Page 22 - 100 Events That Made History

The teachings

of Confucius

Ideas for making

rulers more JUST

The 6th-century-BCE Chinese philosopher
known as Confucius spread the idea
that societies should be run fairly. His
rules for making this happen still
influence people today.

Tough start
Confucius was born in 551 BCE
near the city of Qufu in China.
After his father died, his
family was VERY POOR
and the young Confucius had
to do jobs to support his
family. He still managed
to keep up his studies and
pass difficult tests to qualify
as a civil servant.

On the road
Working as a government official, Confucius
was shocked by the unfairness of China’s rulers.
He became a minister, but gave up his career to
GO TRAVELING. This was no short vacation. For
12 years he roamed around China, spreading his
ideas on social equality. Once back home,
he spent the rest of his life teaching.

What came before…

The earliest known Chinese China’s first true
writing found is on ORACLE philosopher was LAO
BONES from the Shang Dynasty TZU, who lived around
(c.1600 BCE –1046 BCE). 600 BCE. He founded a
Experts thought the Shang religion called Taoism,
were a myth, but the writing which is based on
showed otherwise. honesty and harmony.
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