| 名： | 丘 | ||||||||
| 字： | 仲尼 | ||||||||
阅读孔子 Confucius在百家争鸣的作品!!! | |||||||||
孔子孔子兄弟排行第二,所以也有人称之为“孔老二”。春秋后期鲁国人。公元前551年9月28日（夏历八月二十七日）生于鲁国陬邑昌平乡（今山东省曲阜市东南的鲁源村）；公元前479年4月11日（农历二月十一日）逝世，享年72岁，葬于曲阜城北泗水之上，即今日孔林所在地。
孔子他的祖先是宋国贵族，大约在孔子前几代就没落了。孔子年轻时做过几任小官，但他一生大部分时间都是从事教育，相传所收弟子多达三千人，其中贤人72,教出不少有知识有才能的学生，“桃李满天下”就出自此处。孔子任鲁国司寇；后携弟子周游列国；最终返回鲁国，专心执教。在中国五千年的历史上，对华夏民族的性格、气质产生最大影响的人，就算是孔子了。在世时已被誉为“天纵之圣”、“天之木铎”“千古圣人”，是当时社会上最博学者之一，并且被后世尊为至圣（圣人之中的圣人）、万世师表。因父母曾为生子而祷于尼丘山，故名丘，曾修《诗》、《书》，定《礼》、《乐》，序《周易》，作《春秋》。
孔子的思想及学说对后世产生了极其深远的影响。姜广辉认为，“面对春秋时期诸侯争战不休、人民困苦不堪的现实,孔子不是像宗教家那样创造出一个外在的超越的全知全能的救世主——通过天启和神谕来规范人们的思想和行为。而是回首历史，到上古“圣王”那里去寻找智慧。孔子自谓“述而不作”，实际是以“述”为“作”，通过对历史传统作当代诠释，来实现价值的叠加和转换。他正直、乐观向上、积极进取，一生都在追求真、善、美，一生都在追求理想的社会。他的成功与失败，无不与他的品格相关。他品格中的优点与缺点，几千年来影响着中国人，特别是影响着中国的知识分子。
政治生涯
孔子自20多岁起，就想走仕途，所以对天下大事非常关注，对治理国家的诸种问题，经常进行思考，也常发表一些见解，到30岁时，已有些名气。鲁昭公二十年，齐景公出访鲁国时召见了孔子,与他讨论秦穆公称霸的问题,孔子由此结识了齐景公。鲁昭公25年，鲁国发生内乱，鲁昭公被迫逃往齐国，孔子也离开鲁国，到了齐国，受到齐景公的赏识和厚待，甚至曾准备把尼溪一带的田地封给孔子，但被大夫晏婴阻止。鲁昭公27年，齐国的大夫想加害孔子，孔子听说后向齐景公求救，齐景公说：“吾老矣，弗能用也。”孔子只好仓皇逃回鲁国。当时的鲁国，政权实际掌握在大夫的家臣手中，被称为“陪臣执国政”，因此孔子虽有过两次从政机会，却都放弃了，直到鲁定公9年被任命为中都宰，此时孔子已51岁了。孔子治理中都一年，卓有政绩，被升为小司空，不久又升为大司寇，摄相事，鲁国大治。鲁定公12年，孔子为削弱三桓（季孙氏、叔孙氏、孟孙氏三家世卿，因为是鲁桓公的三个孙子故称三桓，当时的鲁国政权实际掌握在他们手中，而三桓的一些家臣又在不同程度上控制着三桓），采取了堕三都的措施（即拆毁三桓所建城堡）。后来堕三都的行动半途而废，孔子与三桓的矛盾也随之暴露。鲁定公13年，齐国送80名美女到鲁国，季桓氏接受了女乐，君臣迷恋歌舞，多日不理朝政，孔子非常失望，不久鲁国举行郊祭，祭祀后按惯例送祭肉给大夫们时并没有送给孔子，这表明季氏不想再任用他了，孔子在不得已的情况下离开鲁国，到外国去寻找出路，开始了周游列国的旅程，这一年，孔子55岁。
孔子带弟子[孔子墓]先到了卫国，卫灵公开始很尊重孔子，按照鲁国的俸禄标准发给孔子俸粟6万，但并没给他什么官职，没让他参与政事。孔子在卫国住了约10个月，因有人在卫灵公面前进谗言，卫灵公对孔子起了疑心，派人公开监视孔子的行动，于是孔子带弟子离开卫国，打算去陈国。路过匡城时，因误会被人围困了5日，逃离匡城，到了蒲地，又碰上卫国贵族公叔氏发动叛乱，再次被围。逃脱后，孔子又返回了卫国，卫灵公听说孔子师徒从蒲地返回，非常高兴，亲自出城迎接。此后孔子几次离开卫国，又几次回到卫国，这一方面是由于卫灵公对孔子时好时坏，另一方面是孔子离开卫国后，没有去处，只好又返回。
鲁哀公2年（孔子59岁），孔子离开卫国经曹、宋、郑至陈国，在陈国住了三年，吴攻陈，兵荒马乱，孔子便带弟子离开，楚国人听说孔子到了陈、蔡交界处，派人去迎接孔子。陈国、蔡国的大夫们知道孔子对他们的所作所为有意见，怕孔子到了楚国被重用，对他们不利，于是派服劳役的人将孔子师徒围困在半道，前不靠村，后不靠店，所带粮食吃完，绝粮7日，最后还是子贡找到楚国人，楚派兵迎孔子，孔子师徒才免于一死。孔子64岁时又回到卫国，68岁时在其弟子冉求的努力下,被迎回鲁国，但仍是被敬而不用。鲁哀公16年，孔子73岁，患病，不愈而卒。
孔子品格
发愤忘食，乐以忘忧
孔子63岁时，曾这样形容自己：“发愤忘食，乐以忘忧，不知老之将至云尔。”当时孔子已带领弟子周游列国9个年头，历尽艰辛，不仅未得到诸侯的任用，还险些丧命，但孔子并不灰心，仍然乐观向上，坚持自己的理想，甚至是明知其不可为而为之。安贫乐道孔子说：“不义而富且贵，于我如浮云”，在孔子心目中，行义是人生的最高价值，在贫富与道义发生矛盾时，他宁可受穷也不会放弃道义。但他的安贫乐道并不能看作是不求富贵，只求维护道，这并不符合历史事实。孔子也曾说：“富与贵，人之所欲也；不以其道，得之不处也。贫与贱，人之所恶也；不以其道，得之不去也。”“富而可求也，虽执鞭之士，吾亦为之。如不可求，从吾所好。”
学而不厌，诲人不倦
孔子以好学著称，对于各种知识都表现出浓厚的兴趣，因此他多才多艺，知识渊博，在当时是出了名的，几乎被当成无所不知的圣人，但孔子自己不这样认为，孔子曰：“圣则吾不能，我学不厌，而教不倦也。”孔子学无常师，谁有知识，谁那里有他所不知道的东西，他就拜谁为师，因此说“三人行，必有我师焉”。直道而行孔子生性正直，又主张直道而行，他曾说：“吾之于人也，谁毁谁誉？如有所誉者，其有所试矣。斯民也，三代之所以直道而行也。”《史记》载孔子三十多岁时曾问礼于老子，临别时老子赠言曰：“聪明深察而近于死者，好议人者也。博辩广大危其身者，发人之恶者也。为人子者毋以有己，为人臣者毋以有己。”这是老子对孔子善意的提醒，也指出了孔子的一些毛病，就是看问题太深刻，讲话太尖锐，伤害了一些有地位的人，会给自己带来很大的危险。与人为善孔子创立了以仁为核心的道德学说，他自己也是一个很善良的人，富有同情心，乐于助人，待人真诚、宽厚。“己所不欲，毋施于人”、“君子成人之美，不成人之恶”、“躬自厚而薄责于人”等第，都是他的做人准则。
孔子思想
孔子思想、学说的精华，比较集中地见诸于《论语》一书，共二十篇，一万一千余字。《论语》就是孔子的语录，也有一些是对孔子弟子言行的记录，是孔子的弟子及其再传弟子对孔子言行的追记。此书对中国历史产生了深远而巨大的影响。它的思想内容、思维方式、价值取向都早已融入了我们民族的血液，沉淀在我们的生命中，铸成了我们民族的个性。《论语》一书集中阐述了儒家思想的核心内涵----仁。“仁”是一切理论的中心，所有的关于“仁”、“乐”的规范，都不过是手段，是为实现“仁”这一道德的最后完美服务的。《论语》作为中华文化的代表，早在秦汉时期就传入了朝鲜和日本，日本〈大宝令〉还指定它为日本学生的必修课。1594年，传教士利玛窦将它译为拉丁文后，它又被转译为意、法、德、英、俄等多种文字，在西方各国广泛传播。
孔子其思想以“仁”核心，以为“仁”即“爱人”。提出“己所不欲，勿施于人”，“”等论点，提倡“忠恕”之道，又以为推行“仁政”应以“礼”为规范：“克己复礼为仁”。对于殷周以来的鬼神宗教迷信，采取存疑态度，以为“未知生，焉知事鬼”，“不知命，无以为君子也”。又注重“学”与“思”的结合，提出“学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆”和“温故而知新”等观点。首创私人讲学风气，主张因材施教，“有教无类”，“学而不厌，诲人不倦”，强调“君子学道则爱人，小人学道则易使也”。政治上提出“正名”主张，以为“君君、臣臣、父父、子子”，都应实副其“名”，并提出“不患寡而患不均，不患贫而患不安”观点。自西汉以后，孔子学说成为两千余年封建社会的文化正统，影响极深。
说到治理国家，孔子重视民生疾苦，呼唤仁政，希望统治者以仁义之心待民，他说“苛政猛于虎”，他还强调无论什么法令法规，统治者都要首先以身作则，“其身正，不令而行；其身不正，虽令不行”。在人际交往中，孔子强调的是忠和恕。
