Confucius

Scholar,philosopherandpoliticalsage,Confuciuslivedataturbulenttimeinhiscountry'shistory,theso-called'SpringandAutumnPeriod'ofthesixthcenturyBC,duringwhichChinawaswrackedbywarfarebetweenrivalfeudalstates.Againstthisbackdrophedevelopedasystemofsocialandpoliticalbehaviourthathehopedcouldbeusedtocreateharmonyandpeacethroughouttheland.TheteachingsofConfuciusattractedalargenumberofpupils,butwerelargelyignoredbytherulersofChina'svariouskingdoms.Asaresult,hedidnotseehisphilosophicalteachingsappliedduringhislifetime.Afterhisdeath,however,histeachingswerekeptalivebyhisfollowers,andwithinafewcenturies,hisphilosophy(asoutlinedinTheAnalects,whichrecordthewordsandactsofConfuciusandhisdisciples)wasadoptedbyChina'srulersandbecamethefoundationforChinesegovernment,educationandsocialstructure.BeyonditsprofoundinfluenceonthecultureandhistoryofEastAsia,Confucianismhasalsoexertedapowerfulfascinationforwesternthinkersandphilosophers.MeherMcArthur'saccessibleandthoughtfulbiographynotonlytracestheoutlineofhersubject'slife,butalsoexamineswhyConfuciusandhisteachingsarestillrelevanttoday.