Fuller Middle School: Mrs. Machado: Ancient China

Confucianism

During the Spring & Autumn period of the Zhou dynasty, there were many states across China, which were often in conflict. Rulers of the states gathered officials and advisers at their courts. Confucius (traditional dates 551 - 479 BCE) was one of these men. He spent some time at the court of the state of Lu where he was born, in northeast China. He tried to persuade people to do good, and accept the traditional social roles that had existed in the the golden days of the early Zhou when it was thought people had lived in harmony. He encouraged people to learn from Zhou books such as the Book of Songs, and the Book of Documents. He said that if the ruler was virtuous, the people would also be good. Confucius travelled from Lu to other states, in search of a ruler who would listen to him. Confucius was disappointed that he did not succeed in influencing any rulers. But his disciples organized his teachings into the book known as the Analects, and his philosophy would became the most important school of thought in China.

from PBS LearningMedia: Confucius, Confucianism, and the Analects | The Story of China
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/confucius-confucianism-story-of-china/confucius-confucianism-story-of-china/
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