“忠”就是以忠实诚信的态度对人，以恪尽职守的态度待事；“恕”就是要推己及人，“己所不欲，勿施与人”，“君子成人之美，不成人之恶”。在为人处世上，孔子提倡自爱和爱人。孔子对天命持谨慎态度，他更相信人自己的力量。他认为“性相近也，习相远也”，一切要看个人后天的努力。当然，〈论语〉中也有一些思想是与历史潮流相背离的，如他政治上的复古倾向，他对等级、秩序的过分强调，他的内敛的人格价值取向等，这一切都不可否认的给中国社会的发展带来了负面影响，需要我们用现代意识对之加以修正。但瑕不掩瑜，在人类文明刚刚露出曙光的先秦时代，我们的祖先就具有如此深刻的生命智慧，是足以让我们这些后人为之骄傲的。
孔子思想在近现代以来的新发展是指近代西方文明输入中国以后，在中西文明碰撞交融条件下产生的新儒学。新兴的“大众儒学”是当代新儒学发展的又一成果。
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“知”──孔子思想的精华
孔子不仅是伟大的思想家，而且是个伟大的教育家，他从长期的教育实践中总结了许多很有意义、很有启发性的教育思想和获得知识的方法。在春秋末期这样一个社会大变动的时代，保守的奴隶主贵族是无法应付现实生活的变化，从奴隶主贵族本身来说也不可能培养出适应社会发展要求的人才。但从整个社会发展来说，却需要有一批有才干的人才，要他们来解决现实社会中发生的种种复杂的问题。孔子适应着当时社会的需要，通过教育，给人们以知识，成为我国历史上最早的一位教育家。
孔子提出“有教无类”，对这句话虽有种种不同解释，但它包含要扩大教育面，使受教育的人不仅仅限于奴隶主贵族，应该是无疑问的。孔子自己实践了他的“有教无类”的主张，所以他说：“只要给我十条干肉作学费，我从没有不教诲的。”（《论语·述而》）他的这一作法，对当时迫切需要解决的人才问题起着很大的作用。当然孔子的“有教无类”并不是为了所有的阶级，更不是为了什么培养为全民服务的人才，而是为了培养更多的能适应社会发展要求的、为统治阶级服务的有才干的人。虽然如此，但孔子的教育活动，却是结束了过去贵族垄断的“官府之学”，开始了学问的私家传授。所谓“学术下庶人”，正是从孔子开始的。从这一点来说，无论如何是有利于当时社会发展的。
不仅如此，孔子通过他长期的教育实践，从中总结了不少合于人们认识规律的经验，但孔子的这方面的思想，还不是认识论本身的问题，主要还是对教育方法、求知方法的概括和总结。
首先，孔子比较强调人们的知识来源于学习。虽然他也讲到“生知”“唯上智与下愚不移”，它表明孔子还受着传统思想的束缚。但是我们从他的具体教育活动上看，他并不十分重视这点。他所说的“性相近，习相远”才是他自己的主张，显然这和“生知”的观点是不一致的。孔子从来就没有认为他自己是“上智”的，而且也没有说过哪一个人是“上智”的，他甚至认为尧舜也会有错误。关于他自己，他说：“我非生而知之者，好古，敏以求之者也。”（《论语·述而》）他非常好学，他自己给自己的评论是：“十室之邑，必有忠信如丘者焉，不如丘之好学也。”（《论语·公冶长》）他赞美好学的学生颜回说：“有颜回者好学，不幸短命死矣，今也则亡。”（《论语·先进》）子贡问：“孔文子何以谓之文也？”孔子回答说：“敏而好学，不耻下问，是以谓之文也。”（《论语·公冶长》）可见，孔子非常注重学习，认为人的知识来源于学习，人的道德品德也是通过学习才能得到，所以他所说的“生知”差不多成了一句空话了，在实际上并没有重视它。
孔子主张学习的知识大体上有两个方面：一是从学习古代文献和典章制度方面得来的知识，这可以说是历史知识，《论语》中记载孔子从过去的历史文献、典章制度中学得知识的地方很多，他自己说他是“述而不作、信而好古”。《论语·乡党》一篇中，除极少数几节外，大都是讲古代的制度，孔子就是学习这些东西。从孔子教学的内容看，大部分是古代文献、典章制度等，“孔子用四种内容教育学生：历代文献，生活行为的准则，对上要讲忠义，对朋友要讲信实。”（《论语·述而》）这里所说的“历代文献”就是《诗》《书》《礼》《乐》等等。二是从现实生活方面得到的知识，这可以说是现实的知识。但孔子主要是注重观察而不大注重实践，特别是他非常轻视生产实践。在《论语》中许多地方记载了孔子主张在生活中要注意学习的话，例如他说：“多闻择其善者而从之，多见而识之”，“三人行，必有我师焉，择其善者而从之，其不善者而改之”（《论语·述而》），“不耻下问”等等。但是孔子轻视生产实践则是非常错误的，有一次他的学生樊迟向他请教种庄稼和种菜，他不仅说他不如老农民和老菜民，而且骂樊迟说：“樊迟真是个小人呀!做一个统治者重视礼，老百姓就不敢不敬畏；做一个统治者重视义，老百姓就不敢不服从；做一个统治者重视信，老百姓就不敢隐瞒真情。要是做到这样，四面八方的老百姓都会背着小孩前来投奔，哪里用得着自己去种庄稼呢!”（《论语·子路》）孔子说这样的话表明他是一个剥削阶级的思想家，而剥削阶级从来都是自己不劳动而且轻视劳动。
其次，孔子对某些学习的规律作了概括，得出一些认识事物的一般规律，并以此作为他指导学生学习的方法。
他提出反复的学习可以使人们的认识更加深入，从而获得新的知识，他说：“温故而知新”（《论语·为政》），“学而时习之”（《论语·学而》）等，就是这个意思。孔子虽然没有明确谈到通过对过去的经验加以分析可以得到事物发展的规律，但他已经知道可以由学习过去的知识中吸取经验，这对认识当前的事物是有帮助的。孔子常常向别人请教，从别人那里学得知识，然后用来教别人，他说：“我有很多知识吗？没有呢。有一个普通人问我，我对他的问题本来一点也不知道。但是我从他的问题正反两面去盘问之后，却得到很多启发，然后尽量地告诉他。”（《论语·子罕》）
孔子还从教育实践中总结出“学”和“思”的关系。他所说的“学”和“思”的关系虽然不等于是感性认识和理性认识的关系，但也是别人的经验如何通过思考变成自己的知识的关系。“学”是学习别人的经验和从现实生活中学习，“思”是把别人的经验和从现实生活中学得的东西通过思考加以消化，使之成为自己的知识，所以他说：“学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆”（《论语·为政》），只学习前人的知识而自己不思考，只能停留在迷罔之中而不知正确与错误；只是凭空思想而不学习和利用前人的知识经验，那就会一无所成。看来，孔子虽然也重视“思”，但他却更重视“学”，他认为“学”是“思”的基础，所以他说：“吾尝终日不食，终夜不寝，以思；无益，不如学也。”（《论语·卫灵公》）大凡人类认识史总是首先重视“学”（直接经验和间接经验），而逐渐才注意到“思”（对经验加以总结找出规律），孔子通过他亲身的教育实践，开始认识到这两者的关系，并由注意“学”开始，到注意“思”的认识阶段。
[孔子像]
孔子认为，知识应该尽量丰富，他自己就是一个博学多能的人。但是，孔子认为渊博的学问，必须有一个中心思想来贯穿，这就是他所说的“一以贯之”。发现了“一”，就是中心思想，或者说是本质，才可以把许多表面上看起来不联贯的知识贯穿起来。当然根据孔子的整个思想看，这个贯穿一切的“一”，其思想本质就是他说的“仁”。他说：“人而不仁，如礼何；人而不仁，如乐何？”（《论语·八佾》）又说：“君子无终食之间违仁，造次必于是，颠沛必于是”（《论语·里仁》）；“当仁，不让于师”。照孔子看，一方面是一切要以“仁”去看待，但另一方面的意思又是说任何人都应该对自己有个要求，要把自己看成是个“人”，站在自己应站立的地位来尽力而为，因此他所说的“仁”从阶级和个人的关系方面来说，包含着重视人的作用的观点，这个观点不仅是贯穿他的教育思想，而且也贯穿他的整个学说。
教育贡献
