CONFUCIUS, or RONG-FU-TSE, that is, "the teacher, Kong," the famous Chi nese sage; born about 550 B. C. in the province of Shantung, state of Lu. His father, Shuh-liang-heih, who was of royal descent, died three years later, and the boy was reared in comparative pov erty by his mother, Ching-tsai. At the age of 17 he was made inspector of corn markets, at 19 he married, and after about four years of domesticity, in which a son and two daughters were born he began his career as a teacher. In 517 B. C. he was induced by two mem bers of one of the principal houses in Lu, who had joined his band of disciples, to visit the capital with them, where he had interviews with Laotze, the founder of Taoism. Driven from Lu to Tsi by a revolution, he soon returned thither with an increasing following, and at the age of 52 was made chief magistrate of the city of Chung-too. So striking a refor mation was effected by him that he was chosen minister of crime, and with the aid of two powerful disciples elevated the state of Lu to a leading position in the kingdom. Its marquis, however,
soon after gave himself up to debauch ery, and Confucius became a wanderer in many states for 13 years.
In 483 he returned to Lu, but would not take office. The deaths of his favor ite disciples, Yen Hwin and Tze-]u, in 481 and 478 did much to further his own, which took place in the latter year. Confucius left no work detailing his moral and social system, but the five canonical books of Confucianism are the "Yih-king," the "Shu-king," the "Shi king,'" the "Le-king," and the "Chun tsien," with which are grouped the "Four Books," by disciples of Confucius, the "Ta-heo or Great Study," the "Chung Yung or Invariable Mean," the "Tun-yu or Philosophical Dialogues," and the "Hi-tse," written by Meng-tse or Men cius. The teaching of Confucius has had, and still has, an immense influence in China. All his teaching was devoted to practical morality and to the duties of man in this world in relation to his fellowmen. It is doubtful if he had any real belief in a personal god.