Confucius was born in 551 BC during the Spring and Autumn Period at Qufu
(presently part of Shandong). According to the Records of the Grand
Historian, were compiled 400 years after, Confucius was born out of
wedlock to a man of seventy and a women of just fifteen. At age of three,
Confucius' father passed away leaving Confucius and his mother to live in
poverty.
While just a child,Confucius served as a minor administrative manager forthe
State of Lu, rising quickly through the ranks to the position of Justice
Minister. While in his mid-teens, Confucius deeply disapproved of
the Prince's politics and saw no way to improve the government. He left on
a twelve year journey around China to seek the truth and try to pursued rulers
around the country to his political briefs, altough failing.
At the age
of sixty, Confucius returned home and last years of his life spreading his
thoughts and wisdom to his growing numbers of disciples and transmitting his
words through a set of books called Five Classics.
