Confucius: hope for turbulent times

Chinese culture is one of the world’s most archaic cultures which originated a
long time ago. The culture is like a glimmer of light in the darkness, turning China into a
country of grandeur. Not only do the cultures lay the foundation for the development of
the country, but they also form an amalgamation of traditions and lifestyles. In the
ancient cultural society, countless venerable people appear with multitudinous talents.
Admittedly, one of these legendary people must include the eminent philosopher —
Confucius.

Confucius, who was also known as Kongzi, was a Chinese philosopher and
politician during the Spring and Autumn period. He was, by acclamation, the paragon of
Chinese sages and virtues. He was held in esteem by everyone around the world by
virtue of the profound influence of his teachings and legacy.

1.What is the worst moment in your life?

After I have received an education at the Royal Archives with the help of a wealthy
friend, I’ve got inspired by some irrelevant relics in the past. To put my philosophy in
practice, I began to serve many roles for the government, including the Minister of Crime
under the state of Lu. The neighboring state Qi was worried that Lu was becoming too
puissant so it deliberately attempted to sabotage Lu's reform by sending the ruler a troop
of appealing dancing girls and horses. The ruler gradually ignored his duty; he was
spending all the time riding the horses while indulging himself in pleasure with the girls. I
found it deeply improper for a ruler and resigned in disgust. As an advisor of the ruler, I
couldn't endure his demeanor. Being an emperor with sovereign power, he was
obligated to lead the state and bring stability to the citizens. It's absolutely the worst
moment when I saw him enjoying the girls in private but not attending any of the official
duties. When I was at a very young age, my father died and I was raised by my mother.
Thus, I have also experienced poverty and turmoil—feudal states fighting perpetually,
rulers frequently got assassinated and commoners suffering from famines. Therefore, I
could imagine what would have happened if the ruler of Lu had kept neglecting his
duties.

2. What is the best moment in your life?

After leaving my home in Lu, I embarked on a long journey throughout Eastern China. I
was accompanied by several of my disciples. Although we wandered for years and had
our lives threatened at various times, we all persevered and survived at the end of the
journey. I spent most of the time studying and teaching, gathering a large number of
students.  In my opinion, not only does ‘study’ refer to how we focus on book learning,
but it also means how we build social relationships. Learning about humanity and trying
to realize it in our lives, especially in the accompaniment of fellow travelers on the
journey, fills us with a sense of joy. Don’t you think that it’s mirthful and rewarding to
study and practice regularly? Although I have a desolate childhood and distressing
political career, I find teaching gratifying and I do enjoy teaching different students with
distinctive dispositions. Teaching is all about motivating people to learn; however, my
students sometimes motivate me to improve as I learn lessons from them. So teaching
and learning have always been my best moments.

3. Can you share a story between your students and you with us? What lesson have you
learnt through this experience?

I had numerous students before; seventy-two of them were virtuous and competent.
Nonetheless, some of my students were indolent and asinine. Zai Yu was one of them.

Zai Yu was a nice-looking student from Lu state; he had decent and extraordinary
speaking skills which deeply impressed me. I expected that he would become a
sophisticated and distinguished scholar in the future. In contrast, he was a lazy and
unethical student who often slept during lessons. As fools grow without watering, I had
no idea how to teach him. On the other hand, there was a student named Zi Yu. He
asked to be a student of mine but he didn’t look good at all; therefore, I thought he didn’t
have the potential to become a good scholar. Staggeringly, he studied hard and was
proficient to apply new knowledge in real life; he exceeded all other classmates by virtue
of his diligence and made remarkable accomplishments eventually. Remorse was like
innumerable pets devouring my heart because I made flawed judgments about students’
talents only by their appearance. I was genuinely apologetic for doubting Zi Yu’s ability.
Through this lesson, I learnt that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, or else we may
miss out on precious opportunities. 

4. As one of the most esteemed philosophers and teachers in the world of all time, how
do you feel about your fame?

As a teacher, teaching students is my responsibility; as a philosopher, practicing

philosophy is also my responsibility. Therefore, I didn’t expect that people would hold me
in high regard. In addition, I’m grateful and pleased that people have applied my
message of knowledge as the main guiding philosophy of China for thousands of years. I
believe that all people in society benefit from education and a moral outlook. Therefore, I
hope that my fame and legacy could bring people inspiration about learning and virtues.

5. Last question, can you share a motto or belief with people in the 21st century?

Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it. In today’s world, people’s lives are
mostly made up of routines and patterns. Adults work under snow every day while
children are stifled with their strenuous exams and tests. In the modern business of life,
it's hard to appreciate the beauty all the time. If we try to explore the true beauty in every
moment, we can gain new insights and make our lives contented. Every cloud has a
silver lining. Don’t let the negligible obstacles frustrate you! Difficult times always lead to
better days; thus, look for the beautiful things in our lives and cherish the nostalgic
memories of the happy days.