Confucius was a seminal Chinese philosopher and teacher whose ideas fundamentally shaped East Asian civilization. Born in the state of Lu during the chaotic Spring and Autumn period, he sought to restore social order through moral cultivation rather than harsh laws.

His teachings, compiled by disciples in the Analects, emphasized Ren (benevolence), Li (propriety), and Xiao (Filial Piety). Although he struggled to implement his political reforms during his lifetime, Confucianism later became the official state ideology of imperial China, influencing government and society for millennia.