Confucius (551-479 BCE) was a Chinese philosopher,
poet and politician of the Spring and Autumn period
who was traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages.
Confucius's teachings and philosophy formed the basis of East Asian culture and society,
and continues to remain influential across China and East Asia as of today.[24]
His philosophical teachings, called Confucianism,
emphasized personal and governmental morality,
correctness of social relationships, justice, kindness, and sincerity.
Confucianism was part of the Chinese social fabric and way of life;
to Confucians, everyday life was the arena of religion.
His followers competed successfully with many other schools
during the Hundred Schools of Thought era,
only to be suppressed in favor of the Legalists during the Qin dynasty.
Following the victory of Han over Chu after the collapse of Qin,
Confucius's thoughts received official sanction in the new government.
During the Tang and Song dynasties,
Confucianism developed into a system known in the West as Neo-Confucianism,
and later as New Confucianism.
Confucius is traditionally credited with having authored
or edited many of the Chinese classic texts,
including all of the Five Classics,
but modern scholars are cautious of attributing specific assertions to Confucius himself.
Aphorisms concerning his teachings were compiled in the Analects,
but only many years after his death.
Confucius's principles have commonality with Chinese tradition and belief.
With filial piety, he championed strong family loyalty,
ancestor veneration,
and respect of elders by their children and of husbands by their wives,
recommending family as a basis for ideal government.
He espoused the well-known principle
"Do not do unto others what you do not want done to yourself", the Golden Rule.