Kong Fuzi, or commonly known as Confucius, was a Chinese philosopher and politician, born in 551 BC in the Shandong province of China. There is limited information on his early life and upbringing, but it is believed he studied under the founder of Taoism - Lao Tzu.

Confucius was known to have established Confucianism, which was a deep state of governance revolving around rituals, traditions, and ceremonies. This was conveyed through a series of analects that were transcribed after his death. He deeply rooted himself in tradition and culture and emphasized the importance of having good moral character and aspirational cosmic harmony.

He placed great emphasis on family, as he was married and raised a small family with two children. He reiterated the importance of filial piety, which is the respect and reverence that children should have for their parents and elders. He believed that by maintaining strong family ties and fulfilling one's filial duties, one could establish a more purposeful and fulfilling life.

Confucius believed in self-cultivation towards the pursuit of internal improvement on a path towards becoming the person we aspire to be. However, failure to cultivate good moral values and falling into a negative state of being can lead us astray. Through our belief in ourselves and the person we wish to become, we can be the change that we want to see.

Another key aspect of his teachings was the transformative power of education. He emphasized the importance of lifelong learning, both for ourselves and for society as a whole. Education should focus on developing moral character and cultivating virtues.
He advocated for a hierarchical structure where leaders govern virtuously, while subjects follow deep moral principles. He believed that when everyone knows their place and fulfills their obligations, social order and harmony can be maintained.

Confucius had a profound impact on the Chinese culture, and was a significant influence on the western world, in terms of belief around the search for happiness.

"Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself."

Thanks,

Dean