putation as a man of learning and character and his reverence for Chinese ideals and customs soon spread through the principality of Lu (Chang, 23).Confucius was a master teacher, who was concerned with thought and action that could be potentially bring order and harmony. Confucius was said to have attracted three thousand students, of who seventy-two of which were his closest disciples. Together they mastered the six rituals including music, archery, charioteering, literature, and mathematics (DeVous and Slote, 9).Living as he did in the second half of the Chou dynasty, Confucius deplored the contemporary disorder and lack of moral standards. He came to believe that the only remedy was to convert people once more to the principles and precepts of the sages of ancient times (Chang, 18). Therefore, he lectured to his students on the ancient classics. He taught the great value of power of example. Confucius said that rulers could only be great if they themselves lead perfect lives. If they willing to be guided by moral principles, their states would inevitably become prosperous and happy (DeVous and Slote, 11).Confucius had no opportunity to put his theories to a public test the age of fifty. He was appointed magistrate of Chung-tu, and the next minister of crime of the state of Lu. His administration was successful. When his reforms were introduced, there was justice and crime was almost eliminated. Lu became so powerful that the ruler of a neighboring state maneuvered to secure the ministers dismissal (Wolf 153). Confucius left his office in 496 BC to travel and teach. He hoped that somewhere there was a prince who would allow him to carry out measures of reform. In 484 BC, after an unsuccessful search for an ideal ruler, he returned for the last time to Lu (MacInnis, 87). At the age of sixty-seven, Confucius was welcomed back to Lu by the reigning prince. A minister who was a former disciple of Confucius suggested it. He spent the rem...