孔子自“而立”之年即以《诗》、《书》、《礼》、《乐》为教，更以他至伟人格中的一言一行，一动一静而示范为教。是他开了我国历史上私人讲学的先河，将以前学在官府，文化知识是贵族们的专利的现象，移植到民间。他首先提出“有教无类”的方针，不分贫贱富贵，均可以在他那里受教。在弟子中，贫如颜回，富如子贡，贵如孟懿子，然绝大多数是平民子弟，有来自卫、齐、陈、吴……等国的，真可谓桃李满天下。其教学目的，是传他的人道学说。即克己复礼为仁，变化学生气质，成就人格，提高生命境界，终至成物。也即造就治国、平天下的栋梁之材。并采用“因材施教”和启发式的方法，培养学生的“学而时习之”，“温故而知新”，“学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆”，“知之为知之，不知为不知”，“三人行必有我师”，“不耻下问”等风范。更以他诲人不倦的精神，对学生入如慈母般地关怀备至，如严父般地导以正道，如朋友般地切磋相长，莫不因其才而成就之。如子羔之愚，曾参之鲁，子张之偏激，子路之粗鄙……均成大器。尤以曾子能得道之全体而任传道之责，成为宗圣。更有佼佼者分德行：颜回、闵子骞、冉伯牛、仲弓。语言：宰我、子贡。政事：冉求、子路。文学：子游、子夏四科共十人。孔子共有弟子三千。身通六艺者七十有二。故能将浩瀚的传统文化推广和流传下来。
孔子名言
不学礼，无以立。
己所不欲，勿施于人。
己欲立而立人，己欲达而达人。
躬自厚而薄责于人，则远怨矣。
见贤思齐焉，见不贤而内自省也。
三人行，必有我师焉，择其善者而从之，其不善者而改之。
居处恭，执事敬，与人忠。
君子敬而无失，与人恭而有礼，四海之内皆兄弟也，
言忠信，行笃敬，虽蛮貊之邦，行矣。言不忠信，行不笃敬，虽州里，行乎哉？
行己有耻，使于四方，不辱君命，可谓士矣。
孔子曰：“能行五者于天下为仁矣。”请问之。曰：“恭、宽、信、敏、惠。恭则不侮，宽则得众，信则人任焉，敏则有功，惠则足以使人”。
君子义以为质，礼以行之，孙以出之，信以成之。君子哉！
过而不改，是谓过矣！
过，则匆惮改。
不迁怒，不二过。
三军可夺帅也，匹夫不可夺志也！
人无远虑，必有近忧。
无欲速，无见小利。欲速，则不达；见小利，则大事不成。
执德不弘，信道不笃，焉能为有，焉能为亡。
与朋友交，言而有信。
以文会友，以友辅仁。
益者三友，损者三友。友直，友谅，友多闻，益矣。友便辟，友善柔，友便佞，损矣。
君子欲讷于言而敏于行。
君子食无求饱，居无求安，敏于事而慎于言，就有道而正焉，可谓好学也已。
巧言乱德。
巧言令色，鲜矣仁。
刚、毅、木、讷近仁。
有德者必育言，有言者不必育德。
听其言而观其行。
君于不以言举人,不以人废言。
古者言之不出,耻躬不逮也。
君子名之必可言也，言之必可行也，君子于其言，无所苟而已矣。
可与言而不与之言，失人；不可与言而与之言，失言。知者不失人，亦不失言。
言未及之而言谓之躁，言及之而不言谓之隐，未见颜色而言谓之瞽。
好仁不好学，其蔽也愚；好知不好学，其蔽也荡；好信不好学，其蔽也贼；好直不好学，其蔽也绞；好勇不好学，其蔽也乱；好刚不好学，其蔽也狂。
恭而无礼则劳，慎而无礼则葸，勇而无礼则乱，直而无礼则绞。
事君，敬其事而后其食。
礼之用，和为贵。
放于利而行，多怨。
不患人之不己知,患不知人也。
三千人弟子，七十二贤人。
家世家谱
当年微子在商末到长治市潞城定居，形成微子镇。(《潞安府志》载：“纣都朝歌，亦在畿内，微子曾是食采焉。（潞城有微子岭、微子村）”微子岭“在县北二十里，上有三仁庙，下有微子村，其食邑也。”) 周朝封微子镇人于宋，孔子祖上就在这个南迁的队伍中。由微子经微仲衍、宋公稽、丁公申，四传至泯公共。泯公长子弗父何让国于其弟鲋祀。弗父何为卿。孔子先祖遂由诸候家转为公卿之家。弗父何之曾孙正考父，连续辅佐宋戴公、武公、宣公，久为上卿，以谦恭著称于世。孔子六祖孔父嘉继任宋大司马。按周礼制，大夫不得祖诸侯，“五世亲尽，别为公候”，故其后代以孔为氏。后宋太宰华父督作乱，弑宋殇公，杀孔父嘉，其子木金父为避灭顶之灾逃到鲁国的陬邑，从此孔氏在陬邑定居，变成了鲁国人。卿位始失，下降为士。孔子曾祖父防叔曾任鲁防邑宰。祖父伯夏的事迹无考。
孔子的父亲叫叔梁纥（叔梁为字，纥为名），母亲叫颜征在。叔梁纥是当时鲁国有名的武士，建立过两次战功，曾任陬邑大夫。叔梁纥先娶妻施氏，生9女，无子。又娶妾，生一子，取名伯尼，又称孟皮。孟皮脚有毛病，叔梁纥很不满意，于是又娶颜征在。当时叔梁纥已68岁，颜征在还不到20岁。据《史记》记载，孔子并非婚生子。他母亲生他时只有18岁，而父亲已经70岁了。
公元前551年（鲁襄公二十二年），孔子生于鲁国陬邑昌平乡（今山东曲阜城东南）。因父母曾为生子而祷于尼丘山，故名丘，字仲尼。孔子三岁时，叔梁纥卒，孔家成为施氏的天下，施氏为人心术不正，孟皮生母已在叔梁纥去世前一年被施氏虐待而死，孔子母子也不为施氏所容，孔母颜征在只好携孔子与孟皮移居曲阜阙里，生活艰难。孔子曾作过各种各样的工作：牧牛羊、记账的以及图书管理员。孔子17岁时，孔母颜征在卒，他服了三年丧。
孔子十九岁时娶宋国人丌官氏之女为妻，一年后丌官氏生子，鲁昭公曾派人送鲤鱼表示祝贺，孔子感到十分荣幸，故给儿子取名为鲤，字伯鱼。鲁哀公十年(公元前485年)，孔子夫人丌官氏去世。宋朝十七追封为郓国夫人，被儒家后世尊为圣母。如今孔庙中的寝殿，是供奉孔子夫人丌官氏的专祠。孔子夫人在史书上称为“丌官氏”。
据《论语》记载，鲁国当时在孔子的管理下非常繁荣。但这是不太可能的，因为孔子没有在鲁国或别的国家担任过重大职务。传说鲁国的邻国齐国担心鲁国太过强大会威胁到齐国，于是为了破坏鲁国的改革，送了上百匹好马和八十位美丽的舞女给鲁国诸侯。鲁国诸侯遂沉溺于安逸享乐之中，对政务不闻不问，甚至有一次连续三天没有上朝。孔子极为不满，踏上了长途之旅（周游列国），拜访中国中北部的一些小国，包括卫、宋、陈、蔡。他宣扬了自己的那些政治信仰，但并没有哪国去实施。孔子53岁时晋升为大司寇，在鲁国服侍两年后孔子辞去职务，因为他对诸侯的政治极为不满。孔子68岁回到家乡教书，收了不少弟子。晚年的他和弟子一起编纂了传承先哲智慧的结晶——《五经》。由于不能承受失去儿子和自己的心血的双重悲痛，孔子于72岁(或73岁）与世长辞。
家谱
-卌七世祖黄帝轩辕氏
-卌六世祖少昊金天氏(玄嚣)
-卌五世祖蟜极
-卌四世祖帝喾高辛氏
-卌三世祖契
-卌二世祖昭明
-卌一世祖相土
-四十世祖昌若
-卅九世祖曹圉
-卅八世祖冥
-卅七世祖振(王亥)王恒
-卅六世祖上甲微
-卅五世祖报乙
-卅四世祖报丙
-卅三世祖报丁
-卅二世祖主壬
-卅一世祖主癸
-三十世祖商王成汤(太乙)
-廿九世祖太丁商王外丙商王仲壬
-廿八世祖商王太甲(太宗)
-廿七世祖商王沃丁商王太庚
-廿六世祖商王小甲商王雍己商王太戊(中宗)
-廿五世祖商王仲丁商王外壬商王河亶甲
-廿四世祖商王祖乙
-廿三世祖商王祖辛商王沃甲
-廿二世祖商王祖丁商王南庚
-廿一世祖商王阳甲商王盘庚商王小辛商王小乙
-廿一世祖商王武丁(高宗)
-二十世祖商王祖庚商王祖甲
-十九世祖商王廪辛
-十八世祖商王康丁
-十七世祖商王武乙
-十六世祖商王文丁
-十五世祖商王帝乙
-十四世祖商王帝辛(纣)微子微仲衍
-十三世祖宋公稽
-十二世祖宋丁公申
-十一世祖宋闵公共
-十世祖弗父何
-九世祖宋父周
-八世祖世子胜
-七世祖正考父
-六世祖孔父嘉
-五世祖木金父
-高祖祁父
-曾祖防叔
-祖父伯夏
-父叔梁纥
-孔子
-子孔鲤[孔子雕塑]
-孙孔伋
-曾孙孔白
-玄孙孔求
-六代孙孔箕
-七代孙孔穿
-八代孙孔谦
-九代孙孔鲋、孔树、孔腾，汉高祖刘邦封孔腾为“奉祀君”
-十代孙孔忠
-十一代孙孔武
-十二代孙孔延年
-十三代孙孔霸，汉元帝封为“褒成侯”，赐食邑八百户。
-十四代孙孔福，被汉成帝绥和元年封为“殷绍嘉侯”
-十五代孙孔房，褒成侯
-十六代孙孔均，褒成侯
-十七代孙孔志，褒成侯
-十八代孙孔损，褒亭侯
-十九代孙孔曜，奉圣亭侯
-二十代孙孔完、孔赞，褒成侯
-二十一代孙孔羡，宗圣侯
-二十二代孙孔震，奉圣亭侯
-二十三代孙孔嶷，奉圣亭侯
-二十四代孙孔抚，奉圣亭侯
-二十五代孙孔懿，奉圣亭侯
-二十六代孙孔鲜，奉圣亭侯
-二十七代孙孔乘，崇圣大夫
-二十八代孙孔灵珍，崇圣侯
-二十九代孙孔文泰，崇圣侯
-三十代孙孔渠，崇圣侯
-三十一代孙孔长孙，恭圣侯
-三十二代孙孔嗣悊，绍圣侯
-三十三代孙孔德伦，褒圣侯
-三十四代孙孔崇基，褒圣侯
-三十五代孙孔璲之，褒圣侯、文宣王兼兖州长史
-三十六代孙孔萱，文宣公
-三十七代孙孔齐卿，文宣公
