September 28: Birthday of Confucius (551 BC)
Prayer Idea
Pray that people who are studying philosophy will find the truth of Christ.
History Note
Confucius was an ancient Chinese philosopher who sought answers to questions like these:
What is right and good?
How should people live in order to create a safe and stable society?
What is the best way for leaders to govern?
Confucius developed a systematic philosophy of how people should think about the world and other people. Late in life, Confucius devoted himself to teaching and writing. He focused on training a few disciples who could then teach others. Confucius died in 479 BC.
After the death of Confucius, his disciples compiled his teachings into a collection called The Analects. The disciples of Confucius had a greater influence on Chinese society than did Confucius himself. His followers spread his ideas not only in China, but also in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
The focus of the philosophy of Confucius was on the practice of li, which was his term for ritual, tradition, and virtue. If people would practice li, he believed, this would produce a harmony in society which would benefit all persons. Confucius believed that people were teachable and could improve themselves.
The teachings of Confucius had a major influence on everyday life because they expressed a worldview. A person’s worldview impacts his or her everyday thoughts, decisions, and actions. The philosophy of Confucius continues to influence the cultures of several Asian countries today.
Though the exact date is uncertain, September 28 has long been celebrated as the birthday of Confucius. People gather for ceremonies across China. People in Taiwan also celebrate it as Teacher’s Day.
The Tomb of Confucius is part of a large cemetery near Qufu, China, that also includes the graves of tens of thousands of his descendants. Genealogical records of the descendants of Confucius have been carefully kept for centuries. The edition published in 2009 contains two million names in eighty volumes. Photo by ebenart / Shutterstock.com.
Learn More
This video from a Chinese government-funded television station shows footage from observances of the birthday of Confucius, which have elements of religious ritual.
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