Perspective

Confucius is the author of the Analects. He is an ancient Chinese sage who is born and lives in the fifth century B.C. His background is neither exemplary nor outstanding, since he is raised as a poor orphan in a highly class conscious, feudal and aristocratic Chinese society. Confucius' thoughts, ideas, philosophy, wisdom and experiences are shared with and recorded for his disciples and contemporaries. His intended audience may number in tens or thousands of public and private figures interested in what he has to say. In his last days Confucius lives and records his ideas as a disgruntled teacher, who is never able to fully put his ideas into practice while alive. He serves in minor public office, is accepted in the court of feudal lords for his knowledge of ceremonial rites, travels while giving free, but unheeded, advice and returns to his homeland to die...