Confucius Zi

is a respectful form of address in ancient China reserved for those words with moral integrity and knowledge.

Kong Zi, known as Confucius, was a Chinese educator and thinker who lived more than 2,000 years ago. His surname was Kong and his full name was Kong Qiu. He was born into a fallen noble family in the State of Lu (now Shandong). He was intelligent and loved learning since childhood. He became a learned and accomplished man. He started providing education for commoners when he grew up, believing that everybody, regardless of social status, was entitled to education. He was the first teacher who advocated education.

With regards to teaching methods, he proposed teaching by personal example and in accordance with students’ aptitudes. It is said that Kong Zi had more than 3,000 students, 72 of whom became very well-known. Kong Zi established Confucianism, which emphasizes li (propriety), yue (music) and ren (benevolence). He advocated running state affairs with morality and etiquette. After Kong Zi’s death, his disciples organized his teaching into the Analects which became the sutra of all schools of Confucianism. More rulers followed Confucianism and elevated Kong Zi to the state of the “great stage.”

Kong Zi Hueyuan, or the Confucius Institute as it is known to foreigners, is named after Kong Zi. Confucius Institutes are non-profit organizations established in recent years by China, which are devoted to teaching Chinese language and introducing Chinese culture. One of their main tasks is to provide standard and authoritative textbooks and learning channels for Chinese-language learners around the world. Now, more than 600 Confucius Institutes and Confucius classes have been set up in more than 90 countries and regions. Kong Zi’s teachings and Confucianism are gradually spreading around the world.