ANCIENT& not so ancient WISDOM
offering a weekly positive perspective

July 17, 2003

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

- Confucius (551 B.C. - 479 B.C.)

According to fable, the appearance of Ch ‘i Lin, the Unicorn foretold the coming of Confucius. “A Child as pure as crystal will be born for the continuation of the declining Chou, to become a king without a kingdom.

K ‘ung Ch ‘iu (Confucius) was born in Tsou, a small town in the state known then as Lu and what is today the Shantung Province. His father, Shu-Liang He was a magistrate and warrior and his mother Yen Ching Tsai was a descendant of the Duke of Cho. His father died when he was three years old.

To support himself and his mother, Confucius worked as a Shepard, clerk, and bookkeeper. At fifteen, he dedicated himself to the pursuit of learning. He was married at the age of 19 to Chi-Kuan and they had a son, K ‘ung Li. At the age of 22, Confucius opened what is to be the first private school, sharing his ideas of personal conduct, government, and justice. His belief that only through education would there be equality.

His views on government were that every citizen should have a role and assert themselves to fulfill that role, and that leaders should be benevolent and provide a standard of living where all had access to education. Confucius felt that music was a reflection of a superior self and mirrored the true character.

At age 35, he fled Lu to avoid persecution. At 51, he returned and completed his literary works know as the six classics. The Ode, The Book, The Book of Change, The Book of Rites, The Book of Music, and The Spring Autumn Annals.

He was appointed to head official of the town of Chung Tu in Lu. Within a year, he had accomplished so much he was designated to Official of Public Works and then to Grand Official of Justice for all of Lu.

Disillusioned with the shortcomings he saw in politics, he left Lu and wandered with his followers for the next 13 years looking for a perfect platform for his ideals. Discouraged at never finding one, he returned to Lu and taught until his death. He was buried in Ch ‘u Fu, where it is said the entire forest that is there now, spanning 10 square miles, grew from a few trees planted at his grave by his disciples in his honor. 

In 5 A.D., Confucius was honored with the title Imperial Command by P ‘ing of the Han Dynasty, who praised him as revered and accomplished. In the Ch ‘ing Dynasty, Emporer K ‘ang Hsi  honored him as Master of All Ages in 1737 A.D.

Wishing you great and continued success!

Sincerely,