-三十八代孙孔惟晊，文宣公
-三十九代孙孔策，文宣公
-四十代孙孔振，文宣公
-四十一代孙孔昭俭，文宣公
-四十二代孙孔光嗣，泗水主簿
-四十三代孙孔仁玉，文宣公兼曲阜县令
-四十四代孙孔宜，文宣公兼曲阜主簿、赞善大夫
-四十五代孙孔延世，文宣公兼曲阜县令历代衍圣公：
-第46代衍圣公孔圣佑，文宣公兼知县事、孔宗愿，
-第47代衍圣公孔若虚、孔若愚、孔若蒙
-第48代衍圣公孔端立、孔端操、孔端友(南宗)
-第49代衍圣公孔琥、孔璠、孔玠(南宗)
-第50代衍圣公孔拂、孔摠、孔晋、孔拯
-第51代衍圣公孔元用、孔元孝、孔文远(南宗)、孔元措、孔元紘
-第52代衍圣公孔之厚、孔之全、孔万春、孔之周
-第53代衍圣公孔浣、孔治、孔贞、孔洙(南宗)
-第54代衍圣公孔思晦、孔思诚、孔思许(南宗)
-第55代衍圣公孔克坚、孔克忠（南宗）
-第56代衍圣公孔希学、孔希路（南宗）
-第57代衍圣公孔讷、孔议（南宗）
-第58代衍圣公孔公鉴、孔公诚(南宗)
-第59代衍圣公孔彦缙、孔彦绳(南宗)
-第60代衍圣公孔承庆、孔承美(南宗)
-第61代衍圣公孔宏绪、孔宏泰（字永实）、孔弘章(南宗)
-第62代衍圣公孔闻韶、孔闻音(南宗)
-第63代衍圣公孔贞干、孔贞宁、孔贞运(南宗)
-第64代衍圣公孔尚贤、孔尚乾（南宗）
-第65代衍圣公孔衍植、孔衍桢（南宗）
-第66代衍圣公孔兴燮、孔兴燫(南宗)
-第67代衍圣公孔毓圻、孔毓垣（南宗）
-第68代衍圣公孔传铎、孔传锦(南宗)
-第69代衍圣公孔继濩、孔继涛(南宗)
-第70代衍圣公孔广棨、孔广杓(南宗)
-第71代衍圣公孔昭烜、孔昭焕(南宗)
-第72代衍圣公孔宪培、孔宪坤(南宗)
-第73代衍圣公孔庆鎔、孔庆仪(南宗)
-第74代衍圣公孔繁灝、孔繁豪(南宗)
-第75代衍圣公孔祥珂、孔祥楷(南宗)
-第76代衍圣公孔令贻（字谷孙），1877年（光绪三年）5岁时承袭衍圣公
-第77代衍圣公孔德成(1920年生)
-第78代大成至圣先师奉祀官孔维益
-第79代大成至圣先师奉祀官孔垂长
-第80代大成至圣先师奉祀官孔佑仁
80代之后的辈分字：钦、绍、念、显、扬、建、道、敦、安、定、懋、修、肈、彝、常、裕、文、焕、景、瑞、永、锡、世、绪、昌。
孔子年表
1岁：公元前551年（鲁襄公二十二年）孔子9月28日生于鲁国陬邑昌平乡（今山东曲阜城东南）。关于孔子出生年月有两种记载，相差一年，今从《史记·孔子世家》说。
3岁：公元前549年（鲁襄公二十四年）其父叔梁纥卒，葬于防山(今曲阜东25里处)。孔母颜征在携子移居曲阜阙里，生活艰难。
5岁：公元前547年（鲁襄公二十六年）孔子弟子秦商生，商字不慈，鲁国人。
6岁：公元前546年（鲁襄公二十七年）弟子曾点生，点字皙，曾参之父。
7岁：公元前545年（鲁襄公二十八年）弟子颜繇生，繇又名无繇，字季路，颜渊之父。
8岁：公元前544年（鲁襄公二十九年）弟子冉耕生，字伯牛，鲁国人。
10岁：公元前542年（鲁襄公三十一年〕弟子仲由生，字子路，卞人。是年鲁襄公死，其子躌继位，是为昭公。
12岁：公元前540年（鲁昭公二年）弟子漆雕开生，字子若，蔡人。
15岁：公元前537年（鲁昭公五年〕孔子日见其长，已意识到要努力学习做人与生活之本领，故曰：“吾十有五而志于学”。（《论语·为政》)
16岁，公元前536年（鲁昭公六年）郑铸刑鼎。弟子闽损生，字子骞，鲁国人。
17岁：公元前535年（鲁昭公六年〕孔母颜征在卒。是年。季氏宴请士一级贵族，孔子去赴宴，被季氏家臣阳虎拒之门外。
19岁：公元前533年（鲁昭公九年）孔子娶宋人亓官氏之女为妻。
20岁：公元前532年（鲁昭公十年）亓官氏生子。据传此时正好赶上鲁昭公赐鲤鱼于孔子，故给其子起名为鲤，字伯鱼。是年孔子开始为委吏，管理仓库。
21岁：公元前531年（鲁昭公十一年）是年孔子改作乘田，管理畜牧。孔子说:“吾少也贱，故多能鄙事。”(《论语·子罕》)此“鄙事”当包括“委吏”、”乘田”。
27岁，公元前525年（鲁昭公十七年〕郯子朝鲁，孔子向郯子询问郯国古代官制。孔子开办私人学校，当在此前后。
30岁：公元前522年（鲁昭公二十年〕自十五岁有志于学至此时已逾15年，孔子经过努力在社会上已站住脚，故云”三十而立”。(《论语·为政》)是年齐景公与晏婴来鲁国访问。齐景公会见孔子，与孔子讨论秦穆公何以称霸的问题。弟子颜回、冉雍、冉求、商瞿、梁鴷生。回字渊，雍字仲弓，求字子有，瞿字子木，皆鲁国人；鴷字叔鱼，齐国人。
31岁：公元前521年（鲁昭公二十一年）弟子巫马施、高柴、宓不齐生。施字子期，陈国人；柴字子高，齐国人；不齐字子贱，鲁国人。
32岁：公元前520年（鲁昭公二十二年）弟子端木赐生，赐字子贡，卫国人。
34岁：公元前518年（鲁昭公二十四年）孟懿子和南宫敬叔学礼于孔子。相传孔子与南宫敬叔适周问礼于老聘，问乐于苌弘。
35岁：公元前517年（鲁昭公二十五年）鲁国发生内乱。《史记·孔子世家》云：“昭公率师击（季）平子，平子与孟孙氏、叔孙氏三家共攻昭公，昭公师败，奔齐。”孔子在这一年也到了齐国。
36岁，公元前516年（鲁昭公二十六年）齐景公问政于孔子，孔子对曰：“君君、臣臣、父父、子子”。孔子得到齐景公的赏识，景公欲以尼溪之田封孔于，被晏子阻止。孔子在齐闻《韶》乐，如醉如痴，三月不知肉味。
37岁：公元前515年（鲁昭公二十七年）齐大夫欲害孔子，孔子由齐返鲁。吴公子季札聘齐，其子死，葬于瀛、博之间。孔子往，观其葬礼。弟于樊须、原宪生。须字子迟，鲁国入；宪字子思，宋国人。
38岁：公元前514年（鲁昭公二十八年）晋魏献子（名舒）执政，举贤才不论亲疏。孔子认为这是义举，云：“近不失亲，远不失举，可谓义矣。”
39岁，公元前513年（鲁昭公二十九年）是年冬天晋铸刑鼎，孔子曰“晋其亡乎，失其度矣。”
40岁：公元前512年（鲁昭公三十年）经过几十年的磨练，对人生各种问题有了比较清楚的认识，故自云“四十而不惑”。弟子澹台灭明生。灭明字子羽，鲁国人。
41岁：公元前511年（鲁昭公三十一年）弟子陈亢生。亢字子禽，陈国人。
42岁：公元前510年（鲁昭公三十二年）昭公卒，定公立。
43岁：公元前509年（鲁定公元年）弟公西赤生。赤字华，鲁国人。
45岁：公元前507年（鲁定公三年）弟子卜商生。商字子夏，卫国人。
46岁：公元前506年（鲁定公四年）弟子言偃生。偃字子游，吴国人。
47岁：公元前505年（鲁定公五年）弟子曾参、颜幸生。参字子舆，鲁国人。幸字子柳，鲁国人。
48岁：公元前504年（鲁定公六年〕季氏家臣阳虎擅权日重。孔子称之为“陪臣执国命”。(《论语·季氏》)《史记·孔子世家》云：“陪臣执国政。......故孔子不仕，退而修《诗》、《书》、《礼》、《乐》，弟子弥众，至自远方，莫不受业焉。”阳虎欲见孔子，孔子不想见阳虎、后二人在路上相遇。阳虎劝孔子出仕，孔子没有明确表态。此事当在鲁定公五年或鲁定公六年。
49岁：公元前503年（鲁定公七年）弟子颛孙师生。师字子张，陈国人。
50岁：公元前502年（鲁定公八年）自谓”五十而知天命”。（《论语·为政》)公山不狃以费叛季氏，使人召孔子，孔子欲往，被子路阻拦。
51岁:公元前501年（鲁定公九年）孔子为中都宰，治理中都一年，卓有政绩，四方则之。弟子冉鲁、曹坅、伯虔、颜高，叔仲会生。鲁字子鲁，鲁国人：坅字子循，蔡国人：虔字子析，鲁国人；高字子骄，鲁国人：会字子期。鲁国人。
52岁：公元前500年（鲁定公十年）孔子由中都宰升小司空，后升大司寇，摄相事。夏天随定公与齐侯相会于夹谷。孔子事先对齐国邀鲁君会于夹谷有所警惕和准备，故不仅使齐国劫持定公的阴谋未能得逞，而且逼迫齐国答应归还侵占鲁国的郓、鄵、龟阴等土地。
53岁：公元前499年（鲁定公十一年）孔子为鲁司寇，鲁国大治。
54岁：公元前498年（鲁定公十二年）孔子为鲁司寇。为削弱三桓，采取堕三都的措施。叔孙氏与季孙氏为削弱家臣的势力，支持孔子的这一主张，但此一行动受孟孙氏家臣公敛处父的抵制，孟孙氏暗中支持公敛处父。堕三都的行动半途而废。弟子公孙龙生。龙字子石，楚国人。
55岁：公元前497年（鲁定公十三年）春，齐国送80名美女到鲁国。季桓子接受了女乐，君臣迷恋歌舞，多日不理朝政。孔子与季氏出现不和。孔子离开鲁国到了卫国。十月，孔子受谗言之害，离开卫国前往陈国。路经匡地，被围困。后经蒲地，遇公叔氏叛卫,孔子与弟子又被围困。后又返回卫都。
