An Existential Reading of the Confucian Analects By Andrew Zhon ...

required for a noble education—ritual, music, shooting, driving, writing, and mathematics. He learned from many teachers unashamedly; he even went out of his way to consult Laozi, a founder of philosophical Daoism. Confucius became the most erudite person of his time.

Confucius’s dream was ambitious: he wished to find a king who would listen to his advice and turn his kingdom into a model state of prosperity and decency so that the whole world would emulate it. But Confucius met with no such luck in his home state of Lu. It was not until he had reached the age of fifty-one that he was appointed magistrate of a county. He then worked his way up the political hierarchy and was eventually appointed a chief justice at the state level. Confucius’s most remarkable achievement was perhaps his appointment as the master of ceremony in a diplomatic mission that turned out to be a great diplomatic triumph for both Confucius and the state of Lu. Confucius took the next step toward restoring the order of the state and attempted to undermine the power of the three ruling families in Lu because these families did not observe the rituals proper to their status—but he failed. What disappointed Confucius even more was the king of Lu’s indulgence in beautiful women to the point of neglecting his duties. The king’s neglect in providing Confucius’s ceremonial meat was the last straw, as it was an affront to Confucius’s dignity. Confucius decided to resign from his position and begin an itinerant life, which continued for the next fourteen years.

Altogether Confucius visited six states, hoping to gain an audience with the kings and to present his political ideals, which were based on moral ideals. But these kings were too impatient to put Confucius’s teachings into practice. Confucius and his disciples suffered from the hardships of an unstable life; indeed, on occasions the group suffered from starvation and even death. Confucius must have had great charisma to maintain harmony within the group under such circumstances. Reportedly, he remained cheerful and optimistic, always believing that Heaven would protect them.

Though Confucius’s personal ambition was frustrated, several of his disciples gained political offices in the state of Lu. At the age of sixty-eight, seeing that the chances were slim for his ideal to be realized,