Biography of Confucius

Name: Biography of Confucius
ISBN: 9787560138749

学习小组Jilin University Press · ChinaApr 2025

3.5

Word count: 97K words
Chapters: 36
ISBN: 9787560138749

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Summary

This book covers Confucius's childhood, his rejection at a banquet, marriage and fatherhood, his early career as a minor official, the founding of his private school, his many disciples, stories of his disciples, their rise to prominence, the Eight Yi incident, his journey to Luoyang, leaving Lu for Qi, emerging in troubled times, his effective governance, the meeting at Jiagu, the demolition of three towns, the execution of Shao Zhengmao, wandering without a patron, displacement and hardship, a wanderer's difficulty returning home, his yearning to return, the end of his official career, his thirst for knowledge, earnest teachings, proverbs and allusions, and the core of Confucianism: Confucius's "ren" (benevolence), the doctrine of the mean, and more.

Editor's review

The Biography of Confucius traces Confucius's life in chronological order, from his childhood, marriage and fatherhood, early career as an official, and founding of a private school to his travels among the states and his return to Lu to teach. It interweaves key events such as stories of his disciples, the meeting at Jiagu, and the demolition of three towns, and culminates in the intellectual core of "ren" (benevolence) and the doctrine of the mean. The book's strength lies in combining life narrative with the formation of Confucian ideas, showing readers that Confucius's thought was not abstract dogma but unfolded gradually through concrete political situations and teaching practice. The chapters are short and the events clear, making it suitable as an introductory read for middle school students and general readers seeking to understand Confucius as a person. While reading, focus on Confucius's choices and dilemmas at different stages, then relate them to concepts such as "ren" and the doctrine of the mean to understand how his thought connects to real experience.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Middle school and above students encountering Confucius's life systematically for the first time
General readers seeking an introductory book on Chinese classics
Teachers preparing courses on traditional culture
Enthusiasts interested in pre-Qin history and Confucianism

Not a good fit for

Professional researchers requiring rigorous historical verification and scholarly annotations
Readers who want to read the Analects with original text and translation notes directly

Reading tips

Read in chronological order, sketching a simple timeline of Confucius's life stages on paper as you go.
When reading disciples' stories, note their names and characteristics to understand Confucius's teaching methods.
Mark where core concepts such as "ren" and the doctrine of the mean appear, and review them together after finishing.
Read alongside selected passages from the Analects to appreciate the difference between biographical narrative and classic original text.

About the publisher

Jilin University Press China · Founded in 1983

Jilin University Press is a comprehensive university press based in Jilin Province, China. Its publishing covers university textbooks, academic monographs and general-interest titles, with common categories including inspirational growth, foreign literature, mystery and detective fiction, history and classic works. The database contains 171 titles, including representative books such as Don Quixote, Jane Eyre, Selected Works of Chekhov, The Moon and Sixpence, The Lady of the Camellias, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Family Instructions of Master Yan and The Sorrows of Young Werther, spanning foreign literary classics and traditional Chinese texts. Its author resources include Chinese and foreign figures such as W. Somerset Maugham, Yan Zhitui, Lü Siming and Ba Jin, as well as editors and authors such as Study Group and Zhang Ying. The press has developed a certain character in introducing foreign literary classics and compiling traditional readings, balancing adolescent reading with academic popularization. As public information is limited, the above focuses on the publishing directions reflected in its database titles.

版权信息
序言
少儿时代
赴宴遭拒
娶妻生子
初为吏政
开办私学
桃李满天下
弟子故事
弟子登台
八佾事件
洛阳之行
离鲁拜齐
乱世出山
治政有为
夹谷之会
平毁三邑
诛杀少正卯
奔投无主
颠沛流离
游子难归
归心似箭
仕途休矣
求知若渴
谆谆教诲
箴言典故
儒学核心
孔子把“仁”
中庸之道
天地鬼神
执著信念
思想局限
晚年的苦恼
圣人逝去
至圣先师
天下先师

FAQ

Is this book suitable for middle school students as an introduction to Chinese classics?

Fairly suitable. The book narrates Confucius's life in chronological order with short chapters and clear events, covering private schooling, disciples' stories, and core Confucian concepts, helping students build a basic framework of the figure. However, for exams or in-depth study, it should still be supplemented with textbooks and the original Analects.

How does the book handle Confucius's thought?

The material shows that while narrating his life, the book touches on core Confucian ideas such as "ren" and the doctrine of the mean, presenting them within his experiences of teaching, governance, and traveling among states. Readers can thereby understand the connection between thought and circumstance, but should not expect systematic philosophical argumentation.

Can I read it without historical background?

Yes. The book follows the figure's experiences as its main thread and provides narrative explanations of Spring and Autumn period political events such as the meeting at Jiagu and the demolition of three towns, so general readers can follow the basic outline. If you encounter unfamiliar institutional terms, looking them up briefly will not affect overall reading.

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About the author

学习小组 Author

"Study Group" is a collective byline about which limited public information is available; its biographical background, nationality, and dates of birth and death are not clearly recorded. Judging from the 32 works included in the database, publications under this byline are mainly concentrated in the field of foreign literature, while also covering categories such as inspirational growth, mystery and detective fiction, and popular science. Representative works include Don Quixote, Jane Eyre, Selected Works of Chekhov, The Lady of the Camellias, The Sherlock Holmes Stories, In the World, Peter Pan, and The Sorrows of Young Werther, spanning European classic novels, detective fiction, and children's literature. A byline of this kind usually corresponds to an editorial or translation team, whose direction focuses on introducing, adapting, or popularizing world literary classics for general and young readers. Owing to limited information, it is not yet possible to give a definite account of its specific members or division of editorial work.