56岁，公元前496年（鲁定公十四年）孔子在卫国被卫灵公夫人南子召见。子路对孔子见南子极有意见批评了孔子。郑国子产去世孔子听到消息后，十分难过，称赞子产是“古之遗爱”。
57岁：公元前495年（鲁定公十五年）孔子去卫居鲁。夏五月鲁定公卒，鲁哀公立。
58岁：公元前494年（鲁哀公元年〕孔子居鲁，吴国使人聘鲁，就“骨节专车”一事问于孔子。
59岁：公元前493年（鲁哀公二年）孔子由鲁至卫。卫灵公问陈（阵）于孔子，孔子婉言拒绝了卫灵公。孔子在卫国住不下去，去卫西行。经过曹国到宋国。宋司马桓?(左鬼右隹)讨厌孔子，扬言要加害孔子，孔子微服而行。
60岁：公元前492年（鲁哀公三年）孔子自谓”六十而耳顺”。孔子过郑到陈国，在郑国都城与弟子失散独自在东门等候弟子来寻找,被人嘲笑,称之为”累累若丧家之犬”。孔子欣然笑曰：“然哉，然哉！”
61岁：公元前491年（鲁哀公四年〕孔子离陈往蔡。
62岁：公元前490年（鲁哀公五年）孔子自蔡到叶。叶公问政于孔子，并与孔子讨论有关正直的道德问题。在去叶返蔡的途中，孔子遇隐者。
63岁：公元前489年（鲁哀公六年〕孔子与弟子在陈蔡之间被困绝粮，许多弟子因困饿而病，后被楚人相救。由楚返卫，途中又遇隐者。
64岁：公元前488年（鲁哀公七年）孔子在卫。主张在卫国为政先要正名。
65岁：公元前487年（鲁哀公八年）孔子在卫。是年吴伐鲁，战败。孔子的弟子有若参战有功。
66岁：公元前486年（鲁哀公九年）孔子在卫。
67岁：公元前485年（鲁哀公十年）孔子在卫。孔子夫人亓官氏卒。
68岁：公元前484年（鲁哀公十一年）是年齐师伐鲁，孔子弟子冉有帅鲁师与齐战，获胜。季康子问冉有指挥才能从何而来？冉有答曰“学之于孔子”。季康子派人以币迎孔于归鲁。孔于周游列国14年，至此结束。季康子欲行“田赋”，孔子反对。孔子对冉有说：“君子之行也，度于礼。施取其厚，事举其中，敛从其薄。如是则丘亦足矣”。
69岁：公元前483年（鲁哀公十二年）孔子仍有心从政，然不被用。孔子继续从事教育及整理文献工作。孔子的儿子孔鲤卒。
70岁：公元前482年（鲁哀公十三年〕孔子自谓“七十而从心所欲，不逾矩”。颜回卒，孔子十分悲伤。
71岁：公元前481年（鲁哀公十四年〕是年春，狩猎获麟。孔了认为这不是好征兆，说：“吾道穷矣”。于是停止修《春秋》。六月齐国陈恒弑齐简公，孔子见鲁哀公及三桓，请求鲁国出兵讨伐陈桓，没有得到支持。
72岁：公元前480年（鲁哀公十五年〕孔子闻卫国政变，预感到子路有生命危险。子路果然被害。孔子十分难过。
73岁：公元前479年（鲁哀公十六年）四月，孔子患病，不愈而卒。葬于鲁城北。鲁哀公诔之曰：“?天不吊，不潎遗一老，俾屏余一人以在位，茕茕余在疚，呜呼哀哉！尼父！无自律”。不少弟子为之守墓三年，子贡为之守墓六年。弟子及鲁人从墓而家者上百家，得名孔里。孔子的故居改为庙堂，孔子受到人们的奉祀。
主要弟子
[孔子讲学图]相传孔子所收弟子多达三千人，有较大成就者72人，其中最主要的有：
颜回：（前521～前481年）春秋末鲁国人。字子渊，亦颜渊，孔子最得意弟子。《雍也》说他“一箪食，一瓢饮，在陋巷，人不堪其忧，回也不改其乐”。为人谦逊好学，“不迁怒，不贰过”。他异常尊重老师，对孔子无事不从无言不悦。颜渊以德行著称，孔子称赞他“贤哉回也”，“回也，其心三月不违反、仁”（《雍也》）。不幸早死。自汉代起，颜回被列为七十二贤之首，有时祭孔时独以颜回配享。此后历代统治者不断追加谥号:唐太宗尊之为“先师”，唐玄宗尊之为“兖公”，宋真宗加封为“兖国公”，元文宗又尊为“兖国复圣公”。明嘉靖九年改称“复圣”。山东曲阜还有“复圣庙”。
仲由（前542～前480）字子路，又字季路，鲁国卞（今山东泗水县泉林镇卞桥村）人，孔子得意门生，以政事见称。为人伉直鲁莽，好勇力，事亲至孝。除学诗、礼外，还为孔子赶车，做侍卫，跟随孔子周游列国，深得器重。孔子称赞说：“子路好勇，闻过则喜。”初仕鲁，后事卫。孔子任鲁国司寇时，他任季孙氏的宰，后任大夫孔俚的宰。卫庄公元年（前480年），孔俚的母亲伯姬与人谋立蒯聩（伯姬之弟）为君，胁迫孔俚弑卫出公，出公闻讯而逃。子路在外闻讯后，即进城去见蒯聩。蒯聩命石乞挥戈击落子路冠缨，子路目毗尽裂，严厉喝斥道：“君子死，而冠不免。”毅然系好帽缨，从容就义。
子贡：姓端木，名赐，字子贡，是孔门七十二贤之一，且列言语科之优异者。孔子曾称其为“瑚琏之器”。他利口巧辞，善于雄辩，且有干济才，办事通达。曾任鲁、卫两国之相。他还善于经商之道，曾经经商于曹、鲁两国之间，富致千金。为孔子弟子中首富。司马迁作《史记·仲尼弟子列传》，对子贡这个人物所费笔墨最多，其传记就篇幅而言在孔门众弟子中是最长的。这个现象说明，在司马迁眼中，子贡是个极不寻常的人物。我们循着司马迁的这个思路，再细细阅读《论语》等书，便可看出子贡这个人物非同寻常。他的影响之大、作用之巨，是孔门弟子中无人所能企及的：他学绩优异，文化修养丰厚，政治、外交才能卓越，理财经商能力高超。在孔门弟子中，子贡是把学和行结合得最好的一位。
言偃(前506～前443)春秋时孔子唯一的南方弟子。字子游，又称叔氏。常熟人。22岁时离乡北上，拜孔子为师，为其三千弟子中七十二贤之一。谦虚好学，擅长文学，曾任鲁国武城宰，用礼乐教化民众，境内到处有弦歌之声，深得孔子赞赏。后学成南归，从游弟子无数，被誉为传播东南文化第一人。唐代起先后被封为吴侯、吴公、吴国公及先贤言子等。清康熙间特设五经博士一员，由其后裔世袭。言偃对吴地文化的繁荣作出了很大贡献。颜回（前521～前490）春秋末鲁国人。字子渊。孔子弟子。以德行见称。勤奋好学，笃信孔子学说，并“闻一知十”，领会深刻。为人平易谦逊，沉默寡言，才智较少外露，在行动上努力实践孔子的理想，成为孔子最忠实、最得意的学生。孔子屡称他品格高尚，说他“三月不违仁”，“不迁怒，不贰过”。33岁时去世。今曲阜城北陋巷街有颜庙，亦称复圣庙。今曲阜城东11公里防山之南程庄村东北角有颜子林，为颜回及其家族的墓地。
曾参（约前505～前435）字子舆，春秋末鲁国南武城（今平邑）人。人们尊称为曾子。孔子弟子。乐道养亲，曾仕为小吏，以孝著称。认为"忠恕"是孔子"一以贯之"的思想，提出"吾日三省吾身"的修养方法，主张"慎终（慎重地办理父母的丧事），追远（虔诚地追念祖先），民德归厚”，“犯而不校（计较）”，矢志不懈地实践孔子学说。相传著有《孝经》和《大学》。在孔门中被视为道统的继承者，被后代统治者尊为“宗圣”。《汉书·艺文志》著录《曾子》18篇，已残，今存《大戴礼记》中，自《立事》至《天圆》凡10篇。清阮元有《曾子注释》。今嘉祥城南20公里南武山南麓有曾庙，又称宗圣庙。
孔子学院
[英国爱丁堡大学孔子学院]
孔子的学说传到西方，是从400多年前意大利传教士把记录孔子言行的《论语》一书译成拉丁文带到欧洲开始的。而今，孔子学说已走向了五大洲，各国孔子学院的建立，正是孔子“四海之内皆兄弟”、“和而不同”以及“君子以文会友，以友辅仁”思想的现实实践。自2004年11月全球首家孔子学院在韩国成立以来，已有百余家孔子学院遍布全球40多个国家，成为传播中国文化和推广汉语教学的全球品牌和平台。孔子学院是在借鉴国外有关机构推广本民族语言经验的基础上，在海外设立的以教授汉语和传播中国文化为宗旨的非营利性公益机构。它秉承孔子“和为贵”、“和而不同”的理念，推动中外文化的交流与融合，以建设一个持久和平、共同繁荣的和谐世界为宗旨。
补充资料
韩国人对祭孔大典申遗闹剧
根据韩国的消息，韩国人已经在准备拿祭孔大典去申请世界文化遗产，下一步就是把孔子彻彻底底的变成韩国人了，中国的论坛上却还在为应不应该祭孔吵个不停，很多人对孔子极尽讽刺挖苦之能事。
9月28日，是孔子诞辰2557周年，大陆与台湾同时举行了祭孔大典。而在此前的9月26日，一组韩国祭孔大典的图片也成为各大门户网站的头条。抢在中国之前大规模宣传自己的祭孔活动，韩国人的用意又何在呢？
