aining years of his life in retirement, writing commentaries on the classics. At the age of seventy two in 479 B.C., he died in Lu and was buried in a tomb at Chu-fu, Shandong (MacInnis, 327).Confucius did not put into writing the principles of his philosophy. These were handed down only through his disciples. The Lun Yu, a work complied by some of his disciples, is considered the most reliable source of information about his life and teachings. One of the historical works that he is said to have compiled and edited, the Chun Chiu. It is an analytic account of Chinese history in the state of Lu from 722 to 481 BC. In learning he wished to be known as a transmitter rather than as a creator. Therefore, he revived the study of ancient books. His own teachings and with those of his main disciples, are found in the Shih Shu of Confucian literature. These became the textbooks of later Chinese generations (Twitchett and Wright, 54). Confucius was greatly established during his lifetime and in succeeding ages. Although he himself had little belief in the supernatural, he has been revered almost as a spiritual being by millions. The entire teaching of Confucius was practical and ethical, rather then religious. He claimed to be a restorer of ancient morality and held that proper outward acts based on the five virtues. These five virtues included of kindness, uprightness, decorum, wisdom, and faithfulness. They constitute the whole of human duty. Reverence for parents, living and dead, was one of his key concepts. His view of government was paternalistic, and he enjoyed all individuals to observe carefully their duties toward the state (Twitchett and Wright, 26). The teachings of Confucius developed into the believe system called Confucianism. Confucianism is the major system of thought in China. Confucianism developed from the teachings of Confucius and his disciples. It centered on the principles of good conduct, practical wisdom, and the proper...
