October 1st this year will be the 60th birthday of our country. People’s Republic of China is young, but Chinese culture has a long history. Maybe it is Confucianism that is the most part of this culture.

Confucius, with the style name Zhongni, was born 551BC, in Qufu, the state of Lu, which is now in the south of Shandong Province. As the founder of Confucianism, Confucius is a great thinker, a philosopher, and an educationalist.

Lun Yu, or Analects of Confucius, records the words and deeds of Confucius as well as his disciples. The book was compiled by the disciples and their disciples after their Master’s death. It covers a wide scope of subjects, ranging from politics, philosophy, literature and art to education and moral cultivation. It is indispensable material for the study of the Master’s thought.

As an educationalist, his idea for education is really great. He broke the situation where only the noble can study. He sowed the seeds of wisdom to the land wherever they were yearned for. His principle for education is that knowledge goes after virtue.

His strategy for teaching is very practical. He would not instruct his students until they had really tried but failed to understand. After he had given an instance, he asked for inferences. He taught according to the endowment and the character of the student. “When reviewing what one has learnt, he can get new ideas, then he can teach.” This is a famous sentence, from which we can learn that Confucius also regarded creation as an important part of learning.

It’s a long story to tell how Confucius was a great man, but he was really a great man. His thought affects not only education, but also many other fields. Someone even runs his business according to Analects of Confucius. As a great man, Confucius left us a classical book. As a classical book, Confucius Said left us boundless enlightment and priceless treasure.