby he could be able to be near Duke Jing of the State of Qi.

v1.c7.s9.t2.3.2

When asked about the approach of how to govern a state by Duke Jing of the State of Qi, Confucius answered, “Let the king be a king, the minister a minister, the father a father and the son a son.” And at the time when the Duke asked for his advice, the State of Qi was in political quagmire and disorder characterised by so-called the king being unlike a king, the minister unlike a minister, with dejected human relations. As Confucius’ response hit his point, Duke of Jing intended to bestow the land of Nixi to Confucius to show his courteous reception, but was rebuffed and aborted by Yan Ying, his prime minister. In the first year of Duke of Ding of the State of Lu (509 BCE) when Ji, a clan member of the Duke, held dictatorial rule by overstepping his authority and followed by insurrection and usurping of power by Yanghu, a retainer to the Duke clan member, Confucius who had already returned to the State of Lu, resigned from his office and concentrated himself in perusal of *Classics of Odes*, *History (Collection of Deciphered Official Documentation of Earlier Dynasty)* *Rite and Music* and at the same time, was devoted himself to educational activities with great many followers regarding him as tutorial master. In the ninth year of Duke Ding of the State of Lu when Confucius was 51 years old, Gongsun Buniu intended to rebel against Ji by virtue of City Fei and sent for lobbying Confucius. Confucius would love to go, but did not make it.

v1.c7.s9.t2.3.3

At the same year, Duke Ding appointed him the head of Zhongdu. He managed administrative affairs with Virtue and Rite, making all surviving spouse, orphanage and helpless people there in their respective proper place, with social morality much improved; in one year term of office, his performance attracted the neighboring localities’ governors to emulate his way of governance. He was then promoted successively to the posts of Minister of Water Conservancy & Construction, and Minister of Justice. In the 10th year of Duke Ding’s reign, he assisted Duke Ding to meet with Marquis of the Qi State at the place of Jiagu and tactfully reclaimed the lost territory of the Lu State. In the 12th year of Duke Ding’s reign, he recommended his disciple Zilu as head of clan members. In order to concentrate power on family of prince, and consolidate prince’s ruling position for Duke Ding, he suggested enforcement of the policy of dismantling three cities’ wall of which the dimension and scale exceeded royal formality, ie the role-violating city walls of City Fei, City Cheng and City Hou, thus weakening the powers of the three big families of Ji Sun Si, Meng Sun Si and Shu Sun Si. Although his move was not completely succeeded, yet it reclaimed the partial usurped power from them, thus strengthening the authority of prince family.

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In the 14th year of Duke Ding's Reign (496 BCE), Confucius held concurrently the offices of Minister of Justice and Prime Minister, and in an ensuing three months, the State of Lu was put in great universal peace and order. Later, resented from the domineering behavior of ruling official Ji Huanzi, Confucius resigned from his posts and toured around the other States of Wei, Song, Chen, Cha and Chu. In transit to State of Kuang, he was mistaken by the local people as Yanghu and consequently besieged; in State of Song, he was narrowly killed by Sima Huantui, the War Minister of that State; and when he and his followers were besieged and trapped in the place between the State of Chen and the State of Cha, he almost starved to death. In spite of all sorts of hardships and perils, he always remained the mood of "seeking pleasure in order to free himself from care without knowing the insidious approach of old age", which suggests his mental cultivation of being content with what one is, would never wear away even in his displaced drifting life. In the 11th year of Duke Ai of the State of Lu (484 BCE) he returned to the State of Lu at the age of 68. In ensuing years, he did not seek any appointment in officialdom and began to annotate the *Book of History* (deciphered earlier dynasty documentation), revise and reform the *Book of Rites*, edit and revise the *Book of Odes and Music*, and annotate and comment on the *Book of Change*.

v1.c7.s9.t2.3.5

In the 14th year of Duke Ai, the State of Lu hunted and captured an animal known as unicorn. But Confucius deemed it as a sign of unlucky omen and hereby lamented that this world had gone to the dogs with declining moral code and prevalent heresy and tyrannical rules, which denied him a chance to fulfill his political dream. And therefore he started his writing of the Spring and Autumn Annals, lamenting that, "Is it only the Spring and Autumn Annals from which you all would understand me and at the same time find fault with me?" The posterities deemed his composition of the annals as king-making enterprises and endeavours of king without crown or government. In April of the 16th year of Duke Ai (479 BCE), Confucius passed away and was buried in the Capital north of the State of Lu. Although his disciples did not wear mourning gowns according to the rituals, yet they, with sad and sorrowful sentiments, resided beside his tomb for three years running to demonstrate their filial piety. Among his disciples, Zigong didn't leave his teacher's tomb for his whole life. Confucius influenced the moral code of the times with his own words, deeds and high