Living in turbulent times, Confucius saw it as his duty to carry out social reforms and bring benefits to the masses. He held in esteem an ideal world and a moderately comfortable society; proposed the selecting of persons of virtue and capability for government, taking common people as the foundation, reducing taxes and forced labor,upholding average property and creating a political ideology with "benevolent government" as its core.

Allow all people to have education regardless of their family background.

A man of virtue should never degrade himself to be a mere tool.

Only a benevolent person knows who is to be loved and who is to be rejected.

A gentleman attaches priorities to principles;while a mean person, material gains.

Never meddle in affairs that do not fall within your responsibilities.

Administration cannot be effective if the government is not held in high regard among the people.

PREFACE

CONFUCIUS' LIFE

The Decline of His Family and Tribulations of His Youth

Assiduous Self-study and Self-exertion in His Youth

Teaching While Learning and Working Hard in Middle Age

Entering Politics in Lu

Drifting from Place to Place through Various States

A Wretched Life in Old Age with Lofty Ambitions Unfulfilled

CONFUCIUS' COMMENTS AND WORKS

Tianxia Datong (A Perfect World) Confucius' Political Doctrine

"The Be nevolent Care for People"-- Confucius' Ethical Doctrine

"Youjiaowulei" (Education for All Regardless of Family Background)——Confucius' Pedagogical Doctrine

Doctrine of the Mean Confucius' Philosophical Doctrine

Confucius' Economic Ideas

CONFUCIUS AND HIS IDEOLOGICAL

CONTRIBUTION

Confucius' Contributions

The Positive Historical Role of Confucianism

THE CONFUCIAN DOCTRINE OVERSEAS

In the Korean Peninsula, Japan and Vietnam

Southeast Asia

In Europe and the Americas

CONCLUDING REMARKS

REFERENCES

APPENDIX

I A Chronicle of Confucitis' Life

II Selected Quotations of Confucius

INDEX