韩国人总是想把中华文化中的优秀成分据为己有，这已经不是第一天了。就在2005年，韩国已经将传承自中国的端午节申报世界文化遗产成功，成为所有中国人心头的痛。祭孔大典就是他们的下一个目标。只要你仔细研究一下韩国人祭孔的资料，就会发现他们一直在强调正宗。看过韩国人的祭孔视频，再来对照中国的祭孔视频，大部分人都会得出韩国人的典礼好像更正统，更高尚的感觉。韩国人的祭孔好像总和中国的对着干，你们穿满清的长袍马褂，我就穿正统的汉服；你们的仪式变来变去没有定式，我们却遵循的是古礼一成不变；你们在文革中将孔子批倒批臭，我们却尊孔几百年不变；你们的祭孔大典往往是政府主导活动，我们的祭孔却是二百多所乡校同时进行的全国性活动！韩国人的目的很明确，就是要让人觉得只有他们才是祭孔的正统，只有他们才最有资格祭祀孔子。然后就可以拿他们几百年历史的祭孔大典去申请世界文化遗产！
相比之下前两年中国的祭孔确实让人有点寒心，猪屁股对着孔子的笑话，长袍马褂太监装的闹剧等等，层出不穷。今天的祭孔幸好有五粮液这样实力雄厚有儒商思想的企业相助，才不致于出现以前祭孔由于没钱而租京剧戏装的窘境，用五粮液祭酒也确实符合中国五谷祭祀的正统，“杯底五谷杯上液”的礼制。然而韩国在国际上对祭孔的推广已经走在了前面，而且在过去的年代中国对孔子文化的毁坏也确实令人寒心，这使我们在韩国人面前总显得低人一头。
韩国人觊觎孔子不是一天两天了，在一本韩国历史教科书的插图上，中国的东北，山东都成为历史上韩国的地盘！山东都是韩国的人，山东人孔子也就理所当然是山东人。在这本韩国教科书里，“镇压了处于农耕文化的汉人”，“惩罚大唐的战争”等语句随处可见，我们总是将注意力集中日本人的修改教科书事件上，却没注意到韩国人干起这种事来也是很在行。
韩国人论证孔子是韩国人还有这样的论据：朝鲜半岛最早建立政权的是商朝贵族箕子。箕子是商朝纣王的亲戚，西周武王伐纣。箕子不愿意接受西周统治。于是率领5000名商朝人逃跑到朝鲜半岛和辽东半岛，建立了政治难民国家—箕子朝鲜。而商朝大部分人都留在了中国，分布在西周封建的宋卫等多个国家。宋国的第一个国君就是箕子的亲戚—微子。孔子是宋国贵族后代，当然也就是韩国祖宗箕子的后代了。在中国人看来，这种八竿子才打的着的关系，无疑可笑又可耻，但对于看这种历史教科书长大的韩国人来说，无疑是天经地义。所以将祭孔大典申请世界文化遗产才会得到这么多韩国人的支持，韩国人才会理直气壮的发出“孔子是我们的”的豪论了。
篡改历史是第一步，将祭孔大典申遗是第二步，接下来就是给国际社会造成孔子真的是韩国人的印象，最终目的是达到韩国才是亚洲文化的渊源所在，韩国文明哺育了包括中国在内的东亚文明！
然而这时我们中国人在干什么？在网上就该不该祭孔吵的不亦乐乎，而总有那一部分中国人，热衷于用各种不堪的语言来讽刺挖苦孔子和儒家文化。从文革打倒孔家店到现在，我们又有什么资格说，比起韩国，我们的儒家文化更为正统更为全民？
不肖子孙要将祖宗拱手送给外国人了，孔子的灵魂在天上痛哭失声。
孔子诗选
去鲁歌
彼妇之口，可以出走。披妇之谒，可以死败。盖优哉游哉，维以卒岁。
蟪蛄歌
违山十里，蟪蛄之声，犹尚在耳。
龟山操
予欲望鲁兮，龟山蔽之。手无斧柯，奈龟山何！
注：《琴操》：“季桓子受齐女乐，孔子欲谏不得，退而望鲁龟山作歌，喻季之蔽鲁也。”《琴操》，古琴曲集，传为东汉蔡邕辑。
盘操
干泽而渔，蛟龙不游。覆巢毁卵，凤不翔留。惨予心悲，还原息陬。
注：见《琴操》。
孔子的封谥号
周敬王四十一年（公元前479年），孔子去世，鲁哀公亲诔孔子。诔文说：“旻天不吊，不慭遗一老，俾屏余一人以在位，茕茕余在疚，呜呼哀哉！尼父！无自律。”（《左传·哀公十六年》）古人认为“尼父”是给孔子的谥号。其实这只是对孔子的敬称，并非谥号。父，同“甫”，是古代对男子的美称。
西汉元始元年（公元元年），汉平帝刘衎追封孔子为“褒成宣尼公”古人认为“褒成”是国名，“宣尼”是谥号，“公”是爵位。
北魏太和十六年（公元492年），孝文帝元宏称孔子为“文圣尼父”。“文圣”是尊号，“尼父”是敬称。
北周大象二年（公元580年），静帝宇文衍追封孔子为“邹国公”，“邹”是国名，“公”是爵位。
隋开皇元年（公元581年），文帝杨坚称孔子为“先师尼父”；唐贞观二年（公元628年），太宗李世民尊孔子为“先圣”。“先师”、“先圣”都是尊称。贞观十一年（公元637年），改称孔子为“宣父”，“宣”为谥号，“父”是美称。乾封元年（公元666年），高宗李治赠孔子为“太师”，“太师”为官位。
武周天绶元年（公元690年），武则天封孔子为“隆道公”。“隆道”是封号，“公”是爵位。
唐开元二十七年（公元739年），玄宗李隆基封孔子为“文宣王”。“文宣”为谥号，“王”是爵位。这儿的“王”不是后世皇帝以下的侯王的王，而是周天子“武王”、“成王”的王。
宋大中祥符元年（公元1008年），真宗赵恒加称孔子为“玄圣文宣王”，五年（公元1012年），又改称“圣文宣王”。“玄圣”是指有治天之德而不居其位的人，《后汉书》首先以此称孔子；“至圣”是指道德最高尚的人，司马迁首先以此称孔子，《史记·孔子世家·赞》说：“……自天子王侯，中国言六艺者折中于夫子，可谓至圣矣！”元大德十一年（公元1307年）秋，新即位的元武宗海山加称孔子为“大成至圣文宣王”。“大成”本是古代秦乐的用语。古乐一变为一成，九变而乐终，至九成完毕，称为大成，后来引申称集中前人的主张、学说等形成的完整的体系。孟子始用大成赞颂孔子，他说：“孔子之谓集大成，集大成也者，金声而玉振之也。”《孟子·万章下》“玄圣”、“至圣”、“大成”都是对孔子的赞辞。
明嘉靖九年（公元1530年），世宗朱厚熜厘定祀典，尊孔子为“至圣先师”，取消谥号、封号。清顺治二年（公元1645年），世祖福临加尊孔子为“大成至圣文宣先师”，十四年（公元1657年），又改称“至圣先师”。
自此以后，直至清末，孔子的封谥号未再更动。到了民国年间，一切封谥号皆废置不用了。“谥号”是根据死者的生前事迹参照《谥法》追加的，它只适用于帝王、显宦和卓行德懿的人。追加给孔子的谥号，据《谥法》说，“扬善赋简曰圣”、“敬宾厚礼曰圣”；“经天纬地曰文”、“道德博闻曰文”、“学勤好问曰文”、“慈惠爱民曰文”；“圣善周闻曰宣”，都是《谥法》中最高的赞誉之词。
His philosophy emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity. These values gained prominence in China over other doctrines, such as Legalism (法家) or Taoism (道家) during the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD). Confucius' thoughts have been developed into a system of philosophy known as Confucianism (儒家). It was introduced to Europe by the Jesuit Matteo Ricci, who was the first to Latinise the name as "Confucius."
His teachings may be found in the Analects of Confucius (論語), a collection of "brief aphoristic fragments", which was compiled many years after his death. Modern historians do not believe that any specific documents can be said to have been written by Confucius, but for nearly 2,000 years he was thought to be the editor or author of all the Five Classics such as the Classic of Rites (editor), and the Spring and Autumn Annals (春秋) (author).
