Confucius was a Chinese philosopher whose teachings became the cornerstone of Confucianism, a philosophical and ethical system that has profoundly shaped Chinese culture and society for more than 2,500 years. Though little is known about his childhood, Confucius was most likely born in 551 BCE in what is now Shandong province in eastern China. Records also indicate that his father died shortly after Confucius was born, leaving his mother to raise him in poverty. Despite these challenges, Confucius developed a passion for learning, a value that became central to his enduring philosophy.

The core tenet of Confucianism is what’s known as ren, a virtue that embodies kindness, compassion, and empathy and is often translated as “benevolence” or “humaneness.” The philosophy also has a strong emphasis on the bonds of family and community. These values are immortalized in a compilation of Confucius’ teachings known as The Analects. Among its most enduring principles is a sentiment well known in the Western world and often expressed in Christianity as the “Golden Rule”: Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself. Confucius died in 479 BCE.