Confucius

About the author

Born Kong Qiu around 551 BCE in Qufu, Confucius is traditionally regarded as the paragon of Chinese sages and the foundational thinker of the Sinosphere. His philosophy, Confucianism, centered on personal and governmental morality, harmonious social relationships, righteousness, and a ruler's duty to lead by virtue. He championed filial piety, strong family loyalty, and the Silver Rule — do not do unto others what you would not want done to yourself.

Though his ideas faced setbacks after the Qin conquest, they gained official sanction under the Han dynasty and have shaped Chinese civilization ever since.