THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF CONFUCIUS

How the ancient teacher, philosopher and politician laid down the foundations for Chinese culture

- Poppy-Jay St. Palmer

You don’t need to practise Confucianism to know the teachings of Confucius. From gems like ‘Silence is a true friend who never betrays’ to ‘Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it’, you’ve likely come across a handful of his pearls of wisdom. For centuries, the ancient Chinese philosopher’s teachings have helped guide countless people around the world – a great feat by itself – but his impact is in fact even greater. His philosophies and belief system were not only one of the most influential in ancient China; many scholars argue that they actually laid down the foundation for much of Chinese and East Asian culture as a whole.

Existing for more than 2,500 years, Confucianism is concerned with inner virtue, morality and thought for the community and its values. It represents a very human approach to life, centred on good character and respect. Confucius said it best with perhaps his most famous proverb: “Do not do unto others  what you would not want others to do unto you.” There’s still debate today about whether Confucianism can be considered a philosophy or a religion. Some call it a social ethic or a political ideology. To better understand the origins of Confucianism we can look to Confucius’ life, from his modest upbringing and career as a politician to his years as a philosopher and beyond.