Personal life and family
According to tradition, Confucius was born in 551 BC. Spring and Autumn Period, at the beginning of the Hundred Schools of Thought philosophical movement. Confucius was born in or near the city of Qufu, in the Chinese State of Lu (now part of Shandong Province). Early accounts say that he was born into a poor but noble family that had fallen on hard times.
The Records of the Grand Historian (史記), compiled some four centuries later, indicate that the marriage of Confucius' parents did not conform to Li (禮) and therefore was a yehe (野合), or "illicit union", for when they got married, his father was a very old man and past proper age for marriage but his mother was only in her late teens. His father died when he was three, and he was brought up in poverty by his mother. His social ascendancy linked him to the growing class of shì (士), a class whose status lay between that of the old nobility and the common people, that comprised men who sought social positions on the basis of talents and skills, rather than heredity.
As a child, Confucius was said to have enjoyed putting ritual vases on the sacrifice table. He married a young girl named Qi Quan (亓官) at nineteen and she had their first child Kong Li (孔鯉) when he was twenty. Confucius is reported to have worked as a shepherd, cowherd, clerk and book-keeper. When Confucius was twenty-three, his mother died and he entered three years of mourning.
He is said to have risen to the position of Justice Minister (大司寇) in Lu at fifty-three. According to the Records of the Grand Historian, the neighboring state of Qi (齊) was worried that Lu was becoming too powerful. Qi decided to sabotage Lu's reforms by sending one hundred good horses and eighty beautiful dancing girls to the Duke of Lu. The Duke indulged himself in pleasure and did not attend to official duties for three days. Confucius was deeply disappointed and resolved to leave Lu and seek better opportunities. Yet to leave at once would expose the misbehavior of the Duke and therefore bring public humiliation to the ruler Confucius was serving, so Confucius waited for the Duke to make a lesser mistake. Soon after, the Duke neglected to send to Confucius a portion of the sacrificial meat that was his due according to custom, and Confucius seized this pretext to leave both his post and the state of Lu.
According to tradition, after Confucius's resignation, he began a long journey (or set of journeys) around the small kingdoms of northeast and central China, including the states of Wei (衞), Song (宋), Chen (陳) and Cai (蔡). At the courts of these states, he expounded his political beliefs but did not see them implemented.
According to the Zuo Commentary to the Spring and Autumn Annals, at sixty-eight Confucius returned home. The Analects pictures him spending his last years teaching disciples and transmitting the old wisdom via a set of texts called the Five Classics.
Burdened by the loss of both his son and his favorite disciples, he died at the age of 72 (or 73).
Teachings
In the Analects论语, Confucius presents himself as a "transmitter who invented nothing". He put the greatest emphasis on the importance of study, and it is the Chinese character for study (or learning) that opens the text. In this respect, he is seen by Chinese people as the Greatest Master. Far from trying to build a systematic theory of life and society or establish a formalism of rites, he wanted his disciples to think deeply for themselves and relentlessly study the outside world, mostly through the old scriptures and by relating the moral problems of the present to past political events (like the Annals) or past expressions of feelings by common people and reflective members of the elite (preserved in the poems of the Book of Odes).
In times of division, chaos, and endless wars between feudal states, he wanted to restore the Mandate of Heaven “天命” that could unify the "world" (i.e. China) and bestow peace and prosperity on the people. Because his vision of personal and social perfections was framed as a revival of the ordered society of earlier times, Confucius is often considered a great proponent of conservatism, but a closer look at what he proposes often shows that he used (and perhaps twisted) past institutions and rites to push a new political agenda of his own: a revival of a unified royal state, whose rulers would succeed to power on the basis of their moral merit, not their parentage; these would be rulers devoted to their people, reaching for personal and social perfection. Such a ruler would spread his own virtues to the people instead of imposing proper behavior with laws and rules.
One of the deepest teachings of Confucius may have been the superiority of personal exemplification over explicit rules of behavior. Because his moral teachings emphasise self-cultivation, emulation of moral exemplars, and the attainment of skilled judgment rather than knowledge of rules, Confucius's ethics may be considered a type of virtue ethics. His teachings rarely rely on reasoned argument, and ethical ideals and methods are conveyed more indirectly, through allusions, innuendo, and even tautology. This is why his teachings need to be examined and put into proper context in order to be understood. A good example is found in this famous anecdote:
厩焚。子退朝，曰：“伤人乎？”不问马。
When the stables were burnt down, on returning from court, Confucius said, "Was anyone hurt?" He did not ask about the horses.
Analects X.11, tr. A. Waley
The passage conveys the lesson that by not asking about the horses, Confucius demonstrated that a sage values human beings over property; readers of this lesson are led to reflect on whether their response would follow Confucius's, and to pursue ethical self-improvement if it would not. Confucius, an exemplar of human excellence, serves as the ultimate model, rather than a deity or a universally true set of abstract principles. For these reasons, according to many Eastern and Western commentators, Confucius's teaching may be considered a Chinese example of humanism.
Perhaps his most famous teaching was the Golden Rule stated in the negative form, often called the silver rule:
子貢問曰、有一言、而可以終身行之者乎。子曰、其恕乎、己所 不欲、勿施於人。
Adept Kung asked: "Is there any one word that could guide a person throughout life?"
The Master replied: "How about 'shu' [reciprocity]: never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself?"
Analects XV.24, tr. David Hinton
Confucius's teachings were later turned into a very elaborate set of rules and practices by his numerous disciples and followers who organised his teachings into the Analects. In the centuries after his death, Mencius and Xun Zi both composed important teachings elaborating in different ways on the fundamental ideas associated with Confucius. In time, these writings, together with the Analects and other core texts came to constitute the philosophical corpus known in the West as Confucianism. After more than a thousand years, the scholar Zhu Xi created a very different interpretation of Confucianism which is now called Neo-Confucianism, to distinguish it from the ideas expressed in the Analects. Neo-Confucianism held sway in China and Vietnam until the 1800s.
Names
Confucius (illustration from Myths & Legends of China, 1922, by E.T.C. Werner)
Confucius (illustration from Myths & Legends of China, 1922, by E.T.C. Werner)
* Michele Ruggieri, and other Jesuits after him, while translating Chinese books into Western languages, translated 孔夫子 as Confucius. This Latinised form has since been commonly used in Western countries.
* In systematic Romanisations:
o Kǒng Fūzǐ (or Kǒng fū zǐ) in pinyin.
o K'ung fu-tzu in Wade-Giles (or, less accurately, Kung fu-tze).
+ Fūzǐ means teacher. Since it was disrespectful to call the teacher by name according to Chinese culture, he is known as just "Master Kong", or Confucius, even in modern days.
+ The character 'fu' is optional; in modern Chinese he is more often called Kong Zi.
* His actual name was 孔丘, Kǒng Qiū. Kǒng is a common family name in China.
(In Wade-Giles translation by D. C. Lau, this name appears as Kung Ch'iu.)
* His courtesy name was 仲尼, Zhòng Ní.
* In 9 BC (first year of the Yuanshi period of the Han Dynasty), he was given his first posthumous name: 褒成宣尼公, Lord Bāochéngxūan, which means "Laudably Declarable Lord Ni."
* His most popular posthumous names are
o 至聖先師, 至圣先师，Zhìshèngxiānshī, meaning "The Former Teacher who Arrived at Sagehood" (comes from 1530, the ninth year of the Jianing period of the Ming Dynasty);
o 至聖,至圣， Zhìshèng, "the Greatest Sage";
o 先師,先师， Xiānshī, literally meaning "first teacher". It has been suggested that '先師' can be used, however, to express something like, "the Teacher who assists the wise to their attainment".
* He is also commonly known as 萬世師表, 万世师表，Wànshìshībiǎo, "the Model Teacher" in Chinese.
Philosophy
Main article: Confucianism
A portrait of Confucius, by Tang Dynasty artist Wu Daozi (680-740).
A portrait of Confucius, by Tang Dynasty artist Wu Daozi (680-740).
Although Confucianism is often followed in a religious manner by the Chinese, arguments continue over whether it is a religion. Confucianism lacks an afterlife, its texts express complex and ambivalent views concerning deities, and it is relatively unconcerned with some spiritual matters often considered essential to religious thought, such as the nature of the soul.
Confucius' principles gained wide acceptance primarily because of their basis in common Chinese tradition and belief. He championed strong familial loyalty, ancestor worship, respect of elders by their children (and, according to later interpreters, of husbands by their wives), and the family as a basis for an ideal government. He expressed the well-known principle, "Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself" (similar to the Golden Rule). He also looked nostalgically upon earlier days, and urged the Chinese, particularly those with political power, to model themselves on earlier examples. "The superior man seeks for it in himself. The petty man seeks for it in others"
Because no texts survive that are demonstrably authored by Confucius, and the ideas associated with him most closely were elaborated in writings that accrued over the period between his death and the foundation of the first Chinese empire in 221 BC, many scholars are very cautious about attributing specific assertions to Confucius himself.
Ethics
The Confucian theory of ethics as exemplified in Lǐ is based on three important conceptual aspects of life: ceremonies associated with sacrifice to ancestors and deities of various types, social and political institutions, and the etiquette of daily behavior. It was believed by some that lǐ originated from the heavens. Confucius's view was more nuanced. His approach stressed the development of lǐ through the actions of sage leaders in human history, with less emphasis on its connection with heaven. His discussions of lǐ seem to redefine the term to refer to all actions committed by a person to build the ideal society, rather than those simply conforming with canonical standards of ceremony. In the early Confucian tradition, lǐ, though still linked to traditional forms of action, came to point towards the balance between maintaining these norms so as to perpetuate an ethical social fabric, and violating them in order to accomplish ethical good. These concepts are about doing the proper thing at the proper time, and are connected to the belief that training in the lǐ that past sages have devised cultivates in people virtues that include ethical judgment about when lǐ must be adapted in light of situational contexts.
