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Confucius definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: Chinese philosopher whose ideas and sayings were collected after his death and became the basis of a philosophical doctrine known a Confucianism (circa 551-478 BC) [syn: Confucius, Kongfuze, K'ung Futzu, Kong the Master]

Merriam Webster's

Chinese K'ung-Fu-tzu or K'ung-tzu biographical name 551-479 B.C. Chinese philosopher

Britannica Concise

Ancient Chinese teacher, philosopher, and political theorist. Born into a poor family in the state of Lu, he managed stables and worked as a bookkeeper while educating himself. Mastery of the six arts--ritual, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and arithmetic--and familiarity with history and poetry enabled him to begin a brilliant teaching career in his thirties. Confucius saw education as a process of constant self-improvement and held that its primary function was the training of noblemen (junzi). He saw public service as the natural consequence of education and sought to revitalize Chinese social institutions, incl. the family, school, community, state, and kingdom. He served in government posts, eventually becoming minister of justice in Lu, but his policies attracted little interest. After a 12-year self-imposed exile during which his circle of students expanded, he returned to Lu at age 67 to teach and write. His life and thoughts are recorded in the Lunyu (Analects). See also Confucianism.