In early Confucianism, yì (義 [义]) and lǐ are closely linked terms. Yì can be translated as righteousness, though it may simply mean what is ethically best to do in a certain context. The term contrasts with action done out of self-interest. While pursuing one's own self-interest is not necessarily bad, one would be a better, more righteous person if one based one's life upon following a path designed to enhance the greater good, an outcome of yì. This is doing the right thing for the right reason. Yì is based upon reciprocity.
Just as action according to Lǐ should be adapted to conform to the aspiration of adhering to yì, so yì is linked to the core value of rén (仁). Rén is the virtue of perfectly fulfilling one's responsibilities toward others, most often translated as "benevolence" or "humaneness"; translator Arthur Waley calls it "Goodness" (with a capital G), and other translations that have been put forth include "authoritativeness" and "selflessness." Confucius's moral system was based upon empathy and understanding others, rather than divinely ordained rules. To develop one's spontaneous responses of rén so that these could guide action intuitively was even better than living by the rules of yì. To cultivate one's attentiveness to rén one used another Confucian version of the Golden Rule: one must always treat others just as one would want others to treat oneself. Virtue, in this Confucian view, is based upon harmony with other people, produced through this type of ethical practice by a growing identification of the interests of self and other.
In this regard, Confucius articulated an early version of the Golden Rule:
* "What one does not wish for oneself, one ought not to do to anyone else; what one recognises as desirable for oneself, one ought to be willing to grant to others." (Confucius and Confucianism, Richard Wilhelm)
Politics
Confucius' political thought is based upon his ethical thought. He argues that the best government is one that rules through "rites" (lǐ) and people's natural morality, rather than by using bribery and coercion. He explained that this is one of the most important analects: 1. "If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense of shame. If they be led by virtue, and uniformity sought to be given them by the rules of propriety, they will have the sense of shame, and moreover will become good." (Translated by James Legge) {The Great Learning} This "sense of shame" is an internalisation of duty, where the punishment precedes the evil action, instead of following it in the form of laws as in Legalism.
While he supported the idea of government by an all-powerful sage, ruling as an Emperor, probably because of the chaotic state of China at his time, his ideas contained a number of elements to limit the power of rulers. He argued for according language with truth; thus honesty was of paramount importance. Even in facial expression, truth must always be represented. In discussing the relationship between a subject and his king (or a son and his father), he underlined the need to give due respect to superiors. This demanded that the inferior must give advice to his superior if the superior was considered to be taking the wrong course of action. This was built upon a century after Confucius's death by his latter day disciple Mencius, who argued that if the king was not acting like a king, he would lose the Mandate of Heaven and be overthrown. Therefore, tyrannicide is justified because a tyrant is more a thief than a king. Other Confucian texts, though celebrating absolute rule by ethical sages, recognise the failings of real rulers in maxims such as, "An oppressive government is more feared than a tiger."
Some well known Confucian quotes:
"When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them."
"What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others"
"With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my crooked arm for a pillow - is not joy to be found therein? Riches and honors acquired through unrighteousness are to me as the floating clouds"
Disciples and legacy
Main article: Disciples of Confucius
Confucius' disciples and his only grandson, Zisi, continued his philosophical school after his death. These efforts spread Confucian ideals to students who then became officials in many of the royal courts in China, thereby giving Confucianism the first wide-scale test of its dogma. While relying heavily on Confucius' ethico-political system, two of his most famous later followers emphasized radically different aspects of his teachings. Mencius (4th century BC) articulated the innate goodness in human beings as a source of the ethical intuitions that guide people towards rén, yì, and lǐ, while Xun Zi (3rd century BC) underscored the realistic and materialistic aspects of Confucian thought, stressing that morality was inculcated in society through tradition and in individuals through training.
This realignment in Confucian thought was parallel to the development of Legalism, which saw filial piety as self-interest and not a useful tool for a ruler to create an effective state. A disagreement between these two political philosophies came to a head in 223 BC when the Qin state conquered all of China. Li Ssu, Prime Minister of the Qin Dynasty convinced Qin Shi Huang to abandon the Confucians' recommendation of awarding fiefs akin to the Zhou Dynasty before them which he saw as counter to the Legalist idea of centralizing the state around the ruler. When the Confucian advisers pressed their point, Li Ssu had many Confucian scholars killed and their books burned - considered a huge blow to the philosophy and Chinese scholarship.
Under the succeeding Han Dynasty and Tang Dynasty, Confucian ideas gained even more widespread prominence. Under Wudi, the works of Confucius were made the official imperial philosophy and required reading for civil service examinations in 140 BC which was continued nearly unbroken until the end of the 19th Century. As Moism lost support by the time of the Han, the main philosophical contenders were Legalism which Confucian thought somewhat absorbed, the teachings of Lao-tzu whose focus on more mystic ideas kept it from direct conflict with Confucianism, and the new Buddhist religion which gained acceptance during the Southern and Northern Dynasties era.
During the Song Dynasty, the scholar Zhu Xi (1130-1200 CE) added ideas from Daoism and Buddhism into Confucianism. In his life, Zhu Xi was largely ignored but not long after his death his ideas became the new orthodox view on what Confucian texts actually meant. Modern historians view Zhu Xi as having created something rather different and call his way of thinking Neo-Confucianism. Both Confucian ideas and Confucian-trained officials were relied upon in the Ming Dynasty and even the Yuan Dynasty although Kublai Khan distrusted handing over provincial control. In the modern era Confucian movements, such as New Confucianism, still exist but during the Cultural Revolution, Confucianism was frequently attacked by leading figures in the Communist Party of China. This was partially a continuation of the condemnations of Confucianism by intellectuals and activists in the early 20th Century as a cause of the ethnocentric close-mindedness and refusal of the Qing Dynasty to modernize that led to the tragedies that befell China in the 19th Century.
In modern times, Asteroid 7853, "Confucius," was named after the Chinese thinker.
Quote: "Respect yourself and others will respect you."
Quote: "Today I have seen Lao-tzu and can only compare him to the dragon."
Memorial ceremony of Confucius
The Chinese have a tradition of holding spectacular memorial ceremonies of Confucius (祭孔) every year, using ceremonies that supposedly derived from Zhou Li 周禮 as recorded by Confucius, on the date of Confucius' birth. This tradition was interrupted for several decades in mainland China, where the official stance of the Communist Party and the State was that Confucius and Confucianism represented reactionary feudalist beliefs where it is held that the subservience of the people to the aristocracy is a part of the natural order. All such ceremonies and rites were therefore banned. Only after the 1990s, did the ceremony resume. As it is now considered a veneration of Chinese history and tradition, even communist party members may be found in attendance.
In Taiwan, where the Nationalist Party (Kuomingtang) strongly promoted Confucian beliefs in ethics and behavior, the tradition of memorial ceremony of Confucius (祭孔) is supported by the government and has continued without interruption. While not a national holiday, it does appear on all printed calendars, much as Father's Day does in the West.
Influence in Asia and Europe
"Life and works of Confucius, by Prospero Intorcetta, 1687.
"Life and works of Confucius, by Prospero Intorcetta, 1687.
Confucius's works, words are studied by many scholars in many other Asian countries, such as Korea, Japan, Vietnam, etc. And many of those countries still hold the traditional memorial ceremony every year.
The works of Confucius were translated into European languages through the agency of Jesuit scholars stationed in China. Matteo Ricci started to report on the thoughts of Confucius, and father Prospero Intorcetta published the life and works of Confucius into Latin in 1687. It is thought that such works had considerable importance on European thinkers of the period, particularly among the Deists and other philosophical groups of the Enlightenment who were interested by the integration of the system of morality of Confucius into Western civilization.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believes Confucius was a Divine Prophet of God, as was Lao-Tzu and other eminent Chinese personages.
Home town
Soon after Confucius' death, Qufu, his hometown in the state of Lu and now in present-day Shandong Province, became a place of devotion and remembrance. It is still a major destination for cultural tourism, and many Chinese people visit his grave and the surrounding temples. In pan-China cultures, there are many temples where representations of the Buddha, Laozi and Confucius are found together. There are also many temples dedicated to him, which have been used for Confucianist ceremonies.
Descendants
Confucius' descendants were repeatedly identified and honored by successive imperial governments with titles of nobility and official posts. They were honored with the rank of a marquis thirty-five times since Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, and they were promoted to the rank of duke forty-two times from the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang first bestowed the title of "Marquis Wenxuan" on Kong Sui of the 35th generation. In 1055, Emperor Zhenzong of Song first bestowed the title of "Duke Yansheng" on Kong Zong of the 46th generation. Despite repeated dynastic change in China, the title of Duke Yansheng was bestowed upon successive generations of descendants until it was abolished by the Nationalist Government in 1935. The last holder of the title, Kung Te-cheng of the 77th generation, was appointed Sacrificial Official to Confucius.
Today, there are thousands of reputed descendants of Confucius. The main lineage fled from the Kong ancestral home in Qufu to Taiwan during the Chinese Civil War. The current head of the household is Kung Te-cheng, a professor at National Taiwan University. He previously served in the Republic of China government as President of the Examination Yuan. Kung married Sun Qifang, the great-granddaughter of the Qing dynasty scholar-official and first president of Peking University Sun Jianai, whose Shouxian, Anhui, family created one of the first business combines in modern-day China, which included the largest flour mill in Asia, the Fou Foong Flour Company in Shanghai. The Qianlong Emperor married a daughter to Kong Xianpei of the 72nd generation, linking the Aisin-Gioro Imperial house with the Kong family.